Discharge of firearms question

[v8fbird]

I live in Frederick County, VA, on 5 acres, and am curious about shooting target practice. Virginia code says that it leaves it up to localities to enact restrictions on the discharge of firearms, and the Frederick county code doesn't even mention firearms.

Thus, seems legal to me since, if it is illegal, they have to tell you.

Anyone know if there are any other laws/regulations that I am subject to? Or am I good to go?

Thanks.

 

[Dogmatix]

Ase I recently learned...

Do not take advice from friends or anyone giving advice on where to shot. Call your local sheriffs office and ask them.



See PM

 

[Oldtimer]

It sounds like you've done your homework, but it would still behoove you to check with the County Sheriff's office. There MAY be some obscure law recorded in your county codes that you may not be aware of....perhaps in something like the Health & Safety codes?

 

[hksw]

Thus, seems legal to me since, if it is illegal, they have to tell you.

I'll bet that if they do find something wrong and they come by to cite or arrest you, they'll say, "It's not our job to tell you, it's your job to ask us."

Like the others have said, do the leg work and ask a live person to cover yourself, don't wait for the answer to come looking for you.

 

[Preacherman]

+1 on checking with local law enforcement - in fact, I'd write to your local DA and ask for a letter stating the law as it stands. That way, if they try to prosecute, you're covered.

Also, bear in mind that there are the "public nuisance" statutes which act as a catch-all. If you annoy a neighbor, he can accuse you of creating a public nuisance, and you're likely to run into difficulties. Worth checking with your neighbors to see what their reaction will be.

 

[helomech]

Call the DA and ask him. My neighbor call the police on me for shooting my guns, and the cop said I was breaking a law 300 feet from a building. I didn't argue, even though I knew I was right, went to the DA's office, and the consolidated government office and got copies of the laws. Then I went to the sherrifs office and every cop in the building said the law was 300 feet from a building, they were all wrong. No such law exists where I live. Now I carry a copy of the law in my wallet.

 

[Molon Labe]

Wow, so much bad advice.

First of all, never, ever ask legal advice from an LEO. This is for the following reasons:

1. An LEO is not an attorney, and is not an expert on the law.

2. A lot of LEOs are rogue. If you ask this question to a rogue LEO, and this LEO does not like the law you're inquiring about, he/she will probably lie to you.

If you want to know the law, either ask an attorney or look it up yourself. Do not ask an LEO.

Secondly, keep in mind that if a law doesn't say you can't, then you can. This is true anywhere in the U.S.

That's worth repeating: if a law doesn't say you can't, then you can. So if there's no law that says you can't shoot on your property, then you can.

 

[Car Knocker]

Remember: Any verbal opinion you get from a LEO, AG, DA, etc., isn't worth the paper it's written on.