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a proposal in New York's legislature would outlaw all high school shooting sports programs in the state — including air rifle teams and archery clubs — on the premise that they feed into a gun and shooting culture that could lead to violence.
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The bill's sponsor, Manhattan Democratic Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, says she introduced her bill after reports that the suspect in the Valentine's Day shooting in Parkland, Florida, Nikolas Cruz, honed his gun skills through a program in the same school where he's accused of killing 17 people.
"Schools should not be supporting the spread of gun culture in society," Rosenthal says. "If parents want their children to have shooting instruction, there are opportunities that have nothing to do with the school.
Assemblyman Will Barclay, a central New York Republican, called Rosenthal's proposal "nonsensical." In a statement, he said: "I am unaware of any evidence that links gun violence to these programs and the student athletes in my district who are involved in these teams and are great, responsible kids."
Nationally, there are an estimated 5,000 gun clubs at high schools and universities, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation. They use a variety of firearms, from air rifles that shoot pellets to 9 mm pistols that fire bullets. Some participants hope to qualify for Olympic competition.