TROY, NY -- (2/28/2007)(EIS) -- You wouldn't expect world-class rifle shooters -- much less world-class female rifle shooters -- to come from New York City. But the Fong sisters, Abigail, a 19 year-old college freshman, and Sandra, a 17 year-old high school junior, are just that: world-class female rifle shooters raised in Manhattan. At the recent World Cup rifle matches at Colorado Springs, CO they turned in a performance that every New Yorker (and every American) can be proud of. 

World Cup matches bring the world's best shooters together several times each year, giving Team USA an opportunity to test its skills against its strongest competition. Team USA did well at Colorado Springs, and the Fong sisters made a notable contribution. In the junior division of the three-position smallbore rifle event, Sandra took the silver medal and Abigail took bronze. Abigail also took bronze in the junior division of the air rifle event. 

Next up for the Fongs: Abigail heads for the Mid-Atlantic Conference college championship this weekend, and World Cup matches in Germany and Australia later this year. She will also be training with the National Olympic Development Team. Sandra will be training with the National Olympic Development Team as well. A third Fong sister, Danielle, is also making her mark -- as a paralympic competitor. She represented the U.S. at the World Paralympic Championships in Switzerland last summer (the only American woman at the competition), where she qualified for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. 

The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association congratulates all three Fong sisters, and wishes them continued success. We know they will continue to make New York proud!

TROY, NY -- (2/8/2007)(EIS) -- What do children do when they find a gun? If they have participated in the National Rifle Association's Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program they follow the four rules that the program teaches: STOP! Don't touch. Leave the Area. Tell an Adult.

While firearms accidents are at an all-time low in New York State, any accident is one too many. The NRA has offered the Eddie Eagle program to children in pre-K through third grade for nearly 20 years.  The four key rules above are taught utilizing student workbooks, a 7-minute animated video, brochures and student reward stickers. Teachers receive an Instructor's Guide. Program materials are also available in Spanish, and grants may be available to defray the program's nominal costs.

A recent Eddie Eagle class at a Glen Cove elementary school was catalyzed by Brian Pemberton, one of the NYSRPA's Regional Directors for Long Island. The class was taught by a local police officer, and the school's principal, Francine Santoro, described it as a great success and a valuable lesson for students.

For help in bringing the Eddie Eagle GunSafe(R)Program to your local school, daycare center or library, contact the NYSRPA at (518) 272-2654 or info@nysrpa.org. For further information about the program go to www.nrahq.org/safety/eddie/.

TROY, NY -- (2/6/2007)(EIS) -- When it was announced that Governor Eliot Spitzer would appointment a new director for the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association anticipated a nominee with a background in a field such as environmental science, biology or habitat management. Moreover, the NYSRPA looked forward to working with a man or woman sympathetic to the rights and needs of New York's hunters, trappers and shooters -- someone prepared to provide stewardship of New York State lands for all New Yorkers. 

The Governor's nominee, Alexander "Pete" Grannis, possesses none of these qualifications. He is a lawyer and long-time State Assembly member with little experience in any field related to the DEC's mission. His record in Albany has been one of consistent hostility toward New York's hunters and shooters: 

-- Sponsored and voted for numerous bills designed to restrict firearms ownership and usage among law-abiding New Yorkers, consistently siding with anti-gun organizations such as New Yorkers Against Gun Violence. 

-- Sponsored vaguely-worded legislation in the past (A-1850) that would have effectively banned hunting as cruelty to animals. 

-- Repeatedly honored and endorsed by anti-hunting organizations including the ASPCA and the League of Humane Voters. 

-- Currently sponsors legislation (A-3009) giving municipalities the authority to ban trapping -- an abdication of the State's obligation to oversee these activities, and one that would create a crazy-quilt of local laws and regulations. 

The NYSRPA urges all New Yorkers to contact their State Senators and ask them to block the appointment of Pete Grannis to head the Department of Environmental Conservation.

TROY, NY -- (8/1/2006)(EIS) -- In a huge victory for New York shooters, Governor Pataki today signed into law State Assembly and Senate companion bills which for the first time allow New Yorkers as young as 14, and up to the age of 20, to learn to shoot handguns. This means that New York will now be able to begin training future Olympians and national champions far sooner than before, and will be able to field junior pistol teams at the USA Shooting National Championships and NRA National Championships each summer. To ensure safety, these "junior shooters" may "possess and use" pistols only at accredited shooting ranges, and under the supervision of a military officer, a military- or NRA-certified small arms instructor, or an adult certified in responsible hunting practices by the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation.

TROY, NY -- (6/21/2006)(EIS) -- At its June 10th annual meeting the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association proudly announced that Assembly Republican Leader James N. Tedisco of the 110th District representing Saratoga & Schenectady counties was chosen as the recipient of the NYSRPA 2006 Legislator of the Year award. This award is given annually to legislators who unfailing support the 2nd Amendment and the shooters and sportsmen of New York state. The recipients of this award have repeatedly supported the NYSRPA's endeavors, introducing legislation that leads the way in defending New Yorkers' 2nd Amendment rights while providing a safe place for all New Yorkers to live.

