The New York Firearms Association (NYFA) celebrated the Year of the Snake with a parade in Brooklyn, welcoming the auspicious Year of the Snake.

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year in 2025, a vibrant and extraordinary Lunar New Year parade and celebration took place on 18th Avenue in Brooklyn, New York. Hosted by New York City Councilwoman Vivian Chuang, the event received enthusiastic support from various sectors of the community, showcasing the unity and multiculturalism of the Brooklyn neighborhood.

As important representatives of the New York Firearms Association (NYFA) Brooklyn area, Ms. Ma, the association's president, Mr. Feng, an instructor from the Veterans and Retired Law Enforcement Association, and Mr. Liao, an Army veteran , led members of the NYFA Brooklyn chapter to actively participate in this grand celebration, becoming a beautiful sight in the parade.

(The New York Firearms Association participated in the Brooklyn parade celebrations.)

Early in the morning, 18th Avenue in Brooklyn was filled with a festive atmosphere. Bright red lanterns and auspicious decorations adorned both sides of the street, and dragon and lion dance troupes and traditional folk performance groups gathered one after another, creating a lively and festive scene. As the festive atmosphere intensified, residents gathered early on both sides of the street, eagerly anticipating this annual cultural extravaganza.

At 11:00 AM sharp, the parade officially began. Dragon dance troupes leaped and tumbled, gongs and drums resounded, and firecrackers crackled, adding immeasurable joy and excitement to the procession. Members of the NYFA marched spiritedly at the head of the procession, their bearing impressive. Their participation not only symbolized the multiculturalism and unity of the Brooklyn community but also demonstrated the importance of gun safety and self-defense awareness within the Chinese community.

(The style of members of the New York Firearms Association)

As representatives of the NYFA, Ms. Ma and Mr. Feng, who had just retired from the police force, expressed their pride in participating in the event as representatives of Brooklyn and hoped to take this opportunity to further promote the popularization of gun safety knowledge and promote community safety.

Mr. Liao, an Army veteran and a key member of the association, emphasized that safety and self-defense are the responsibility of every community member. He stressed that the concepts of legal firearms ownership and reasonable self-defense can provide greater security and confidence to the Brooklyn Chinese community. He further pointed out that many members of the NYFA are former military personnel who bring their professional firearms training and tactical experience to the community, enhancing the association's professionalism and providing the Chinese community with higher-level shooting and self-defense courses. "Many of our members have served in the military and received rigorous firearms operation and safety training. We hope to pass on this professional knowledge to the community, teaching everyone how to use firearms legally and safely to ensure their own and their families' safety," Mr. Liao said.

As the parade continued, businesses and cultural institutions along the route set up displays, showcasing a rich array of Spring Festival celebrations. Citizens stopped to watch, enjoying the festive atmosphere with family and friends amidst the lively dragon and lion dances, immersing themselves in this cultural feast.

The parade concluded successfully, marking the end of this cultural celebration, while the festive atmosphere in Brooklyn continues unabated. With the arrival of the Year of the Snake, people are filled with anticipation, joining hands to welcome good fortune and prosperity in the coming year.