Letters: A COVID-19 story, and several views on the upcoming election

I hope Gov. Kathy Hochul and other state officials carefully read Kevin Richard-Morrow’s excellent piece on the new New York state gun law (“As written, gun law curtails historical reenactments,” Sept. 29).

Kevin is a great guy; he and I have fired away at each other across countless battlefields over the years. Unfortunately, it looks like we won’t be doing that anymore in New York state. That is a shame since there were more Revolutionary War battles in New York than in any other state except South Carolina.

In August, there was a fine reenactment in Waloomsac, just across the border from Bennington, but that may be the last in our state. Already, the Oct. 1-2 event at Fort Klock was canceled due to the new gun law. Fort Klock is a wonderful spot right on the Mohawk River. Past events have been supported by U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, who worked to help New York develop the sort of historical reenactment tourism enjoyed by Virginia and Pennsylvania. His efforts, and that of many others, to increase the state’s Revolutionary War tourism are now crashing to a halt.

To make up for the loss of Fort Klock, I’ll be attending the Oct. 22 event in Charlestown, R.I. Later this year, I’ll be at reenactments in Connecticut and New Jersey. 

Just in 2005 and 2006, there were 39 Revolutionary War reeenactments in the state, including ones at Saratoga, Herkimer Home, Fort Johnson, Kingston, Catskill, Cooperstown, Albany’s Schuyler Mansion, Rotterdam Junction’s Mabee Farm, Schoharie’s Old Stone Fort, Nassau’s Eastfield Village, and more. But, now, New York will lose out on the economic benefits of these events.

The author is a retired editor and technical writer who serves as a corporal in Butler’s Rangers (1777-84)