SASI

    We've scheduled another Youth Shoot/BSA Rifle Merit Badge session, for Saturday, April 12th, at Old Bethpage R&P Club, at 70 Kean St., in West Babylon (Suffolk County), which is where we've done this before.
    It's open to ALL boys and girls, who are ages 12~17, at the time of the event. Boy Scouts will be able to use this event, to qualify for the Rifle Merit Badge. Scouts will have to provide BSA Blue Cards, for certification. Since the purpose of this event is to introduce as many youngsters as possible to the shooting sports, those who have previously attended will not be able to attend again.
    There is no cost, to the youngsters, their families or the BSA. The Suffolk Alliance of Sportsmen, Inc. (SASI), Camp-Site Sport Shop and Old Bethpage R&P Club, Inc. are absorbing the cost of everything.
    The youngsters will spend the morning, from 8:45am, until approximately noon, in the classroom, taking a basic rifle safety course, for which they will receive a course completion certificate. After that, a pizza lunch will be provided, to the youngsters and our working staff, at no cost. BSA staff, if any, will be on their own, for lunch but there are delis and pizzerias in the area.
    Once the youngsters and our working staff have enjoyed lunch, the youngsters will be moved to the range, in groups of 13, for one-on-one instruction, with certified, experienced instructors, who will teach them how to accurately shoot bolt-action, .22 caliber rifles. Each range relay is expected to take between 20~30 minutes.
    All rifles, ammunition, targets and safety equipment will be provided, courtesy of SASI, Camp-Fire Sports Shop and the NYS DEC. The students will be able to bring home their targets, as well as their reusable ear plugs.
    Only our working staff will be allowed on the range. All youngsters, who are not on the range, must return to the classroom, while awaiting their turns on the range. When they're done shooting, they may leave, if accompanied by an adult or they may return to the classroom, to await their trip home. It's recommended that the youngsters bring some reading material or other form(s) of portable entertainment, to help fill their waiting time. BSA staff may wish to engage in some form of BSA activity, before or after the youngsters' range time.
    No youngster is to bring his or her personal rifle to the event. We will only be using the rifles provided by our staff.
    Our insurance provider requires that we obtain certain paperwork, from the legal guardians of the youngsters, as well as from BSA staff attending. BSA staff must complete the adult version of the insurance-required paperwork.
    The required forms are attached, as PDFs and must be completed, then returned, to the designated address, at least one week BEFORE the scheduled event.
    We will accept only 39 youngsters, whose order of acceptance will be determined by being the first 39 to turn in the required paperwork. Applicants, whose paperwork is received, after the closing date, will be placed on a waiting list, in the event of cancellations or withdrawals.
    BSA staff, if any, is limited to one adult, per troop, because of space limitations. No other adults, other than our working staff, will be allowed admittance.
    We may be in need of staff assistance, in the form of Certified Rifle Instructors and cleanup staff. Also, we always seem to be able to use extra bolt-action, iron-sighted (no scopes), .22 cal, rimfire rifles.

    Range Instructors should expect to be there, from 10am~about 4pm. Cleanup staff should expect to be there from just about 11am, until about 4pm.
    Should you have any questions or like to volunteer your time or provide rifle(s), please feel free to PM me or call me, at my office, at (631) 226 7202. The office phone has 24/7 voice mail
Thanks.
Gary

Parental permission and hold harmless, for Youth Shoot.pdf (312.27 kb)

Hold harmless agreement, for adults, for Youth Shoot.pdf (292.32 kb)

From: Senator James L. Seward
Subject: Special Bulletin: Ammunition Background Check

    As you know, the SAFE Act that was passed, last year, over my strenuous objection and includes a background check, on buyers of ammunition, in New York. Because I have had a number of calls, on this issue, I wanted to provide an update.
    The law requires that the background checks, on ammo buyers, start on January 15^th, 2014 OR whenever the state police superintendent certifies that the relevant database is in place and operational.
    Please note the following:
    1) While ammunition sellers and retailers (other than type 01 or 07 FFLs) must register, with the state, by January 15^th, the database is not in place and is not operational. Ammunition background checks will not begin on January 15^th;
    2) The SAFE Act does not authorize any fee, for the ammo background check. I have received numerous calls, about a supposed $10 fee, for the ammo background check. The state police would need clear authority, in the law, to impose a fee and there is none. I believe that some are confused, by the fee, which dealers can charge, when they perform NICS checks, for someone involved in a private sale. If a retailer or big box store clerk is telling you that his company is going to charge you a $10 state fee, for ammo background checks, ask to see the letter, from the state police;
    3) While the SAFE Act now prohibits free citizens from exercising their right to accept personal delivery of ammunition, via the Internet, a vendor can ship your Internet purchase of ammunition to a licensed ammunition seller (gun dealer or FFL), where you take possession of it, in person. This might happen, where, for instance, a dealer might not keep ammo on hand, in unusual or less common calibers;
    4) The prohibition, on Internet sales and the ammunition background check, do not apply to reloading components. You may still purchase powder, shot, wads, primers and hulls, via your usual sources (but I respectfully suggest that you support your local corner gun dealer).
    You can stay updated, on the SAFE Act, at this link: http://www.governor.ny.gov/nysafeact/gun-reform.
    Last year, the legislature reduced the applicable portion of budget funding, for the ammunition background check database. Little funding is available, to move forward, on its development. To build a database, which will check multiple sources, simultaneously (mental health records, orders of protection, felony convictions, etc.), will take a period of time and substantial funding. It’s been almost a year and it’s not ready to go.
    We had some good news, with a federal judge’s decision, striking down the SAFE Act’s limit on seven cartridges in a magazine but there’s much more to be done.
    I will continue my efforts, to peel back as much of this travesty as possible.

Supplemental, from Gary:

   The fact that the state law does not require a fee, for the background check, does not mean that an ammo seller cannot charge same or that, if s/he does, it has to be limited to $10.

Please see the attached PDF, for details of the .17 and .22 cal rifles subject to this recall.

Gary

Ruger recall notice.pdf (575.82 kb)

This is the text of the complete decision, as a PDF. It's expected that NYSRPA will appeal the portion of the decisions against it and the State of NY will appeal the portion of the decisions against it. This case is expected to go all the way, the Supreme Court of the US.

Gary

NYSRPA first decision, NYS fed court.pdf (2.65 mb)

     Springfield Armory (Genesco, IL) has advised that there is a potential for accidental discharge in some of its 9mm and .45ACP XD-S pistols. The serial numbers involved are XS900000 through XS938700, for the 9mm version and serial numbers XS500000 through XS686300, for the .45s. All owners are asked to immediately cease using the handguns, carefully unload them, then go to Springfieldrecall.com, for instructions about how to get the handguns back to Springfield Armory.
    Springfield will pay all costs, including the cost of shipping, both ways, for the upgrade and repair.