New York Assembly Bill A04366

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/4/25
• Refer: 2/4/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Authorizes the possession and use of a single shot .22 caliber rifle by a person eleven years of age while supervised at an indoor or outdoor shooting range.

Summary

This bill amends New York’s Penal Law to create a narrow exception allowing an eleven-year-old to possess and use a single-shot .22 caliber rifle at an indoor or outdoor shooting range. The activity must take place at a range whose layout and operations conform to Boy Scouts of America national guidelines and operating standards, and the child must be under the immediate supervision, guidance, and instruction of a qualified adult or commissioned military/National Guard officer. The supervising adult must be either a commissioned officer of the U.S. armed forces or New York National Guard, or a qualified adult age 21 or older who holds an approved rifle-instructor certificate or Boy Scouts shooting sports director certification. The bill does not broadly legalize firearm possession by minors; it creates a specific, supervised range-use exemption for a defined firearm, age group, and instructional setting, and would take effect on November 1 following enactment.

Impact

The bill would amend section 265.20 of the Penal Law, which contains exceptions to weapons offenses, by adding a new lawful-possession carveout for supervised shooting-range use by eleven-year-olds. Its practical effect would be to shield narrowly defined youth rifle instruction from criminal liability under state weapons laws, while leaving the general prohibition on minor possession of firearms intact outside the specified circumstances. The measure would affect shooting ranges, youth marksmanship programs, instructors, military-affiliated supervisors, and organizations such as the Boy Scouts and the NRA certification framework referenced in the text.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the available sentiment is limited and appears neutral to supportive in framing. The bill is presented as a safety-regulated exception rather than a broad expansion of firearm access, emphasizing supervision, certification, and range standards. No opposition arguments are documented in the supplied context, but the subject matter suggests the proposal could draw differing views from gun-safety advocates and youth shooting-sports supporters.

Contention

The main points of contention are likely to be the appropriateness of allowing an eleven-year-old to handle a firearm, the use of a .22 caliber rifle by a minor, and whether the proposed safeguards are sufficient to prevent accidents or misuse. Supporters would likely emphasize structured training, adult supervision, and the limited nature of the exception, while critics may question reliance on Boy Scouts/NRA-related standards and whether military or certified civilian supervision adequately mitigates risk. Because no committee transcript or vote record is provided, specific named opponents or supporters are not identified.