New York State’s Concealed Carry Improvement Act now includes an exception for battle re-enactors.
In the newly approved state budget, language was included that exempts those participating in historic reenactments and theatrical productions, museums that have firearms in their collections, and military honor guards from a provision of the 2022 law declaring parks and government property to be “sensitive” places where guns including historic muzzleloading firearms, are prohibited.
Because of the exemption, any reenactments statewide can now go ahead as planned.
The exemption was originally included in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s and the state Senate’s budget proposals, but was left out of the initial state Assembly budget proposal.
Old Fort Niagara was one organization that sent letters to the state government urging an exemption for historic firearms, arguing that musket demonstrations are its most popular event, and a significant revenue generator: about $340,000 a year or 21% of its operating revenue.
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