TROY, NY -- (1/20/2006)(EIS) -- The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association (NYSRPA) has given New York State Assemblyman and Gubernatorial Candidate Patrick Manning its highest rating for protecting New Yorkers' freedoms and preserving New Yorkers' rights to legally purchase, own and use of firearms. 

"Assemblyman Manning has worked hard during his years in the Legislature to ensure that New Yorkers can legally obtain and safely use firearms. His voice has been unique in that regard and we appreciate his support," said Tom King, president of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association. 

NYSRPA grades candidates based on their support of NYSRPA values of preserving the rights to legally purchase firearms and properly store and use them. Some of the issues the Association support includes passage of The Castle Doctrine in New York (defining a New Yorker's home as his or her castle and preserving rights to defend it with any force necessary); providing for renewable pistol licenses; opposing a ban on affordable and easily concealable firearms and opposing increasing liability for gun owners, sellers and manufacturers. 

The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association represents thousands of New York hunters and sport shooters and seeks to educate New Yorkers about the safe purchase, handling, storage and use of firearms.

TROY, NY -- (12/22/2005)(EIS) -- The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association (NYSRPA) today applauded the New York State Senate and Governor Pataki for their efforts in negotiating with Speaker Silver and the Assembly an acceptable piece of legislation designed to protect New Yorkers and punish criminals who are illegally trafficking in or using guns. 

To make New York a safer place, however, NYSRPA now calls upon the legislature to pass a "Castle Doctrine" Law to make protecting one's home legal in all circumstances. 

The Castle Doctrine is an ancient common law doctrine with origins going back at least to Roman law that provides that a man's home is his castle and, hence he may use all manner of force including deadly force to protect it and its inhabitants from attack. 

A similar bill was signed into law earlier this year by Florida Governor Jeb Bush which removed the "duty to retreat" in the face of attack; created the presumption that an attacker or intruder intends to do great bodily harm and therefore force, including deadly force, may be used to protect one's self, one's family and others in the face of attack; and, it prohibited prosecution for defending that which one has a right to defend and prohibited civil lawsuits by criminals or relatives of criminals when criminals are injured or killed while attacking law-abiding people. 

"New Yorkers should not have to live in fear that their lives and property might be at risk," said NYSRPA president Tom King. "Now that the Legislature has agreed upon legislation which will punish criminals for their illegal actions, it is time that we pass legislation which would make our families and properties safer from criminals." A study of national crime data by criminologist Gary Kleck found "robbery and assault victims who used a gun to resist were less likely to be attacked or to suffer an injury than those who used any other methods of self-protection or those who did not resist at all." 

As further proof, one should look at crime statistics in Canada and England; both countries with among the strictest gun control legislation in the world. A recent British government report found that England had the worst crime rate among 35 countries; with a crime rate nearly triple some of its neighbors. Canada came in second. Both countries have high levels of domestic burglary. Canada's rate is more than twice that of many European countries. 

The frequency of "hot" break-ins -- where the occupants are at home when the thieves arrive -- is much higher in Canada and the England than elsewhere. In England, nearly two-thirds of burglaries are of the "hot" variety, and in Canada, nearly half. By comparison, the figure is only 13 percent in the United States. 

"Passing Castle Doctrine laws in New York State will further protect New Yorkers from criminals who enter our homes and make criminals think twice before trying to bring harm to our families. Who could be against that?" said King.

TROY, NY -- (12/20/2005)(EIS) -- STATEMENT FROM: TOM KING PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK STATE RIFLE AND PISTOL ASSOCIATION REGARDING THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY'S PROPOSED GUN LAWS

"Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver continues to prevent passage of legislation - supported by the New York State Senate and Governor Pataki - which would toughen the laws on illegal trafficking of guns. The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association supports the effort to remove illegal firearms and those who possess them from our streets. 

We need to punish criminals who illegally own or traffic in guns, not criminalize the legal use and sale of firearms. Speaker Silver and the Assembly's proposed legislation try to shift the focus to blame legal gun owners and sellers instead of protecting our law enforcement officials and apprehending those who illegally use, possess or sell firearms. 

Unfortunately, anti-gun advocates are taking advantage of the tragic deaths of two New York City police officers as they continue to seek laws which would infringe upon the constitutional rights of New Yorkers to legally own and use firearms. 

On behalf of the thousands of legal New York gun owners, sport shooters, hunters and other law abiding citizens who make up the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, I can only hope that when our politicians come to Albany on Wednesday they look beyond the rhetoric and distasteful exploitation of these tragedies and focus on the criminal behavior of those illegally trafficking and using guns and confront the real issues facing our state."

TROY, NY -- (12/6/2005)(EIS) -- STATEMENT FROM: TOM KING PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK STATE RIFLE AND PISTOL ASSOCIATION REGARDING NEW YORK'S U.S. SENATE CANDIDATES

"On behalf of the thousands of legal New York gun owners, sport shooters, hunters and other law abiding citizens who make up the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, we call upon the New York State Republican Party to offer a major party candidate for U.S. Senate who clearly defends New Yorker's rights to legally own and discharge firearms. 

Now, more than ever, our state's leadership needs to send a message that New Yorkers will not sit idly by and allow our freedoms to deteriorate at the hands of politicians and gun activists. 

We need to support a U.S. Senate candidate who will represent the thousands of New York gun owners, hunters and sport shooters whose voices have been silenced for too long. What better way to send a message to Washington - to the nation - than to elect a pro-gun U.S. Senator from New York? 

We call upon the political leadership of the New York State Republican Party to endorse a candidate who will represent the views of all of our citizens and maintain our lawful rights to protect ourselves, our families and our freedoms."

TROY, NY -- (10/26/2005)(EIS) -- Last week's passage of The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act by the United States Senate and House of Representatives will have a positive effect on New Yorkers' safety and lives. The Act, limiting civil liability for firearm manufacturers, has been passed by both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives and is awaiting President Bush's signature. 

"We are -- for the first time in years -- heartened by an Act of Congress which will enable lawful manufacturers to continue to operate in our country without the risk of frivolous lawsuits," said Thomas King, president of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association. 

Several gun manufacturers have recently ceased New York operations due in part to the increasing cost of defending class action and other lawsuits. Hundreds of New Yorkers have been put out of work because of the plant closings. 

As violent crime continues to drop in the wake of last year's expiration of the so-called "assault weapons ban", anti-gun advocates have taken to filing hundreds of frivolous lawsuits against manufacturers to attempt to limit lawful gun ownership. 

"It's hard to imagine an industry in this country has to be protected from lawyers by such a law," said King. "Our politicians -- especially many in New York State -- would rather blame the manufacturers of a completely legal product than the criminals who utilize it illegally."

TROY, NY -- (07/21/2005)(EIS) -- New York State shooters acquitted themselves with honor at the 2005 National Pistol Championships held earlier this month at Camp Perry in Port Clinton, Ohio. In the individual National Championship competition four New York shooters placed in the top 15 in the civilian High Master class - the most skilled and most competitive civilian group: Harvey Loomis (5th), Chris Sobers (8th), Gary Spear (12th) and Arthur Monahan (13th). In addition, Chris Sobers placed 15th in the President's 100 match sponsored by the Civilian Marksmanship Program, and ranked as the third civilian in that match, which is traditionally dominated by military competitors. 

In the National Championship team competition the New York State "Scotto" team, comprised of Gary Spear, John Thompson, Stephen Kraynak, Harvey Loomis and Ed Hall, placed first among High Master State Association Teams. In the Civilian Marksmanship Program's National Trophy Team Match, the New York State Wolff team, comprised of Gary Spear, John Thompson, Stephen Kraynak and Ed Hall, placed sixth, and ranked second among civilian teams. 

The National Championship matches are fired with .22 caliber, centerfire (.32 - .45 caliber) and .45 caliber target pistols built specifically for such competitions. Matches sponsored by the Civilian Marksmanship Program are fired with the .45 caliber M1911 service pistols carried by American fighting men from WWI through the Vietnam conflict.

TROY, NY -- (06/13/2005)(EIS) -- Recently released FBI crime data validates statements by gun ownership advocates that last year's expiration of the so-called "assault weapons ban" would not impact crime and may, in fact, help improve community safety. 

According to an FBI report, the national homicide rate has declined for the first time since 1999. The report shows that homicides declined 5.4 percent in cities with more than 1 million people and overall murder rates dropped 3.6 percent. 

"I think this justifies our statements that the expiration of the ban would not have a negative impact on crime in this country or in New York," said Tom King, President of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association. 

When the ten year old ban on certain semiautomatic firearms expired last September, gun control advocates and media outlets warned of increases in violence, especially against children. 

"Unfortunately, those same people trying to draw the connection between crime and gun ownership have apparently stopped trying to make such a connection public. And, apparently the media is not as concerned with publicizing these truths." said King. "Violent crime has decreased since the weapon ban expired. What can be more telling than that?"

TROY, NY -- (05/03/2005)(EIS) -- In a tournament partly postponed by the torrential rains of late March and early April, Gary Spear of Harpursville, NY emerged as the 2005 New York State Indoor Pistol champion. Mr. Spear is no stranger to this title, having won it in 2004, and a total of seven times since 1997. Mr. Spear posted a score of 2617 out of a possible 2700 points. Close behind was Chris Sobers of Redhook, NY, who posted a score of 2614 to finish second overall and first in the high Master class. The 2005 championship was also something of a family affair: Frances Spear, the high woman finisher in the match, is Gary Spear's wife.

The other top finishers in the match were John DiMeola (Mineola, NY-first in the Master class), John Thompson (Port Crane, NY . first Expert), Roger Chapelle (Lincounton Station, NY-first Sharpshooter), John Allsop (Valley Falls, NY-first Marksman), Steve Setian (E. Longmeadow, MA-high non-resident), John Gemmill (Cliffwood Beach, NJ-high senior) and Robert Daly (Worchester, NY-high military or police competitor).

TROY, NY -- (04/26/2005)(EIS) -- At its annual meeting earlier this month the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association awarded the 2005 Matthew J. Stoff Memorial Junior Scholarships to Kelly Hoeltschi of Newburg, NY. Ms. Hoeltschi currently attends American University. She was a member of the New York State junior high power rifle team that won a national championship in 2003. 

Commenting on the award, Russ Williams, NYSRPA Vice President and Chair of the Stoff Awards Committee said "The calibre of scholarship among scholarship recipients and the level of competitive accomplishment they have achieved - competing on the most notable ranges, against the most well-trained shooters from other states and in Olympic competition - speaks well of the students, their families and communities, and of a healthy future for the shooting sports in New York and the United States." 

The Stoff scholarships are awarded annually to outstanding New York State high school seniors active in competitive shooting sports. The scholarships are named for Matthew J. Stoff, an NYSRPA junior shooter who died tragically in an automobile accident while returning from a competition. Applicants are evaluated on their dedication to their communities, their academic records and their shooting ability. For more information visit the NYSRPA Web site at http://www.nysrpa.org and look under "Other items of interest."

TROY, NY -- (02/28/2005)(EIS) -- The National Rifle Association's target-shooting classes for women have been skyrocketing in popularity across the country. A recent study by the National Shooting Sports Foundation puts the number of women participating in target sports at more than four million. 

The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association (NYSRPA) offers a number of programs specifically for women. The programs range from an introduction to shooting and gun safety to experienced shooting teams. 

NYSRPA wants to assist reporters and editors in connecting with trained experts in your local area to do stories or interviews so that your readers, listeners and viewers can get some insight into the increasingly popular sport for women. 

Please call Jon Pierce at 518-427-1186 for help scheduling an interview with a local NYSRPA representative in your area.

TROY, NY -- (01/20/2005)(EIS) -- Since 2000, New York State has developed and implemented a ballistic imaging database designed to help law enforcement track firearms used in the commission of a crime. 

Since 2000, New York has wasted approximately $16 million with that program. 

New York's ballistic imaging database, or ballistic fingerprinting program, was designed to assist law enforcement by requiring that a fired bullet and empty cartridge casing from every gun legally sold in the state be submitted to the New York State Police for entry into a vast database. The program utilizes computer technology to match pre-sale ballistics data with crime scene data. To date, the program has yet to yield any results after thousands of data points have been collected and four years of bureaucracy and wasted effort. 

September 2004 study conducted by the Maryland State Police to review Maryland's ballistic database program determined that Maryland's program has been ineffective in assisting law enforcement. In fact, the $5 million Maryland program which contains over 11,000 imaged cartridges, has only been queried 155 times in four years and has not been responsible for solving any crimes, according to the State Police's own report. 

"Governor Pataki told us earlier this week that our state is in a fiscal crisis. New York simply can not afford programs -- even well-intentioned programs -- which do not work and cost us millions of dollars," said Tom King, president of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association (NYSRPA). "New York's ballistic imaging program costs taxpayers about $4 million a year and has provided no results. Let's disband that program and spend the money on health care or education, where it can, hopefully, do some good." 

The ballistic imaging programs fails for two basic reasons: 

1. The technology is unproven. Ballistic imaging is not like DNA sampling. Many experts now believe that the "fingerprints" likely change over time, rendering the database useless. Some guns, such as revolvers or single-shot rifles might not leave any ejection marks. In other cases, guns can be easily tampered with prior to the commission of a crime, rendering the multi-million dollar imaging program useless. 

2. The guns being used to commit crimes are not the guns which are legally purchased by law-abiding citizens and entered into these databases. Currently, Americans legally own more than 200 million firearms and these have not and will not be entered into the database, thereby rendering the program fruitless. 

NYSRPA supports federal efforts recently introduced into congress by Representative Melissa Hart (R-PA) and Senator Zell Mill (D-GA) to study the issues surrounding imaging technology and make recommendations to policymakers and Congress. 

"This is another example of a New York law that sounded good at the time, has produced no tangible results other than allowing some politicians to make hay and, worst of all, has cost New Yorkers an estimated $16 million to-date," said King. "We call on Governor Pataki and the New York State Legislature to repeal this law and use this money to better our State, not burden us."

TROY, NY -- (12/9/2004)(EIS) -- New York's champion junior rifle teams are featured on an upcoming nationally syndicated television show focused on teens. Teen Kid News (TKN) featured the New York teens in an effort to show how high-powered rifles are often used in sport. 

Filming took place at The Roslyn Rifle and Revolver Club in Calverton, NY and featured two captains of New York's National Champion Junior team: Kelly Hoeltschi (Newburgh, NY) and Victoria Geramita (Wingdale, NY). 

Teen Kid News will air on television stations throughout New York (see attached list) and the country this weekend. 

"Teaching our youth how to responsibly handle a rifle and shoot it for sport is a great tradition of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association (NYSRPA)," said Thomas King, NYSRPA president. "Based on some reports, one would assume that only deranged criminals use such firearms but the truth is that high powered rifle shooting is a long-standing and honorable sport that even teenagers can safely enjoy." 

Teen Kids News is a weekly 30-minute program which attempts to show the news and topical issues through the eyes of teens to other teens. TKN partners with Weekly Reader for content and educational ideas. 

The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association represents thousands of New York hunters and sport shooters. NYSRPA seeks to educate all New Yorkers about the safe purchase, handling, storage and usage of firearms. 

NEW YORK TELEVISION STATIONS AIRING TEEN KID NEWS THIS WEEKEND (DECEMBER 10-12) 

{  STATION CH AFFIL MARKET TIME PERIOD 

WCBS-TV 2 CBS New York, NY Sun. 1:30 p.m. 
WLNY-TV 55 IND New York, NY Sat. 7:00 a.m. 
WRNN-TV 62 IND New York, NY Fri. 4:30 p.m. 
WIVB-TV 4 CBS Buffalo, NY Sat. 11:00 a.m. 
WNLO-TV 23 UPN Buffalo, NY Sat.-Sun. 6:00 a.m. 
WTEN-TV 10 ABC Albany/Schenectady/ Sat. 7:30 a.m. Troy, NY 
WPTZ-TV 5 NBC Burlington, VT/ Sun. 7:30 a.m. Plattsburgh, NY 
WNNE-TV 31 NBC Burlington, VT/ Sun. 7:30 a.m. Plattsburgh, NY 
WICZ-TV 40 FOX Binghamton, NY Sat. 7:00 a.m. 
WFXV-TV 33 FOX Utica, NY Sat. 6:30 a.m. 
WENY-TV 36 ABC Elmira, NY Sat. 7:30 a.m. 
WLOT-TV 66 UPN Watertown, NY Fri. 5:30 p.m. 
}

TROY, NY -- (09/17/2004)(EIS) -- On September 13, 2004, the federal Assault Weapons Ban expired. The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association would like to thank Congress and President Bush for allowing this to happen. The ban, which prohibited the sale of 19 types of "assault weapon," was a needless law that even Clinton administration Attorney General Janet Reno admitted had no effect on crime. The banned semi-automatic rifles were no more capable than the rifles thousands of hunters and target shooters use regularly. (In fact, hunters and target shooters use legal cousins of the banned rifles regularly.) The 19 arms were banned merely because of certain cosmetic features that gave them the look (but not the firepower) of military weapons. Contrary to popular belief, the ban had nothing to do with automatic weapons, which have been (and continue to be) strictly controlled since 1934. 

Not surprisingly, the New York City Council is in a dither over the sunset of the Assault Weapons Ban, and is riding to the rescue with its usual alacrity. Asserting that allowing the ban to expire is a slap in the face to New Yorkers -- who, incidentally, are still subject to New York State's own "assault weapons" ban -- Council Speaker Gifford Miller, Council Member David Yassky and Andrew Pelosi of the New Yorkers Against Gun Violence proposed legislation on September 12th that increases penalties for those who illegally sell or purchase firearms. The NYSRPA views this proposed legislation as merely the latest attempt by the Council to garner publicity by promoting legislation that has no effect on crime. It is absurd to think that criminals will pay any more attention to this new law than they already pay to the myriad gun laws on the books. The likely effect will be to penalize law-abiding gun owners who accidentally run afoul of the more obscure regulations. 

For all this, the New York City Council richly deserves NYSRPA's September Misfire Award. The NYSRPA inaugurated the Misfire Awards earlier this year in order to bring to New Yorkers' attention the many needless gun laws proposed by state and local government. Watch your tax dollars at work as legislators author bills that will have no effect on crime, but will harass law-abiding New Yorkers who wish to use firearms for legitimate sporting and/or self-defense purposes.

TROY, NY -- (08/13/2004)(EIS) -- The September 14th Republican primary in the 24th Congressional District pits incumbent Congressman Sherwood Boehlert against challenger David Walrath. The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association and SCOPE would like to remind voters, especially the gun owners, shooters, and sportsmen of the district. about these candidates positions on gun rights issues. 

Incumbent Sherwood Boehlert -- Voted for Brady Bill in 1993 -- Voted for Clinton Gun Ban in 1994 -- Voted against restricting taxpayer funding of antigun lobby groups in 1996 -- Voted against Clinton Gun Ban repeal in 1996 -- Voted against amendment preventing the Justice Department from enforcing the Bill Clinton/Smith & Wesson agreement in 2000 -- Voted against destroying FBI records of gun owners in 2001 -- National Rifle Association rating: F -- Gun Owners of America rating: F -- New York State Rifle & Pistol Association rating: F 

Challenger David Walrath -- Gun owner, shooter, sportsman -- National Rifle Association rating: A -- Gun Owners of America rating: A -- New York State Rifle & Pistol Association rating: A } 

NYSRPA and SCOPE urge gun owners, shooters, and sportsmen in the 24th CD to vote to protect their gun rights in the September 14th primary.

TROY, NY -- (07/26/2004)(EIS) -- At the National Pistol Championships earlier this month, New York State's "Wolff" team placed first among civilian teams in the National Trophy Team Match. The Wolff team of Richard Baum (Monticello-Coach), Stephen Kraynak (Watervliet -- Captain), Edwin Hall (Tupper Lake), Jeffrey Bromberger (Freeport) and Chris Sobers (Redhook) bested the Washington state Gold team by nine points to win the Oglethorpe Trophy. The National Trophy Team Match is sponsored by the Civilian Marksmanship Program. The match is fired with 45 caliber M1911-style service pistols using hardball (full-power) ammunition, making it a very demanding event. 

New York teams were also successful in the NRA three-gun championship. The "Scotto" team, competing in the Civilian High Master class, placed first in the three-gun grand aggregate. The "Dwyer" team, competing in the Civilian Marksman class, placed second in the three-gun grand aggregate. The three-gun championship is comprised of matches with 22 caliber, centerfire (any caliber between 32 and 45) and 45 caliber pistols. 

There were also notable New York finishes in the individual three-gun competition: Arthur Monahan (Elmhurst), Harvie Loomis (Newark Valley), Chris Sobers and Gary Spear (Harpursville) all placed in the top ten in the Civilian High Master class. A total of 721 shooters competed at the National Championships, which are held at Camp Perry, Ohio every July. 

Sadly, the success of the NYSRPA Wolff team was overshadowed by the death of Ken Saucier of the Washington State team in an automobile accident while driving home from Camp Perry. Stephen Kraynak, Wolff team Captain and NYSRPA Pistol Director, offered these thoughts about the matches and the untimely death of Mr. Saucier: "On behalf of the National Trophy Team Civilian Champions I would like to express our gratitude for the opportunity To represent the NYSRPA in the Pistol Championships at Camp Perry Ohio. We celebrate our win and at the same time wish to express our sadness at the loss of Ken Saucier, a fellow competitor and member of the second place Washington state team who was lost in a tragic auto accident returning from Camp Perry. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."

TROY, NY -- (07/12/2004)(EIS) -- The NYSRPA High Power Rifle Championships were held on July 3-4, at Camp Smith in Peekskill, NY. 

The 2004 NYSRPA High Power Rifle Champion is Jim Treacy of Orange County, with a score of 782-18x (out of 800 points). Finishing second was Dwight Becherer of Suffolk County with 781-28x, and third was Jim Gartrell (a Connecticut resident and NYSRPA member) with 779-22x. The high senior competitor was Bill Sheridan of Nassau County with 758-19x, and the high junior -- also the high woman -- was Vicky Geramita of Wingdale with 758-18x. 

In the 2004 4-man team competition, NYSRPA Kraft finished first with 1165-29x, team NYSRPA Ruderman second with 1160-35x and NYSRPA Prahler finished third with 1154-23x. 

In conjunction with this event a Civilian Marksmanship Program Excellence-In-Competition ("Leg") Match was also held. The match winner was John Tusinski of Suffolk county with a score of 487-14x (out of 500 points). Second place went to Dwight Becherer with 487-12X and third went to Bob Modica of Peekskill with 479-9x. Earning points towards their Distinguished Rifleman Badge were Brian Fradl of Suffolk county with 10 points, Vicky Geramita with 8 points and Emil Smith (a Connecticut resident and NYSRPA member), and Chris Primavera of Poughkeepsie, with six points each. The six points earned by Chris Primavera put him over the top and he is now a Distinguished Rifleman. 

These "Leg" points are earned by finishing in the top 10 percent of the Non-Distinguished competitors in the match. The match is fired in four stages: 10 shots standing at 200 yards, 10 shots sitting rapid-fire at 200 yards, 10 shots prone rapid-fire at 300 yards and 20 shots prone slow-fire at 600 yards. All stages are fired with no sighting shots and competitors may compete in only three of these events annually (four if they compete at the National Championships at Camp Perry). Only some 1,800 civilians to-date have earned this award, which was introduced approximately 100 years ago.

TROY, NY -- (06/23/2004)(EIS) -- The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association inaugurated its Misfire Awards in May of 2004 in order to bring to New Yorkers' attention the many needless gun laws proposed in the State Assembly and State Senate, as well as by local government. Watch your tax dollars at work as legislators author bills that will have no effect on crime, but will harass law-abiding New Yorkers who wish to use firearms for legitimate sporting and/or self-defense purposes. 

The June Misfire Award goes to Assembly bill A-2927. This bill calls for "personalized" guns that will fire only in the hands of "authorized users," and establishes a "commission" consisting of State officials to draft a standard for "personalization." This commission will operate without oversight. Whatever standard it comes up with will become law four years later, and whatever "personalization" technology it approves will become mandatory in all guns sold in New York State. Before any gun can be sold in New York State, its manufacturer will have to submit two prototypes for testing at its own expense. This will effectively ban the products of small manufacturers, and put custom shops out of business. Small manufacturers will probably not be able to afford all of the prototypes needed for testing, and since custom guns are created one-at-a-time, there will never be prototypes of these firearms for testing. Moreover, gun owners will not be able to sell older guns to other New York State residents, and it is unclear whether they will be able to pass them down to their children and grandchildren. 

It is telling that the bill exempts "firearms purchased by law enforcement officers or departments or agencies and members of the armed forces." Clearly, the bill's sponsors understand that "personalization" technology may not work when it is needed, and may well put the lives of law enforcement officers and the military at needless risk. Are private citizens' lives not worth the same consideration? Should we be forced to trust those lives to an unproven and trouble-prone technological solution?

TROY, NY -- (05/25/2004)(EIS) -- The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association has inaugurated its Misfire Awards in order to bring to New Yorkers' attention the many needless gun laws proposed in the State Assembly and State Senate, as well as by local government.  Watch your tax dollars at work as legislators author bills that will have no effect on crime, but will harass law-abiding New Yorkers who wish to use firearms for legitimate sporting and/or self-defense purposes.

