New York’s new gun laws that went into effect September 1st are causing the cancelation of some Battle of Plattsburgh re-enactments this weekend. And organizers say it’s not the only historic commemoration in New York affected by the laws passed in a special session in July.
During the annual Battle of Plattsburgh commemoration, re-enactors from New York, Canada and the Northeast demonstrate the ground battles that occurred as a naval battle took place simultaneously on Lake Champlain. They also march in a parade with their muzzleloaders, flintlocks and black powder rifles and camp on the grounds of the local historic museum.
But there’s a problem this year. State Assemblyman D. Billy Jones, a Democrat representing the 115th district, says New York’s new gun law specifically prohibits all those activities.
“We stand here on the eve, actually on the start, of the Battle of Plattsburgh and we are threatened with not having our reenactors here because of the new concealed carry permit legislation. The reenactors cannot do their reenactment in sensitive areas. When they do their performances, when they march down the street, carrying their weapons that is considered a sensitive area under this law. And they are restricted from doing that under the law. So we stand here at the start of the Battle of Plattsburgh and now we’re going to have a Battle of Plattsburgh without the battle.”
Governor Kathy Hochul called lawmakers back to Albany in July to respond to the June Supreme Court decision throwing out the state’s century-old limit on the carrying of concealed weapons. Lawmakers designated “sensitive locations” where concealed carrying remains prohibited, among other changes.
1814 Commemoration Inc. organizes the Battle of Plattsburgh. President Tom Donahue said he found out about the restrictions earlier this week when a reenactor from Rochester called to ask him if the event was off.
“The new law the way it’s written reenactors are not allowed to carry a firearm, a musket loading type rifle, black powder rifle, flintlock rifle, whatever because it’s in violation of the new law. The new gun law of New York state has claimed its first casualty: the Battle of Plattsburgh. It’s the first event happening after the new law went into effect on the 1st. There’s nothing in the law that let’s an exemption happen or a waiver happen for an event in a historical significance like we have here in Plattsburgh. We have over 70 reenactors that were coming to this event. Very disappointing.”
Battle of Plattsburgh reenactor chair PJ Miller says some reenactors have canceled their appearance at this weekend’s events.
“Essentially the reenacting community is sort of afraid. Many people are uncertain what’s going to happen. We have had reenactors who have said that they would rather not come just in order to protect themselves and you know not get in trouble. That’s not what any of us would like to do. Because of concerns about bringing flintlocks and not being able to do their presentations as they normally would we have had cancellations unfortunately.”
In a written statement, a spokesperson for the governor says:
“Governor Hochul passed new public safety laws to protect New Yorkers and keep them safe from gun violence. These laws allow historical re-enactments to occur, and we will work with legislators and local law enforcement to ensure these events can legally and safely proceed.”
But Assemblyman Jones said he has been trying to get a response from the governor’s office for days.
“There’s been other reenactments throughout the state that have been cancelled. We have been calling the governor’s office trying to get answers on this for the past, uh, 36 hours ago I’m going to say. And we don’t have anything on that front. This is what you get when you rush through legislation.”
While Assemblyman Jones says the situation has far-reaching implications as other historical reenactments in New York cancel their events, some will continue. Fort Ticonderoga CEO Beth Hill sys they are aware of the new law and will hold the Brown’s Raid reenactment on September 17th and 18th.
“We will continue our mission of preservation and education and continue all of our programs. I believe there was unintended consequences of this legislation and we have been in touch with our legislators and anticipate that there will be changes to this legislation to allow for historic sites, whether they are public sites or private sites, to be able to have these kinds of events going forward. And I do anticipate that will be changed. But for the time being we’re pressing forward with what we do at Fort Ticonderoga.”
