There is a Bill that is under consideration in New York State that would end high school rifle teams and programs.

Bill A10428 would:

Establishes that public schools shall prohibit marksmanship and/or shooting programs.

The news about the Bill has many fearing that New York is going too far when it comes to their fear of guns. The students that are a part of these programs not only learn the fundamentals of gun safety, they learn discipline, work ethic and how to properly use and care for a rifle.

Western New Yorkers opposed to the Bill have been sending letters to their representatives with statements like:

If anything (rifle teams) encourages gender equality because for many years, females were champion shooters competing with male contestants, Western New York schools have traditionally produced championship teams and state champion marksmen.

The law, if passed, would also include the prohibition of competitive archery as well:

1. NO PUBLIC SCHOOL SHALL OFFER MARKSMANSHIP AND/OR SHOOTING PROGRAMS.

2. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, MARKSMANSHIP AND/OR SHOOTING PROGRAMS SHALL INCLUDE ANY COMPETITIVE AND RECREATIONAL SPORTING ACTIVITIES INVOLVING PROFICIENCY TESTS OF ACCURACY, PRECISION AND SPEED IN USING VARIOUS TYPES OF RANGED WEAPONS, SUCH AS FIREARMS AND AIR GUNS, IN FORMS SUCH AS HANDGUNS, RIFLES AND SHOTGUNS AND/OR BOWS OR CROSSBOWS.