I have been officially shut down!

[bustachip]

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.

Sorry to hear that 20cal. I would suggest putting up something between you and the
like a fence or greenery, 15' Cyprus trees.

 

[plinker52]

He might have confused distance from road with safety zone from a dwelling. Either way you’re screwed.

My neighbors and I are pretty spaced apart where I live. But for reasons like this is why I’m never out in my yard strolling around with one of my scary looking guns. Even my outdoor shooting bench is secluded when I use it. But 90% of my shooting is from inside to outside. This is a bummer and a game changer if this is a major hobby of yours. It’s a shame the best way to protect it is to hide it. But that’s how it is now.

I've built a small wood fence to hide my outdoor shooting bench, and I also try to not strut with my guns outside anymore than necessary.
My neighbors are 100 yards away but you never know how people will react. I figure if they know I sometimes shoot outside, the first time a cat gets shot or a window broken they'll come looking at me.

 

[RabbitofCaerbannog]

I've built a small wood fence to hide my outdoor shooting bench, and I also try to not strut with my guns outside anymore than necessary.
My neighbors are 100 yards away but you never know how people will react. I figure if they know I sometimes shoot outside, the first time a cat gets shot or a window broken they'll come looking at me.

THIS. Once you're the "shooter guy". Every SINGLE dent, ding, animal injury, noise is YOU. it's ALWAYS YOU. I despise this mindset and the owners of said thought. Process.

 

[Loren]

A 1000 ft is close to 1/5th of a mile and from and “state road”. That sounds a little made up.

Are you in a residential zoned area or 400 ft to another residence?

A little Grok AI produced this

In St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, there are specific restrictions regarding the use of air rifles, as outlined in the parish’s Code of Ordinances. While air rifles are not explicitly singled out in all firearm-related regulations, they are often included under broader definitions of “firearms” or “weapons” that launch projectiles by means of compressed air or gas. Here’s what applies based on the available information:

1. Discharge Restrictions Near Residential Areas:
   According to Section 15-207.00 of the St. Tammany Parish Code of Ordinances, it is unlawful to discharge a firearm within a 1,000-foot perimeter of any single-family or multifamily residentially zoned subdivision. The definition of “firearm” in some parish ordinances (e.g., