CANTON — St. Lawrence County legislator Larry D. Denesha, R-DeKalb, compares cutting marksmanship and shooting programs in public schools to cutting out driver’s education for high school students.
During Monday night’s Finance Committee meeting, Mr. Denesha and the other members of the county Legislature unanimously approved a resolution opposing a state Assembly bill that would eliminate marksmanship and shooting programs in public schools, including archery.
“This runs in the same vein as if we wanted to eliminate driver’s education,” he said. “I think it’s counterproductive and I hope it doesn’t go anywhere in the Assembly.”
It will be finalized at the board’s April 30 meeting and forwarded to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and state representatives.
Legislature Chairman Kevin D. Acres, R-Madrid, said he would also like a copy sent to state Assemblywoman Linda B. Rosenthal, D-Manhattan, who introduced the bill.
“To allow this piece of legislation to advance would be a great disservice and would effectively end a program that teaches young people sportsmanship and firearm safety in a practical and hands-on manner while protecting and preserving Second Amendment rights and educating the younger generation to use those rights judiciously and correctly,” the county’s resolution states.
Some north country school districts have extracurricular trap shooting clubs for high school students including Gouverneur, Lisbon and Morristown.
Referring to the proposed bill, legislator David W. Forsythe, R-Lisbon, said “enough is enough.”
“Some of the rationale is that one of the shooters in another state was trained with the ROTC, so one bad apple ruins the whole thing?” Mr. Forsythe said. “I believe this teaches children safety and the curiosity is taken away. It’s something they’ll use for the rest of their
