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3/2018 Activity-Specific Plan for Riflery Page 1 of 6 Riflery Activity-Specific Plan Camp Name: Enter text here. Date: Enter a date. Prepared By: Enter text here. Title: Enter text here. Phone number: Enter text here. Email Address: Enter text here. Signature: For Health Department Use Only Approved: ☐ Yes ☐ No Reviewer: Enter text here. Date: Enter a date. Comments: Enter text here. Complete the following plan for each riflery activity that campers participate in. Submit the completed plan to the local health department or State District Office that has jurisdiction in the county where the camp is located for review. A copy of the approved plan must be maintained at the camp and reviewed by the activity leader prior to overseeing the activity. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3/2018 Activity-Specific Plan for Riflery Page 2 of 6 In addition to Subpart 7-2 of the NYS Sanitary Code, a riflery program must comply with NYS Penal Law, Article 265, which governs the possession and use of firearms and other dangerous weapons in NYS. Subpart 7-2 only allows single-shot rifles, preferably with slings, at children’s camps. 1. What type of single-shot rifle is used? ☐ .22 caliber rifle (propelling force of gunpowder) ☐ Compressed air or spring loaded rifle ☐ Other (specify): Enter text here. The activity leader for riflery must possess a current instructor's certificate issued by the National Rifle Association or equivalent training, and be competent in riflery activities including, but not limited to, use and maintenance of equipment, range setup and discipline, and instruction of correct shooting techniques. Equivalent trainings accepted in accordance with Article 265 of the Penal Law: 1. Duly commissioned officer of the US Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard or of the National Guard of NYS. 2. Adult citizen of the US who has been granted a certificate as an instructor in small arms practices issued by the US Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard or by the adjutant general of the state of New York. 3. An agent of the Department of Environmental Conservation appointed to conduct courses in responsible hunting practices pursuant to Article Eleven of the Environmental Conservation Law. (May only supervise campers 12 years of age and older on a rifle range using rifles or shotguns of which the propelling force is gunpowder. Article 265 of the Penal Law does not allow for the supervision of any other riflery activity by these individuals.) Subpart 7-2 requires that a riflery instructor is on the range at all times during firing sessions and be assisted by another counselor, who may be trained by the instructor. One staff person may supervise a maximum of 10 campers on the firing line. When riflery is conducted at a location where the camp staff certified in first aid and CPR are not readily available, the activity leader must possess or be accompanied by staff who possesses current first aid and CPR certification in an approved course. NYSDOH Fact Sheets listing approved CPR and First aid certifications are available at www.health.ny.gov/environmental/outdoors/camps or by contacting your local health department. 2. What ratio of counselors to campers will be maintained? ☐ 1:8 for campers younger than 8-years-old ☐ 1:10 for campers 8-years and older ☐ Other (specify): Enter text here. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3/2018 Activity-Specific Plan for Riflery Page 3 of 6 3. List the required prerequisites for the activity leader (e.g. training, skills, experience, certification): ☐ Minimum age: ☐ 18 years-old ☐ 21 years-old or older ☐ Other (specify): Enter text here. ☐ Experience (specify in number of weeks or other quantifiable time period): Enter text here. ☐ Certification(s) (specify): ☐ National Rifle Association / Specify Course Name: Enter text here. ☐ Other certifying national organization (specify): Enter text here. Name of certification course(s): Enter text here. ☐ Training (specify): Enter text here. ☐ Other Skills or knowledge required (specify): Enter text here. 4. Does the activity leader need to possess or be accompanied by staff who possesses current first aid and CPR certifications for this activity? ☐ Yes ☐ No 5. Describe any specific duties of the activity leader, counselors and other specialty staff (if any) for this activity. Enter text here. The Penal Law specifies who may possess a firearm based on age, the propelling force (gunpowder, spring, air, or compressed air) and whether the activity occurs on a shooting range or elsewhere. The Penal Law allows children under 16 to participate in riflery activities as listed below when supervised by a qualified Riflery Instructor. On an indoor or outdoor shooting range: • Children 12 to 15 years old are allowed to possess a rifle or shotgun of which the propelling force is gunpowder. • Children 11 years old and under are allowed to possess a rifle or shotgun of which the propelling force is air, compressed air or spring. Other than on a shooting range: • Children 12 to 15 years old are allowed to possess a rifle or shotgun of which the propelling force is air, compressed air or spring. Contact the NYS Police Department for questions regarding the Penal Law requirements for the possession of firearms. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3/2018 Activity-Specific Plan for Riflery Page 4 of 6 6. List participant prerequisites training, skills, experience, age, etc.). Check all that apply. ☐ Campers and riflery staff must complete a safety orientation that includes: • Firearm safety • Loading and firing of the firearm used • Range safety rules • Other (specify): Enter text here. ☐ Demonstrate the ability and maturity to follow direction and safety rules ☐ Must be a minimum of Enter text here. years old ☐ Other (specify): Enter text here. 7. What safety equipment will be used by participants? ☐ Shooting safety glasses ☐ Ear protectors ☐ Other (specify): Enter text here. Rifles and ammunition must be stored, separately, in locked cabinets. The storage area must be secure, have limited access to as few staff as possible, and should not be accessible to campers. 8. Where are the rifles and ammunition stored? • Guns (location): Enter text here. • Ammunition (location): Enter text here. 9. Who has access to rifles and ammunition? ☐ Riflery Instructor ☐ Camp Director ☐ Other (specify): Enter text here. Rifle ranges must not endanger any person or persons in other activity areas; backstops shall be used to contain bullets within the range. Large warning signs atop the backstop, facing away from the firing line, shall be labeled "keep out." A red firing flag shall be displayed when the range is in use. 10. Who is responsible for ensuring that a red firing flag and warning sign are displayed when the range is in use? ☐ Riflery Instructor ☐ Other (specify): Enter text here. General Principles for Firearms Ranges 1. The most important construction consideration for any range is safety. 2. Location of the range is of prime importance and must be such that people cannot wander into the field of fire. Blind approaches should be fenced or blocked off, and warning signs should be ---PAGE BREAK--- 3/2018 Activity-Specific Plan for Riflery Page 5 of 6 posted freely. 3. An outdoor range should be oriented so that shooters fire in a northerly direction, since this will reduce glare problems. 4. The range should have good lighting so shooters and instructors can see clearly. 5. The range must be constructed with an appropriately designed bullet-stop so that all bullets will be stopped behind the targets. The bullet-stop should be free of trees, rocks, boulders or other objects that may cause a bullet to ricochet away from the bullet-stop. 6. Any range constructed must give careful consideration to preventing ricochet of bullets. Consideration must be given prior to installation of target retrieving devices, since bullets often ricochet from pulley wheels or metal parts. 7. The “firing line” should be level with the targets, elevated off the ground. A minimum spacing of five feet between firing points will give ample shooter space. 8. A covered firing area will permit enjoyable firing during inclement weather, and will protect the firing area and storage facilities. 9. A “ready line” should be established 15 to 20 feet behind the firing line. 10. Racks for holding firearms should be located on the range. 11. Storage space should be available for sorting shooting equipment. 11. Who is responsible for the range set-up and maintenance to ensure pedestrians do not wander into the area, and that the backdrop/containment system is maintained to prevent bullets from leaving the range or ricocheting? ☐ Riflery Instructor ☐ Camp Director ☐ Other (specify): Enter text here. 12. What is the minimum distance from the firing line to ready line? ☐ 3 yards ☐ 6 yards ☐ 10 yards ☐ Other (specify): Enter text here. 13. What are the range discipline rules for those on the firing line and ready line? ☐ Muzzles of all firearms must be kept in a safe direction at all times ☐ Actions of firearms must be open except when on the firing line, and the command to load and fire has been given ☐ Treat firearms as if they are loaded at all times ☐ At the command “cease fire”, shooting must stop, firearms loaded, and actions left open ☐ Fire only at designated target ☐ Other (specify): Enter text here. 14. How are targets retrieved? ☐ Targets are mechanically removed ☐ After the command to “cease fire” is given by the riflery staff and all firearms unloaded, actions ---PAGE BREAK--- 3/2018 Activity-Specific Plan for Riflery Page 6 of 6 open, and set down, the riflery staff will give the command to retrieve targets ☐ Other (specify): Enter text here. LEAD EXPOSURE Campers and staff participating in riflery activities may be exposed to lead, which when absorbed into your body is hazardous to your health. All .22 caliber ammunition contains lead within the bullet and the primer. Lead is released into the air when the gun is fired and forms small particles that you can breathe. Lead particles are also formed as the lead bullet spirals through the barrel. These particles of lead settle on surfaces and can get into your body when you breathe or swallow them, such as when you eat, drink or smoke. Those who use indoor firing ranges, cast bullets, clean/maintain rifles or the shooting range, or staff working on the range are at the highest risk of lead poisoning. However, all individuals who participate in shooting activities are at risk. Steps to reducing lead hazards while at the firing range include but are not limited to: • Don't eat or drink inside the range or rooms adjacent to the range. • Wash your hands and face immediately after shooting, cleaning firearms, picking up spent casings/pellets, or reloading ammunition, and before eating or drinking. • Wet the area with a water hose, bucket or by other means to keep dust down when cleaning up casings or other debris. Sweeping a dry surface stirs up dust, which may contain lead particles that you can breathe. For more information about lead exposures and prevention visit www.health.state.ny.us/environmental/index.htm#lead or contact the NYSDOH Bureau of Occupational Health at (800) 458-1158 ext. 27900.