The first Misfire Award goes to Assembly bill A-3539. Not only will this bill have no effect on crime, it may increase it! A-3539 requires common carriers to provide drivers carrying firearms shipments with manifests listing, among other things, the "make, model and manufacturer's name of each firearm" and "the serial number for each firearm sold or exchanged on the Internet..." Naturally, these manifests will have to be created by office staff, and accompany the boxed firearms to the warehouse or loading dock. Can you think of a better way to alert sticky-fingered employees to the availability of prime merchandise? Kudos to the bill's sponsors for creating a new problem while attempting to solve one that did not exist!

TROY, NY -- (04/28/2004)(EIS) -- At its annual meeting the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association awarded the 2004 Matthew J. Stoff Memorial Junior Scholarships to Andrew Paollo, 19, of Carmel, NY and Victoria Geramita, 18, of Wingdale, NY. Mr. Paollo currently attends St. Thomas Aquinas College. Ms. Geramita attends Marist College. Both were members of the New York State junior team that won a national championship in 2003.

"Once again, the 2004 award applicants provided a wide range of high citizenship commitment, scholarship and sportsmanship" said Russ Williams, NYSRPA Vice President and Chair of the Stoff Awards Committee.

The Stoff scholarships are awarded annually to outstanding New York State high school seniors active in competitive shooting sports. The scholarships are named for Matthew J. Stoff, an NYSRPA junior shooter who died tragically in an automobile accident while returning from a competition. Applicants are evaluated on their dedication to their communities, their academic records and their shooting ability.  

TROY, NY -- (01/09/2004)(EIS) -- With Ohio’s enactment yesterday of a law mandating the issuance of a license to carry a personal firearm to law-abiding adults, New York State today is among a shrinking minority of states that continue to enforce a policy of victim disarmament.  Today, 37 states have laws that either mandate the issuance of a carry license to every qualifying adult who applies, or else do not require that a law-abiding adult obtain such a license in order to carry a personal defense firearm.  Three of those states – Connecticut , Vermont and Pennsylvania –  border on the Empire State.  Their citizens are freer than New York ’s, and also safer.  The “parade of horribles” constantly promised by the anti-gun Cassandras has never materialized, and never will.

Governor Pataki mentioned “freedom” more than 40 times in his State of the State address this week.  Nothing represents freedom more than a citizen’s right to possess the tools that protect freedom and life itself.  However, in New York State, a law-abiding adult’s right to protect herself and her family is subject to the whim of local officials throughout the state.  In New York City, an average citizen will wait six months to get a restricted license, limited to the place of one’s home or business, the fees for which many cannot afford.  However, the politicians and bureaucrats for some reason extend greater rights to real estate and supermarket magnates, film stars and radio personalities, and a handful of other citizens, as if they are more deserving of the right to self-defense than the rest of us.  They are not.

Gun control in New York has, like every other form of Prohibition before it, caused otherwise law-abiding citizens to take their chances with the law.  It is racist in its origins and in its effects today.  If Governor Pataki is serious about enhancing the security and the freedom of New Yorkers, he will follow the lead of 37 other states and demand legislation that at last recognizes the right of all law-abiding New York citizens to responsibly bear arms.  

TROY, NY -- (06/12/2003)(EIS) -- In a move that may jeopardize New York City's bid for the 2012 Olympics as well as undercut the dreams of Olympic hopefuls, the Empire State Games has dropped all Olympic-style shooting events from the 2003 roster. Part of Games since their inception, and a springboard for New Yorkers who have Olympic aspirations, all shooting events have been summarily deleted for no apparent valid reason. 

Ironically, New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg's office recently contacted New York State Rifle & Pistol Association President Tom King with a request for help in winning the City's bid for the Olympics. 

Says Mr. King: "In the middle of all of this I received a call from Mayor Bloomberg's office asking me to draft a letter to the Olympic Committee explaining how friendly to the shooting sports New York State is. That's a letter I clearly cannot write at this point." 

In addition to sending a poor message to the Olympic committee, deletion of the shooting sports can squash the dreams of New Yorkers who have trained for years for the chance to become Olympians. New Yorkers like Thrine Kane, a past participant in the Empire Games who went on to become a member of the 2000 US Olympic Shooting Team. For her performance in the 1998 Empire Games, Ms. Kane was named Athlete of the Year in New York State, as well as National Athlete of the Year by the National Congress of State Games. Such recognition is not easy to come by, but the Empire State Games has traditionally provided a showcase for New York's best athletes, like Ms. Kane, to become known on a National level. 

At the time, State Parks Commissioner Bernadette Castro was quoted as saying "Thrine is a wonderful example of the best of New York's athletes participating in the Empire State Games. She is among the young men and women who excel in both the classroom and on the playing fields." 

Says Mr. King: "It is clear to us that in the past the Games committee has recognized the importance of the sport, as Ms. Kane's awards attest. Short-circuiting the Olympic hopes of New Yorkers, especially at a time like this, makes no sense at all." 

Traditionally the safest, best disciplined and well-run events of the Games, the shooting events will be sorely missed by those who have trained all year, as well as Games staff who every year send cards thanking competitors for the contribution the shooting events make to the success of the Games. 

