This is from the DEC. Some felon still like to hunt but wish to do it legal So now they can hunt small game and Bow Hunt I hope this will help some hunt legal...This was for a person I know of that wish to hunt and do some shooting and with the SAFE Act you can have your firearms taken do to some med you was on legal...We need to get Hunt Clubs to start including Air Rifle shooting...
"To:
[email protected]
I have a question to ask and need an answer ASAP.
I am a felon and NOT on probation or parole I need to know if I can have and use Air Rifle to hunt with...
I do know that it has to be .177 cal or larger and velocity of 600 fps...
I have check here but I need some thing in writing I was told to ask you here...
Dispatch Central <
[email protected]> Sat, Oct 5, 2013 at 11:21 PM
To:
Yes, DEC does not consider an Air Rifle a "firearm" according to ECO Mead (518-844-7210).
"Firearm" means (a) any pistol or revolver; or ( a shotgun having
one or more barrels less than eighteen inches in length; or © a rifle
having one or more barrels less than sixteen inches in length; or (d)
any weapon made from a shotgun or rifle whether by alteration,
modification, or otherwise if such weapon as altered, modified, or
otherwise has an overall length of less than twenty-six inches; or (e)
an assault weapon. For the purpose of this subdivision the length of the
barrel on a shotgun or rifle shall be determined by measuring the
distance between the muzzle and the face of the bolt, breech, or
breechlock when closed and when the shotgun or rifle is cocked; the
overall length of a weapon made from a shotgun or rifle is the distance
between the extreme ends of the weapon measured along a line parallel to
the center line of the bore. Firearm does not include an antique
firearm.
So, NYS does not consider an airgun a firearm. However, NYS and federal law prohibits felons from
owning or using firearms. According to the definition above an airgun is not a firearm
http://www.dec.ny.us