Shooting and municipalities

[Captain*Kirk]

Originally posted by PeteA:
WOW!This post made me look into the issue. I live in a small hamlet village in NY on 3/4 of an acre. I'm about 50 minutes north of NYC by train. My property backs up to a wooded area. I shoot in my yard about 3-4 times a week. I just checked to find there is a village ordanence stating - there is no discharging of any type of projectile by any means within the village limits.

Sucks, don't it?
Now you're in the same boat; Is you Is,or Is you Ain't a criminal?  

[dnovo]

I find these posts interesting to see how limited some people are in doing what they enjoy. I'm lucky that I live on a farm and can shoot anywhere I want including some of the neighbors property. And that includes rifles, pistols, shotguns.

I feel for you guys.

[Captain*Kirk]

Originally posted by dnovo:
I find these posts interesting to see how limited some people are in doing what they enjoy. I'm lucky that I live on a farm and can shoot anywhere I want including some of the neighbors property. And that includes rifles, pistols, shotguns.

I feel for you guys.

We can't all live on farms (sigh). Those choices are made in your early years of family and career for most of us. Had I known I may have made it work differently, but as it is I'll be lucky to pay off the mortgage before before I croak.  

[Captain*Kirk]

Since I posted this, I am at an uneasy truce. I have refrained from shooting in the backyard but I'm not happy with that decision. Daily shooting used to be my therapy, my release and even a few arrows shot over 15 minutes was like a breath of fresh air. Gone is the fiddling, bareshafting and tuning aspect...who wants to blow expensive range time on that?
I fully and completely understand the safety and legal aspects of why I and others should not shoot in a backyard setting within city limits, but it really smacks of government intrusion into one's private life and personal liberties. I feel rusty, out of shape, and out of tune with my gear and it does not make me a happy camper at all.
At this point, I'm not sure how or if this issue will be resolved, if at all. I can't imagine going through an entire summer not backyard shooting on my own land.
At the moment, moving is out of the question, so...I guess I will have to continue to either play the PC game or rebel and go back to doing what I was doing, and   "damn the torpedoes!"    

[evgb127]

I just reviewed Waukegan's ordinances... Fun fact, it is also against the law to advertise fortune telling services, sell "dangerous toys," and sell "Mexican Jumping Beans."

With that said, the prohibition against shooting does not apply to the discharge weapons upon a shooting range authorized by the city council. So, perhaps you may have a solution to your dilemma.... that is, if you know any members of your city council who would be willing to say that your backyard is an "authorized" shooting range...

[YosemiteSam]

Our local codes are strange.  You can have a pet duck but not a chicken.  You can have a pet pig but not a goat.  And you can have a colony of bees in your wall or tree but not in an actual hive.  I talked to my local councilman one time about getting the codes modified.  His response was something along the lines of, "Look, I don't care if you have a rhino in your backyard.  As long as nobody complains, I don't think you're going to have a problem."

I bribe my neighbors with eggs & honey.  I did have an arrow miss my backstop once and it put a hole in my neighbor's garage wall.  After apologizing profusely & offering to fix it, he simply said, "Nah, that's the least of the damage it's seen over the years."  Never happened again -- I make sure of it.  I've got great neighbors.

[Al Dean]

The high school and middle school have archery outside so I push the ordinance saying shut down the schools and I will comply.  They haven't arrested me yet but it has gotten heated.

[mark Willoughby]

me and my buddy regularly shoot our bows off my porch and sometimes well into the night .. With a light lol people just drive right on by so thankful to live in Mayberry

[Captain*Kirk]

Originally posted by evgb127:


With that said, the prohibition against shooting does not apply to the discharge weapons upon a shooting range authorized by the city council. So, perhaps you may have a solution to your dilemma.... that is, if you know any members of your city council who would be willing to say that your backyard is an "authorized" shooting range...

