Hey you guys in Florida -- watch out.

[dbp]

Have you guys down in Florida heard about this?

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/02/17/florida-lawmakers-take-aim-at-backyard-gun-ranges/?intcmp=latestnews

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Does anyone really believe it is a good idea to allow backyard gun ranges in residential neighborhoods?

Come on guys.

 

[dbp]

Does anyone really believe it is a good idea to allow backyard gun ranges in residential neighborhoods?

Depends on your definition of what a residential neighborhood is. I don't live in Florida, but I believe that there are some areas that are pretty wide open and your neighbors are at pretty good distances from one another.

Let's let the guys from Florida weigh in on this.

 

[flphotog]

I believe the people pushing this are in highly populated south fl where I really doubt there are any backyard ranges. They are just doing this to nibble away at preemption.

 

[smogmage]

This kind of stuff always comes from the South Florida crowd. But with state preemption laws and
"Florida passed a law in 2011 to keep local lawmakers from making changes by including the possibility of a $5,000 fine and being removed from office should anybody try."

I think things are gonna stay just the way they are. It's not like your allowed to just set up a paper target facing your neighbors and blast away at it... It clearly says you cannot be negligent about it.

What they really want its to stop people from being able to shoot on their own land, so they have to go to gun ranges. At that point they'll work to close down all the gun ranges. It's the same old song and dance over and over. I think I choose well moving to Florida as the state has full control over what the counties do.

 

[kimbernut]

Backyard range

We are just outside city limits but are in a small 20 home HOA and surrounded by residential area with most properties 1/4-1/2 acre. One family close to us, just the other side of a wooded area of 10-15 acres owns their home and approx. 10 acres. We've lived here almost ten years and hear shots fired about twice a month on weekends. I'm proud for the family and actually envious that he has developed the range. I have not seen his range or backstop but we have never seen or heard ricochets and I'm sure he knows he must have 100% containment to continue the practice. More power to him.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Does anyone really believe it is a good idea to allow backyard gun ranges in residential neighborhoods?

Come on guys.

What real (not theoretical) problem exists that the government needs to fix? How many cases of "some bullet goes flying through the hedges, somebody could get killed" have there actually been in reality?

 

[SEE IT LIKE A NATIVE]

I think the "lawmakers " should pay more attention to the crimes that are committed within their jurisdiction rather than than worry about something that has caused zero problems within the community ! I only know of one case of a man in the Keys with a backyard shooting range butting heads with local government . Kevin

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Depends on your definition of what a residential neighborhood is.

I'm talking in the city limits stuff.

What real (not theoretical) problem exists that the government needs to fix? How many cases of "some bullet goes flying through the hedges, somebody could get killed" have there actually been in reality?

I'm thinking more of a noise issue than a safety one. No doubt the vast majority of people would be safe. But in most towns you can get citations for music too loud. That's where my issue would be.
Now, I live out in the sticks personally and gunfire is commonplace. In town, not so much.

 

[olderguns]

I have inlaws that live a little south of me ,they're in just out Palatka, and them and some neighbors regularly shoot in the backyards, more than 10 years and no stray bullets hitting anybody or anything yet. But they All follow safety rules, there's no ( hey hold my beer and watch this) going on.I don,t know the size of most lots there but less than 2acres each.

 

[MedWheeler]

It even states in the article that the existence of such "backyard gun ranges" hasn't even been confirmed.

It remains unclear whether such ranges even exist.

State Rep. Katie Edwards, a Democrat, told the paper she is asking law enforcement officials if they even know of any ranges.

And the Boynton Beach mayor told the newspaper: This is the first I'm hearing of it.”

The law doesn't permit "backyard gun ranges", per se; it simply takes over the regulation of firearms, their possession, and their use, from local governments. In fact, the law was actually passed in 2009, but no clause for enforcement had been included. The 2011 re-write corrected that. The state law regulates the use and discharge of firearms, and the only restriction on use on private property is that no gun can be fired across a public right-of-way, roadway, or other public property, and that guns can not be fired in a reckless or dangerous manner.

Except as provided in subsection (2) or subsection (3), any person who knowingly discharges a firearm in any public place or on the right-of-way of any paved public road, highway, or street, who knowingly discharges any firearm over the right-of-way of any paved public road, highway, or street or over any occupied premises, or who recklessly or negligently discharges a firearm outdoors on any property used primarily as the site of a dwelling as defined in s. 776.013 or zoned exclusively for residential use commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

Exceptions exist for lawful hunting and for lawful defense of self or others.

Localities can still pass ordinances against disturbances created in residential neighborhoods, and such firearms uses could cause such disturbances. In my city, I can bet that I'd be getting a visit for such a disturbance should I break out the guns and ammo in my backyard.

This is a non-issue (though I don't doubt it will be addressed with some knee-jerk reaction like any other non-issue!)

