STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3126
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 23, 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 qualified firearms
instructors
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 19 of section 265.00 of the penal law, as
2 amended by chapter 371 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as
3 follows:
4 19. "Duly authorized instructor" means (a) a duly commissioned officer
5 of the United States army, navy, marine corps or coast guard, or of the
6 national guard of the state of New York; or (b) a duly qualified adult
7 citizen of the United States who has been granted a certificate as an
8 instructor in small arms practice issued by the United States army, navy
9 or marine corps, or by the adjutant general of this state, or by the
10 division of criminal justice services, or by the national rifle associ-
11 ation of America, a not-for-profit corporation duly organized under the
12 laws of this state; (c) by a person duly qualified and designated by the
13 department of environmental conservation as its agent in the giving of
14 instruction and the making of certifications of qualification in respon-
15 sible hunting practices; [or] (d) a New York state 4-H certified shoot-
16 ing sports instructor; or (e) a qualified firearms instructor.
17 § 2. Section 265.00 of the penal law is amended by adding a new subdi-
18 vision 37 to read as follows:
19 37. "Qualified firearms instructor" means an individual who holds a
20 certificate as a firearms instructor from an association or organization
21 recognized by the division of criminal justice services.
22 § 3. Paragraph 7-b of subdivision a of section 265.20 of the penal
23 law, as amended by chapter 511 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read
24 as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07001-01-5
S. 3126 2
1 7-b. Possession and use, at an indoor or outdoor pistol range located
2 in or on premises owned or occupied by a duly incorporated organization
3 organized for conservation purposes or to foster proficiency in small
4 arms or at a target pistol shooting competition under the auspices of or
5 approved by the national rifle association for the purpose of loading
6 and firing the same, by a person who has applied for a license to
7 possess a pistol or revolver and pre-license possession of same pursuant
8 to section 400.00 or 400.01 of this chapter, who has not been previously
9 denied a license, been previously convicted of a felony or serious
10 offense, and who does not appear to be, or pose a threat to be, a danger
11 to [himself] themself or to others, and who has been approved for
12 possession and use herein in accordance with section 400.00 or 400.01 of
13 this chapter; provided however, that such possession shall be of a
14 pistol or revolver duly licensed to and shall be used under the super-
15 vision, guidance and instruction of, a person specified in paragraph
16 seven of this subdivision, or a qualified firearms instructor, and
17 provided further that such possession and use be within the jurisdiction
18 of the licensing officer with whom the person has made application
19 therefor or within the jurisdiction of the superintendent of state
20 police in the case of a retired sworn member of the division of state
21 police who has opted to make an application pursuant to section 400.01
22 of this chapter.
23 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.