I like the way you think. I guess anything is worth a shot, but our "city" likes to think of themselves as a baby Chicago, politics included, so changing anyone's mind would take a truckload of doing. Maybe I could shoot after dark using lighted nocks and nobody would notice...

[TGbow]

Keep shooting or school the city on the right to privacy if it becomes a problem.

[Captain*Kirk]

There is a saying;   "It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission" Rear Adm. Grace Hopper

[Mark R]

Captain not sure if you already know, looks like Chain of lakes state park which was mentioned and Waukegan bowmen are the closest to you. Waukegan bowman is actually in Bristol Wi. just over the border west of  45. There are numerous shoots at a lot of the southeast Wi. clubs all of which promote each other. You can go to a different one almost every weekend from spring to fall, all within an hour to hour and a half of you, not like the backyard but lots of fun and they all have cold beer.

[Captain*Kirk]

Originally posted by Mark R:
Captain not sure if you already know, looks like Chain of lakes state park which was mentioned and Waukegan bowmen are the closest to you. Waukegan bowman is actually in Bristol Wi. just over the border west of  45. There are numerous shoots at a lot of the southeast Wi. clubs all of which promote each other. You can go to a different one almost every weekend from spring to fall, all within an hour to hour and a half of you, not like the backyard but lots of fun and they all have cold beer.

Yes, I'm aware of both, thank you for the reminder, though! There is also an indoor 20yd 3D range at the Bass Pro in Gurnee 10 miles away, however all of the above come at a cost, both monetary and in time/driving invested when shooting in the privacy of your fenced-in back yard is both convenient and free! I guess it's becoming more an issue of invasion of privacy for me than anything else at this point...although nobody has actually threatened any action or even notified code or law enforcement. Ignorance is bliss, I suppose, and I was fat, dumb and happy in my ignorance until I found out what the actual city codes stated. After all, we are talking about a traditional recurve here drawing 45# or less, not a compound pushing 300fps. Incidentally, I feel the same about backyard shooting of entry level air rifles. What ever happened to the 'ideal of American liberties' (safety and personal responsibility taken into full consideration, of course!)?
I realize people do stupid things in pursuit of their own personal enjoyment, sometimes with bad consequences for themselves or others. However, I'm not a fan of a 'nanny state government' and never will be. A little common sense goes a long way rather than simply passing 'cover-all' laws.
I guess I will step off the soap box and stop ranting and look into finding a convenient range that will accommodate me...but it sure is sapping the enjoyment out of my hobby.  

[Trenton G.]

I shoot in town, and although I haven't been able to find in our city ordnance whether it is illegal or not, I have heard from others that it isn't allowed. I just built a large arrow backstop and try not to shoot when any of the neighbors are out. Nobody seems to have any issue with it. This is one of those things were I think that common sense should dictate it more than a rule. Our yard backs up to a somewhat wooded opening where the next house is about 80 yards past the edge of our yard and slightly uphill. Even if I do somehow manage to miss the target, my arrow is going to hit the dirt of a tree long before it comes anywhere near the other house. Thankfully I've never had to find out how far it would go.

[Jakeemt]

I’d just do it anyway but, that’s me. I also drive my motorcycle above the speed limit almost daily.

[Al Dente]

NYC and Nassau County in NYS consider releasing an arrow from a bow "discharge of a firearm".  Also carrying an arrow with a broadhead attached could get you arrested.  With a broadhead tipped arrow, it violates the "4 finger" rule of a blade.  Any pocket knife, whose blade is longer than 4" is illegal to carry within NYC, and they consider the ENTIRE arrow's length in their reasoning.

[Captain*Kirk]

Any pocket knife, whose blade is longer than 4" is illegal to carry within NYC, and they consider the ENTIRE arrow's length in their reasoning.

I guess the old saying rings true; "You can't fix stupid". How did a great country like America get burdened with legislators that couldn't cut their way out of a wet paper bag with a sharp knife?

[Macatawa]

I'm in the same pickle....can't shoot anywhere now