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Local News
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Wednesday, July 02, 2008, 10:41 AM
Shooting range guidelines put on hold By Rochelle Moore | Daily Times Staff Writer An hourlong discussion on everything from gun safety to National Rifle Association guidelines led the Wilson Planning Board to send a proposed ordinance on shooting ranges back to city staff. The city of Wilson, which does not allow the discharge of firearms in the city limits, does allow shooting ranges in agricultural and heavy commercial districts with a special use permit. But there are no established guidelines for the construction and operation of indoor or outdoor shooting ranges. "We feel the proactive approach is to let people know what's required of them," said Rodger Lentz, city planning director. "We wanted to go ahead and put an ordinance together that spelled out (what's expected)." The ordinance was prompted after city staff started receiving complaints about shots being fired near the Creekside Firearms gun shop on Ward Boulevard, which is across the street from the Wilson Woods neighborhood. Creekside owner, James Bunn, told the planning board that he understands the need for safety guidelines, but he thought that aspects of the proposed ordinance were too restrictive. Bunn was concerned about the restrictions for sound, the way ranges would be measured in distance from another dwelling and the limit on where shooting ranges can locate in the city. "The requirements that have been set forth would make it impossible for me to have a range," Bunn said. "At some point, I might want to build a shooting range so the sound that is outside is inside but under the current proposal, it would be impossible for me to do that." The city ordinance proposes regulating indoor ranges to the heavy commercial, light industrial and heavy industrial zones. Also, the outdoor ranges would be limited to agricultural, light and heavy industrial zones. A special use permit would be required in all cases. Indoor ranges would need to be at least 200 feet, from property line to property line, from a school, park, day care or residential area. Outdoor ranges would need to be 1,000 feet, from property line to property line, from a school, park, day care or residential area. Both have to be able to contain bullets, arrows or other discharged weapons as well as sound. Sound from outdoor ranges would be limited to certain decibels, which is a standard practice across the nation, Bunn said that he would have liked to receive notice of the meeting and the planned ordinance, since he was the person who prompted its development. His gun shop is located in an intermediate business zone, and he privately shoots guns on his property to the rear of the shop in an agricultural district. He does not have a special use permit but a determination has not been made if he has a firing range. Some of his concerns were considered by the planning board and city staff. The Planning Board voted to have city staff consider some of the issues raised and bring back another ordinance proposal for its Aug. 5 meeting. The board will also meet one hour before the 7 p.m. meeting to discuss the ordinance. One of the issues raised by Bunn was the measuring requirement for shooting ranges from another dwelling. He did not agree that measuring distances from property line to property line is accurate. A measurement from the shooting range to another dwelling would be more precise, he said. Board members Kelly Vick and A.C. Joyner agreed with the distance measurement. Board member Bobby Williams, a former 23-year Goldsboro police officer who also helped build and manage a firing range at Beaufort County Community College, said that the NRA site recommendations were also too restrictive and could become costly. "I know the NRA recommends it but I don't know of anyone who goes to that extent," Williams said. "It's probably more extensive than anyone can handle." Williams also questioned Bunn's shooting and asked if any shots could travel far enough to the Burt Gillette Athletic Complex. Bunn, who said the wooded area where he shoots would prevent a bullet from traveling that far, admitted if nothing stopped the bullet that it could travel to the city's athletic park. Board member Melanie Womble asked if city staff talked with anyone at the Wilson Police Department's shooting range, which is on city property near Beddingfield High School. "We did extensive Web searches, we looked to see if there were any state requirements or federal law enforcement standards and we talked to our police department," Lentz said. Officers recommended a review of the NRA guidelines. The Wilson Police Department's firing range, which is also used by Wilson County sheriff deputies, is the only legally operating range in the city. rochelle@wilsontimes.com | 265-7818
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