I have been officially shut down!

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How many others who do not live in town/city limits or in an HOA can't find explicit ordinances about distance requirements from roads or other people's buildings? Here, you are not allowed to shoot from a road, which I consider common sense if it is not your very own private road. I live far from other homes but am wondering about any other requirements for practice. There is a huge and confusing mess of state hunting and self-defense laws, but nothing about target practice requirements outside of incorporated areas. NOT that the state should shove its big fat hands on that, as they have tried to do! (Last year there was an attempt to keep counties from allowing shooting on people's own property, period. Which would leave only official shooting ranges or hunting areas to shoot in--drivedrivedrivedrivedrive.)

It'd be good to know if there even are any such restrictions, to protect those of us just practicing on inanimate targets on our own land from being unpleasantly surprised. The "keep all projectiles from leaving your own property" that at least one state uses keeps it simple.

Now that more states are lumping airguns in with firearms, this is something to watch closely.
 
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.20calguy said:
The police came today and said that they had a complaint from one of my neighbors, that I am shooting 22LR in my yard.
The officer saw it was Air Rifles and saw that the backstops were more than sufficient.
Then he came back later and said to his shock and amazement, he had found that our parish, (county), lists airguns as fire arms that can not be discharged within 1000 feet of a state road!

So,,,,, My property is 540 feet deep.
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As I sit here on this beautiful day I truly feel sorry for you. Just earlier I was listening to someone shooting a pb and the other day a full auto ar 15. I am blessed to be able to shoot my air guns whenever I want. Mark
 
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Avator said:
Something I learned about squabbles with neighbors. They only end when one side or the other ends them. If nobody does it will turn into a feud that could last for generations. Sometimes no word is as good or better than the last word. ;)
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Gotta agree…that being said, this place is named “AIR GUN NATION” not lean left nation or lean right nation or Christian nation Muslim nation, gay nation or straight nation…
If somebody makes a statement “YOU” think is inappropriate, there’s a small icon to the right of the “reply” icon that gives you the option to “report” the offending post… 😎 my advice in most cases would be to chill out and move on …
 
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Avator said:
Let me just say that I'm so glad I live in the back woods of lower Alabama. :)
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I never thought I'd be worrying about doing target practice with low-powered airguns in this PB gun-loving rural county (considered redneck by the state's major population corridor). But the last year has brought even more attempts at the state level to, basically, get rid of more kinds of guns by incremental restrictions that do nothing to stop criminal shooters. On April 1 excise taxes on ammo go up also. Something tells me that it will include pellets and BBs.

This also means it is harder to NOT discuss firearms on these forums when airguns are lumped in with PB as far as legal use goes.:mad:(n)(n)(n)
 
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.20calguy said:
I don't intend to fight with my neighbors.
First of all, it's my fault. I shouldn't have done this setup in the first place.

View attachment 551046
Second, I am pretty visible to local traffic passing by and have no idea who complained. People who pull in my driveway to turn around are looking straight at me with who knows what kind of thoughts.

Third; I knew this wasn't a good idea, and that's why the 75-yard trap is hidden in a bush line, which may confuse an onlookers even more trying to figure out what I'm shooting at.
You can see the state road, forty or so yards past the 75-yard pellet trap, which is hidden in a thick bush line surrounding the big oak tree.

View attachment 551055

Lastly; I shot nearly every day so the likelihood of spotting me went way up.

Now I'm having withdrawals. :)
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Sure sounded like you knew who reported you and that they they had some.....room for improvement. My idea of reminding them about pots calling kettles black was all I was suggesting.

Being told what I can I and cannot do on my own property is a hot button for me. Especially when that something is causing absolutely no harm or problems for anyone else.

But, I chose my current home/property partly with the idea of shooting airguns on it. Been here about 4.5 years and haven't had any issues. So my opinion about a way for you to get some freedom back is coming from my perspective/situation.
 
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jkingrph said:
I grew up in N Louisiana and a lot of hunting took place well within 1000 fet of highways and I never knew of anyone getting into any trouble for doing so, and that was using high power rifles and shotguns.
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As did I and I am pretty sure it is 100 feet, not 1,000 feet away of roads.
 
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Franklink said:
Sure sounded like you knew who reported you and that they they had some.....room for improvement. My idea of reminding them about pots calling kettles black was all I was suggesting.

Being told what I can I and cannot do on my own property is a hot button for me. Especially when that something is causing absolutely no harm or problems for anyone else.

But, I chose my current home/property partly with the idea of shooting airguns on it. Been here about 4.5 years and haven't had any issues. So my opinion about a way for you to get some freedom back is coming from my perspective/situation.
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Im just moving to the back yard. Out of sight.
The backyard doesn't have the accommodations that the front does though. No roof to get under, no deck to set up on, it's a walk around to the front porch to get equipment or to pickup and run when it starts to rain. I originally started in the back and moved to the front.
I have a building with a deck on the other side that I want to setup in, but my land behind it is undeveloped. A lot of clearingchainsaw work, and stump removal, but it is 100 yards to my back corner.
 
