YOUNGSTOWN, N.Y. -- Roughly 20% of Old Fort Niagara's revenue is derived from large events with historical reenactments.

Executive Director Robert Emerson said with things like admissions, concessions and gift shop sales, it adds up to about $200,000 a year.

"If that piece is missing, we're going to be in serious trouble," Emerson said.

The new concealed carry law, passed by the New York Legislature during an extraordinary session this summer and signed by the governor, changed the definition of rifles to include antiques and muskets. It appears to outlaw those weapons used for reenactments in public places, including parks like Old Fort Niagara, even though the governor insists the new rules do not forbid the guns for those events.

"We have been advised to continue business as usual and we're taking the governor at her word and continuing with our events. We're also planning events for next year," Emerson said.

However, he said volunteer reenactors, who come there from all over the United States and even other countries, are concerned about potential arrests or law enforcement confiscating their valuable antiques.

"Because the events are dependent upon volunteers, if those volunteers don't show up, we can't host the event and that will have a tremendous negative financial impact on our organization," the executive director said.

Central New York Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon, D-Marcy, said the lack of clarity is unfair to communities, veterans and others who are willing to sacrifice their time to honor historical events. She is sponsoring legislation that exempts specific events like reenactments and 21 gun salutes from the new law.

"They shouldn't have any concerns that what they are participating in would not be in violation of New York state law," she said.

Buttenschon wants the Legislature to pass the bill as soon as possible. She's pushing for lawmakers to return to Albany before the Veteran's Day holiday to do so.

"Unfortunately, I don't see it as being likely but that doesn't mean I'm not going to continue to advocate for that," she said

Old Fort Niagara and other organizations that host reenactments have started an online petition and urging people to contact their legislators and ask them to change the law as soon as possible.