 

[Red Wind]

This all started with a Miami Herald article from almost a month ago, about a Big Pine Key resident having a gun range in his yard.

Big Pine is deep in the Florida Keys about 25 miles north of Key West. I am on Key Largo Key about 70 miles to the north of Big Pine. As you can see in the article, the homeowner is calling attention to himself about the safety factors involved in Florida Law allowing such ranges. Almost like a stalking horse for the anti gun faction and all the articles that have followed.

Read the article yourself and decide.

BIG PINE KEY -- Near the National Key Deer Refuge in the Lower Keys, on a sleepy street called Mango Lane, retired sheriff’s deputy Huey Gordon checked the waterway behind neighbor Doug Varrieur’s home for boat traffic.

“All clear?” asked Varrieur, an author of diet cookbooks and owner of rental properties.

“Yes, sir, you are,” Gordon said.

To which Varrieur replied: “The range is hot.”

What real (not theoretical) problem exists that the government needs to fix? How many cases of "some bullet goes flying through the hedges, somebody could get killed" have there actually been in reality?

None to my knowledge!

 

[xwingband]

Yeah, South Florida... this is in response to a guy in the Keys who's doing it. I can't remember where I saw it... probably a blog and the local news affiliate. He's a snowbird and shoots to his shed. It's really kind of dumb because he barely has room to do it and his backstop works in the technical sense but it has no insurance for a bad shot or noise mitigation.

I hope they don't do anything about it. There are plenty of people that have the land for it but might be in a city limit or have a weird zoning issue.

 

[SEE IT LIKE A NATIVE]

One of the cities Pembroke Pines claiming they are looking into the problem , has their police practice range in the middle of a residential area ! Area residents are used to hearing gunfire ! Kevin

 

[NavyLCDR]

I belonged to a gun range in Washington when I lived closer to it. Rules for members was no shooting after 8:00pm or after dark, whichever came first. We used to allow the Sheriff use of the range for practice/qualification.

We got a citation with a fine from the county for a noise complaint due to people shooting after dark. It was the Sheriff's department doing their night time training and or qualification, but we still had to pay the fine for the noise. Solution - we disallowed the Sheriff's department use of the range. Sometimes government needs to be careful what they ask for. Like the background checks in Colorado stopping the gun buyback programs.

 

[vamo]

And it remains unclear whether such ranges even exist.

From the article so seems like a solution to a problem that doesn't actually exist.


On the other hand it only takes one idiot to ruin things for everybody, maybe a little guidance as to what safety precautions a backyard range must take are in order. I personally wouldn't dare shoot anything in my backyard, but I'm a bit surrounded.

 

[brboyer]

Oh yeah, we are really worried about the 4 member city council's wishes/wants/desires.

Liberal areas of the state are still pissed that cannot infringe on our rights.

BTW, the law has been in place of over 26 years. Not really seeing a problem here.

They law is already very clear. Don't shoot anyone/anything and you're golden.

 

[Red Wind]

They law is already very clear. Don't shoot anyone/anything and you're golden.

Concise and true. All will continue on as it has since 1987. Florida State Pre emption Law is probably the strongest in the USA. Long may it prosper.

 

[7.62 Nato]

It's about control... and probably revenue.

 

[ChaoSS]

Does anyone really believe it is a good idea to allow backyard gun ranges in residential neighborhoods?

Come on guys.

In general, when someone says "do you really believe it is a good idea to allow", my answer is yes, I do think so, so long as no in is getting hurt. Laws should be against people hurting other people. Don't steal. Don't shoot your neighbor. Etc, etc.

The fact is that it is entirely possible to set up a safe backyard range. It could even be underground. Simply banning the entire idea, because someone could do something stupid, is just like banning guns.

 

[AWorthyOpponent]

A friend here in south east Florida has a nice home in a "residential" area that sits on 15 acres. We would love to put a little range on that, and he has the space and finances to do it right...county regulations prevent him from doing so...

 

[Red Wind]

county regulations prevent him from doing so..

Those "County Regs" can circumvent Florida State Pre emption on 15 acres? I would like to see the ruling on that.

 

[MedWheeler]

AworthyOpponent, are you referring to Palm Beach County (sometimes known as the sixth borough of New York City?)

 

[AWorthyOpponent]

Yes, it is palm beach county. They also have a 5 day wait on any firearm, when the state preemption is 0 for long guns and 3 for handguns...

 

[AWorthyOpponent]

Those "County Regs" can circumvent Florida State Pre emption on 15 acres? I would like to see the ruling on that.

Preemption doesn't matter when the sheep follow the herd. There are all kinds of firearms laws/regulations in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami that are enforced "illegally". The no guns in any park thing was around for a while...think that got shot down though. The problem is that the state seems to be going after these smaller counties and cities first to gain headway before hitting the deep pockets of the biggest tri-county area in the state.