STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 2014 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN SENATE January 14, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. ORTT -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to removing the maximum age limit for firearms instruction exemptions The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Paragraph 7 of subdivision a of section 265.20 of the penal 2 law, as amended by chapter 150 of the laws of 2020, is amended to read 3 as follows: 4 7. Possession, at an indoor or outdoor shooting range for the purpose 5 of loading and firing, of a rifle or shotgun, the propelling force of 6 which is gunpowder by a person [under sixteen years of age but] not 7 under twelve years of age, under the immediate supervision, guidance and 8 instruction of (a) a duly commissioned officer of the United States 9 army, navy, air force, marine corps or coast guard, or of the national 10 guard of the state of New York; or (b) a duly qualified adult citizen of 11 the United States who has been granted a certificate as an instructor in 12 small arms practice issued by the United States army, navy, air force or 13 marine corps, or by the adjutant general of this state, by the national 14 rifle association of America, a not-for-profit corporation duly organ- 15 ized under the laws of this state, or by a New York state 4-H certified 16 shooting sports instructor; or (c) a parent, guardian, or a person over 17 the age of eighteen designated in writing by such parent or guardian who 18 shall have a certificate of qualification in responsible hunting, 19 including safety, ethics, and landowner relations-hunter relations, 20 issued or honored by the department of environmental conservation; or 21 (d) an agent of the department of environmental conservation appointed 22 to conduct courses in responsible hunting practices pursuant to article 23 eleven of the environmental conservation law. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD00784-01-5
S. 2014 2 1 § 2. Paragraph 7-c of subdivision a of section 265.20 of the penal 2 law, as amended by chapter 150 of the laws of 2020, is amended to read 3 as follows: 4 7-c. Possession for the purpose of loading and firing, of a rifle, 5 pistol or shotgun, the propelling force of which may be either air, 6 compressed gas or springs, by a person [under sixteen years of age but] 7 not under twelve years of age, under the immediate supervision, guidance 8 and instruction of (a) a duly commissioned officer of the United States 9 army, navy, marine corps or coast guard, or of the national guard of the 10 state of New York; or (b) a duly qualified adult citizen of the United 11 States who has been granted a certificate as an instructor in small arms 12 practice issued by the United States army, navy or marine corps, or by 13 the adjutant general of this state, by the national rifle association of 14 America, a not-for-profit corporation duly organized under the laws of 15 this state, or by a New York state 4-H certified shooting sports 16 instructor; or (c) a parent, guardian, or a person over the age of eigh- 17 teen designated in writing by such parent or guardian who shall have a 18 certificate of qualification in responsible hunting, including safety, 19 ethics, and landowner relations-hunter relations, issued or honored by 20 the department of environmental conservation. 21 § 3. Paragraph 7-e of subdivision a of section 265.20 of the penal 22 law, as amended by chapter 281 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read 23 as follows: 24 7-e. Possession and use of a pistol or revolver, at an indoor or 25 outdoor pistol range located in or on premises owned or occupied by a 26 duly incorporated organization organized for conservation purposes or to 27 foster proficiency in small arms or at a target pistol shooting competi- 28 tion under the auspices of or approved by an association or organization 29 described in paragraph [7-a] seven-a of this subdivision for the purpose 30 of loading and firing the same by a person at least fourteen years of 31 age [but under the age of twenty-one] who has not been previously 32 convicted of a felony or serious offense, and who does not appear to be, 33 or pose a threat to be, a danger to [himself] themself or to others; 34 provided however, that such possession shall be of a pistol or revolver 35 duly licensed to and shall be used under the immediate supervision, 36 guidance and instruction of, a person specified in paragraph seven of 37 this subdivision. 38 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.