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it's not a firearm nor should be classified as one when you have idiots in power that if they picked there nose their heads would go flat.
we went through the same when we lived in west Bridgewater, difference is the state stepped in they got schooled by the state and had to re classify as air gun. otherwise, an FID card was going to be needed.
seems more cities and states have no clue
 
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elh0102 said:
Most jurisdictions are adding air guns to the definition of firearms. So be it. We are our own worst enemy. Our obsession with power could lead to no other result.
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I do not think it has anything to do with the power, it is the tactical assault rifle appearance of most air rifles that garners attention. The power is not easy to judge, the mistaken identity of an air rifle that looks like a military battle rifle does.

Sooner or later I imagine the police will shut down me and my neighbors shooting PBs where I live due to encroaching development. I may have to move.
 
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.20calguy said:
The police came today and said that they had a complaint from one of my neighbors, that I am shooting 22LR in my yard.
The officer saw it was Air Rifles and saw that the backstops were more than sufficient.
Then he came back later and said to his shock and amazement, he had found that our parish, (county), lists airguns as fire arms that can not be discharged within 1000 feet of a state road!

So,,,,, My property is 540 feet deep.
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There thoughts
#1 set a nailgun outside near your shooting area
#2 it is not illegal to dry fire your pcp and make popping sounds only a problem if you disch a pellet
#3 make sure the poop sees and hears a lot of nailgun activity
 
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3Crows said:
I do not think it has anything to do with the power, it is the tactical assault rifle appearance of most air rifles that garners attention. The power is not easy to judge, the mistaken identity of an air rifle that looks like a military battle rifle does.

Sooner or later I imagine the police will shut down me and my neighbors shooting PBs where I live due to encroaching development. I may have to move.
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It's not that they judge the power. It's that the increasing power levels have put the rifles much more in the public eye, and their usage continues to exceed the traditional air gun limits. So, they are used more for pest elimination in urban settings where they are visible. And yes, the tactical appearance of some doesn't help.
 
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elh0102 said:
It's not that they judge the power. It's that the increasing power levels have put the rifles much more in the public eye, and their usage continues to exceed the traditional air gun limits. So, they are used more for pest elimination in urban settings where they are visible. And yes, the tactical appearance of some doesn't help.
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This will go off rails. The OP was shooting in a visible area. It is not clear if the location is in a city limit or rural unincorporated. Or exactly how densely his environs are populated. And some likelihood the officer is mistaken, I would either ask to see the regulation or look it up myself. Shooting and hunting are not the same thing and the distinction could be applicable here. The fact is that he has a neighbor who does not like something about the activity, could be noise, could be fear of any gun, could be a personal issue. But if there is indeed a regulation, then the solution is to move. If there is no regulation then I would continue shooting my air rifle and take efforts to make it less objectionable to the troublesome neighbor to the extent possible on the properties.

Pretty sure air rifles have always been used for hunting and pest elimination. Blackpowder weapons are not firearms either and some of them are kinda powerful but they usually do not look like a combat rifle unless dressing like Davy Crockett and reenacting the battle of the Alamo. I just never could find me a good looking hunter orange coonskin cap or deer skin vest. Air rifles are weapons. They may not be classified typically or correctly as a firearm but regardless they are still a weapon.
 
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3Crows said:
Air rifles are weapons. They may not be classified typically or correctly as a firearm but regardless they are still a weapon.
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ONLY if they are USED as a weapon…
Same as your hands, feet or a stick you pick up off the ground….and if the issue of air guns being classified as a firearm ever goes to the Supreme Court, I’d put my money on the ATFs definition being the final word.
 
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Tom T said:
ONLY if they are USED as a weapon…
Same as your hands, feet or a stick you pick up off the ground….and if the issue of air guns being classified as a firearm ever goes to the Supreme Court, I’d put my money on the ATFs definition being the final word.
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the problem is a lot of municipal and county statutes and code leave it up for officer interpretation. Many times the problem isn't the law itself, usually at court "we" win... the problem is Ofc.Dontknowshyt potentially arresting you, whether you're right or wrong, innocent or guilty will cost you quite a bit. Especially if he charges you with a weapons offense. Which are almost always felonies, meaning bond is typically minimal at 4800-5700 per (GA typical). that's not recouped until court, and if you don't intend paying cash, you better own property. It will also get you branded as not only "the shooter guy" but, "the police are always dealing with that guy" label at the local rumor mill.
 
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RabbitofCaerbannog said:
the problem is a lot of municipal and county statutes and code leave it up for officer interpretation. Many times the problem isn't the law itself, usually at court "we" win... the problem is Ofc.Dontknowshyt potentially arresting you, whether you're right or wrong, innocent or guilty will cost you quite a bit. Especially if he charges you with a weapons offense. Which are almost always felonies, meaning bond is typically minimal at 4800-5700 per (GA typical). that's not recouped until court, and if you don't intend paying cash, you better own property. It will also get you branded as not only "the shooter guy" but, "the police are always dealing with that guy" label at the local rumor mill.
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So what you are saying that our justice system is not about justice but incarceration? Sounds like a reform needs to happen otherwise before we know it we will be living in fully open and accepted police state, not that we are not there already.
 
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