Trap Shooting at Sportsman’s Clubs, High School Contests Illegal as of Sept. 1

 

 

In a move toward regulating the use of guns in New York State, a law was passed on July 1 by the New York State Legislature which would, in effect, ban trap shooting contests at Sportsmen’s Clubs and High Schools. The new law takes effect Sept. 1, 2022.

Among the high school trap teams that this would affect are Wayland-Cohocton, Honeoye Falls-Lima, Caledonia, Gowanda, and several others which often hold their contests at Sportsmen’s Clubs.  There are also several sportsman’s clubs in the area that also have trap shooting contests and target practice for members at the Sportsmen’s Clubs, which under the current wording, would be illegal.

According to New York Assembly member Marjorie Byrnes “The law establishes “sensitive locations.” In sensitive locations,  no one can possess any type of firearm (exception for police, retired police, active military and a few others)” . There is a complete list of sensitive locations which includes churches, parks ……. It also includes (13) Any place for the performance of art, entertainment, gaming, or “sporting events”… There is no carve-out for sporting events hat use firearms: rap, skeet, sporting clays, etc.”

“On the floor during debate the sponsor was asked if HS Trap would be allowed.  Dem sponsor then asked Mary Beth if Trap was hunting (because hunting is an exception). She said “No.”  He said, unless it fell into an exception, it would be a sensitive place…. Since then, an assemblymember in Lyons asked the State Police if HS trap would be allowed.   They did not answer the question… Bottom line,  the plain language of the law is that all “sporting events” are sensitive locations  and you cannot have a firearm, rifle shotgun in a sensitive location.”

The new law came as a surprise to many locals, both those in the high school trap shooting programs, and those who are members of the sportsmen’s clubs, who regularly use the clubs to participate in contests, and/or practice shooting for hunting season.

In Springwater, a Change.org petition was put on   the Springwater water Community Facebook page and within a few days, the petition had over 1100  signatures. The Change.org petition with some background information can be viewed at Petition · Save High School Trap Shooting Competitions · Change.org