"We just don't understand it," says Empire Games Shooting Chair Chuck Meyer. "The two main reasons we were told the shooting events were being dropped were cost and low participation levels. However, the State Rifle & Pistol Association has offered to raise the money to cover the events, and open and scholastic competition has been at the expected participation level for the past several years. Frankly, we feel blind-sided by this decision." 

Adds Mr. King: "It's a real shame. The shooting sports have been an integral part of the Games since they began, and now athletes have trained all year for these events just to get shut out without notice or reason. " 

The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association will continue to work to reinstate the shooting sports says Mr. King. 

"We need to keep the shooting events a part of the Games for so many reasons, not the least of which is to send a message to the Olympic Committee that New York is indeed friendly to the shooting sports. New York City badly needs to win their bid for the Olympic Games, and we will keep fighting to help them do just that." 

TROY, NY -- (05/27/2003)(EIS) -- For at least the third time just six months, Black or Hispanic men are facing criminal charges in New York City for using a firearm to defend their home or place of business.  These good men are all victims of gun control.

(1) On December 14, 2002, U.S. Navy veteran Ronald Dixon shot and wounded a burglar inside his Brooklyn home, after the burglar refused to leave the home and instead entered Dixon's infant son's bedroom.

(2) On February 18, 2003, U.S. airman Manuel Falquez shot and killed a burglar wielding a .38-caliber gun and a knife who was breaking into the airman's mother's home in Corona.

(3) On May 26, 2003, Harlem grocery store shopkeepers Jose Acosta, 69, and Victor Alejandro, 23, were both arrested and charged with violating New York's gun control laws after Mr. Acosta reportedly used a handgun to end the attempted robbery, at gunpoint, of their store.

In each case, their use of deadly force has already been, or surely will be, found justifiable under the law by the involved District Attorneys.  But all of these decent men will be prosecuted, vilified, given criminal records and, if the have the audacity to confront the injustice, impoverished, because of the little-understood but invidiously racist gun control system in New York City.

The fact that the circumstance of having to choose between being tried by twelve or carried by six now routinely befalls Black and Hispanic New Yorkers reflects among other things an undeniable motive for, and unavoidable effect of, gun control -- racism. At the beginnings of gun control in New York, in 1905, the New York Times candidly editorialized:

"[The proposed gun control] measure would prove corrective and salutary in a city filled with immigrants and evil communications, floating from the shores of Italy and Austria-Hungary. New York police reports frequently testify to the fact that the Italian and other south Continental gentry here are acquainted with the pocket pistol, and while drunk or merrymaking will use it quite as handily as the stiletto, and with more deadly effect. It is hoped that this treacherous and distinctly outlandish mode of settling disputes may not spread to corrupt the native good manners of the community."

The constant intersection of racism and gun control throughout the entire, continuing American experience has been painstakingly documented by Robert Cottrol, Professor of Law at George Washington University School of Law, and Raymond T. Diamond, Professor of Law at Tulane University Law School. The victimization is now so complete that the NAACP of all organizations recently brought suit upon a basis only a Klansman could love -- the notion that America's regulated firearms industry caused Black Americans to have more guns than they responsibly could handle. The premise is repulsive in the extreme. 

Gun Control in New York City is administered by the License Division of the N.Y.P.D. If you want a firearm just to protect your home or business (not for carry), the law gives them six months to act on your application. That gives criminals with bad intent a six-month edge.  Actually, it gives them more, because these days the License Division rarely gets its work done in six months. Complaining about the inexplicable delay has been known to get your application summarily rejected. If you don't have that kind of time to be a sitting duck, then you risk becoming victimized like Mr. Dixon, Mr. Falquez, Mr. Acosta and Mr. Alejandro.

In testimony before the Public Safety Committee of the City Council on June 24, 2002, License Division Executive Officer Captain Roy M. Richter acknowledged to Brooklyn City Councilman (and former police officer) James Davis that the N.Y.P.D. standard license application still collects data about the race of the applicant. The License Division does utilize a modern database to manage statistics about license applications, renewals, expirations and terminations -- one that that keeps track of, among other things, the number and types of licenses issues to physicians. However, Captain Richter told Councilman Davis that the License Division does not account for what it does to Black applicants.

At this point, if the License Division did run its numbers, the numbers would not be completely revealing of the full picture of discrimination at work. Pistol licenses in New York City cost $255 for a three-year license. In addition, there is a $74 charge to take fingerprints and forward those to the State Police. The next-most expensive jurisdiction in the State is Nassau County, whose $200 licenses are good for five years (until that county's budget crisis exploded two years ago, pistol licenses there were only $40). In the Empire State's other major cities -- Buffalo, Rochester and Albany, pistol licenses are good for life and cost, respectively, nothing, $10 and $10.  Liberal politicians excellently understand demographics, the marginal value of money, and the regressive character of sales taxes when it comes to speaking up for the interests of minority constituencies. Why won't these same politicians see that New York City's gun control laws discriminate against the same good citizens?

The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association calls upon Governor Pataki, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the New York City Council and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly to act immediately to eliminate discriminatory victim-disarmament laws and firearms licensing practices.