With the dragon and snake leaping to welcome the Lunar New Year, the New York Firearms Association (NYFA) celebrated the Year of the Snake with a parade in Flushing.

On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year in 2025, Flushing, Queens, New York City, hosted its annual Lunar New Year parade. This year's Year of the Snake celebrations were exceptionally lively, attracting tens of thousands of spectators and various Chinese community groups, all sharing the charm of traditional Chinese culture. The New York Firearms Association (NYFA) , a key participant in the parade, is an organization established during the COVID-19 pandemic to address widespread hate crimes against Asian Americans. Upholding the principles of Chinese Americans' right to bear arms for self-defense and raising community safety awareness, the association displayed its unique style during the parade.

(Flag of the New York Firearms Association)

NYFA's participation is not only a celebration of traditional Chinese festivals, but also a way to convey the principles of legal gun ownership and self-defense to the public, encourage the Chinese community to enhance their self-protection awareness, actively integrate into mainstream American society, and not forget to safeguard their own rights. Association founder Chairman Lin emphasized that popularizing gun safety knowledge, advocating for rational gun ownership, promoting the principles of legal gun ownership, and strengthening community safety are the association's original aspirations and mission.

(New York Shooting Association parade celebration team)

On the day of the parade, Flushing was filled with the sounds of gongs and drums, and dragon and lion dances filled the air with festive spirit. In addition to the NYFA, numerous Chinese community groups, businesses, and cultural institutions also participated, celebrating the Lunar New Year in their own unique ways, showcasing the multiculturalism and unity of the Chinese community. The streets were brimming with a joyful atmosphere as citizens welcomed the Year of the Snake together.

(The New York Firearms Association participated in the Flushing Main Street parade celebration.)

As the NYFA team marched forward with firm steps, spectators along the route stopped to watch, many waving and expressing their support and recognition of the association's leadership. The association members were in high spirits, interacting enthusiastically with the audience, adding a unique touch to the celebration.

This Year of the Snake parade was not only a cultural feast but also a powerful demonstration of community cohesion. Ms. Li, the association's secretary-general, especially hoped to use this opportunity to convey important messages to the community, popularize gun safety knowledge, and emphasize that owning a gun is not only a basic right but also an important responsibility. She also stated that this event symbolizes the Chinese community's continuous efforts to enhance self-protection awareness while preserving its culture, in order to cope with an increasingly complex social environment.

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

Following the successful conclusion of the parade, the association hosted a banquet at the Royal Court Restaurant in Flushing to express its gratitude to all members and supporters. At the banquet, Chairman Lin, Secretary-General Li, and other board members delivered speeches, thanking everyone for their support and dedication over the past year, and expressing their heartfelt respect to all members who participated in the Year of the Snake parade.