ALBANY, N.Y. — A bill proposed in Albany would make gun raffles illegal in New York by banning guns as prizes in games of chance.
The bill is sponsored by Brooklyn Democratic Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon, who calls firearm-related violence "a significant public health and safety problem."
Gun raffles are common in Western New York as a fundraiser for sportsmen clubs and other organizations.
"It's basically a cultural attack on the upstate area by New York City," says Frank Panasuk. "It's very popular as a fundraising activity for volunteer fire departments, American Legions, VFWs, gun clubs, fraternal organizations."
2 On Your Side met up with Panasuk at the Blasdell Rod and Gun Club.
He's with The 1791 Society Political Action Committee, a group that supports protecting Second Amendment rights.
"The guns that are awarded as prizes are awarded to the people the same way that someone would go into a store and purchase the firearm. They're doing the same background check, they're going through the same paperwork and identification process as somebody who just walked into any sporting goods store," says Panasuk.
Panasuk says most of the guns at raffles are sporting guns and worries ending the raffles could hurt lots of groups financially.
"If these avenues of raising the money with these gun raffles is taken away from these people, especially a place like a volunteer fire department, the taxpayers are gonna be stuck with coming up with the rest of the money," says Panasuk.
There is no vote scheduled on the bill.