(TX) Hays County may see new gun ordinance

[Kentak]

Remind me again please which one of the Bill of Rights guarantees my right to drive?

Remind me again which one of the Bill of Rights guarantees my right to shoot a gun in a manner that endangers others?

 

[TexasRifleman]

Remind me again which one of the Bill of Rights guarantees my right to shoot a gun in a manner that endangers others?

Not the same. A speed limit restriction is not the same as a total ban.

You are comparing apples to oranges.

A berm requirement is not the same as a total ban.

 

[Nate C.]

"Two acres?! Daggum, I need to move to Texas. In Delaware, you must own at least 2% of the acreage in the entire state. (I might not even be exaggerating that very much.)"

I thought that in Delaware two acres actually was 2% of the acreage of the entire state!

 

[Flyboy]

I don't think anybody here disagrees 2 acres is small.

I do. I routinely shoot in an area that's perhaps 20x50 yards. No worries. Matter of fact, we have action pistol matches there.

It's all about the construction--the pit has berms on three sides. Actually, we have a half-dozen such pits, all adjacent (sharing common side berms). I suspect this is a very common arrangement, and I've not heard of any troubles with it.

Many, if not most, indoor ranges are even smaller. Again, it's not a problem, because they're constructed to keep a bullet within the confines of the safe area.

The shooter was negligent in his failure to follow rule 4. It's as simple as that.

 

[TexasRifleman]

I don't think anybody here disagrees 2 acres is small.

Again, at the width of a football field 2 acres is 180 yards long.

Plenty of room.

Newsflash: Not all land is sold in squares

 

[Deavis]

Hard to argue. Two acres is pretty tiny, really.

Easy to argue, the proposal would not have addressed the issue at hand any better than current laws, making it redundant. It is already illegal to shoot across property lines without permission of the land owner. 2 acres could easily contain a well done pistol range, we've got one at ARC that fits in 25x25yards. Why can't someone use that?

Restricted Methods
It is unlawful for any person, while hunting or engaging in recreational shooting, to knowingly discharge a firearm in such a fashion as to cause a projectile to cross a property line, unless the person owns the property on both sides of the property line or has obtained written permission from the owner of any land crossed by the projectile.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/annual/hunt/means/

I can look up the exact cite in the penal code but it is not disputable, it exists.

A speed limit restriction is not the same as a total ban.

Furthermore, a speedlimit applies to a public road. You have agreed to follow rules on a public road, this proposal would apply to private property, not public. There are no speedlimits for roads you build on your property that are no open to the public. Big difference and if you look at it logically, you will have to accept that and see your comparison is invalid.

It seems to be not only foolish but just plain stupid to be shooting on such a small property without a proper backstop. Tacking a target up to a tree is not a proper backstop.

Only because you are interjecting your view of what a range should be into the argument and not your logic. It is completely possible to shoot safely on a property that 1 foot by 6". Called an unloading box, not very useful for practice but it is an extreme example just like the statement that 2 acres is somehow unsuitable. Size doesn't matter, construction of the shooting "facility" is the only thing that is important. If they really wanted to address the issue they would mandate minimum requirements for ranges, such as berm thickness by caliber, height, etc, on properties that small and increase the penalties for crimes involving a bullet crossing property lines. Manslaughter with a bullet crossing property lines gets an addre of, oh say, 50 years. That would be effective government response.

Remind me again please which one of the Bill of Rights guarantees my right to drive?

Just a reminder that the BOR only states a few well-known and important rights. You have far more rights than are indicated there. You can drive all you want on your property with any vehicle in whatever manner you see fit. Let's not fall into that ridiculous trap of thinking that the only rights you have are in the BOR. I'd argue that you have a right to drive on public roads subject to reasonable restriction, which we currently have. That is OT but fun nonetheless.