NY Lawmaker Targets School Riflery Teams, Claims They “Could Lead To Violence”

May 10, 2018
New York State Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, D-Manhattan, believes high school shooting sports programs — including air rifle teams and archery clubs — “feed into a gun and shooting culture that could lead to violence.” (AP Photo/David Klepper)

In this March 4, 2017, photo students compete in the public high school athletic association’s air rifle championship at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. A New York lawmaker is taking aim at riflery and archery programs in schools, contending they promote a “gun culture.”  (New York State Public High School Athletic Association via AP)

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Jillian Zakrzeski’s skills with an air rifle earned her three New York state high school shooting championships, a berth in the Junior Olympics and even

recruitment to a college rifle team.

“It’s an amazing sport. It’s not popular like soccer or tennis. But it changed my life,” says Zakrzeski, a 19-year-old criminal justice major at the University of Mississippi. “I can’t see my life without it.”

But a proposal in New York’s legislature would outlaw all high school shooting sports programs in the state — including air rifle teams and archery clubs — on the premise that they feed into a gun and shooting culture that could lead to violence. READ MORE

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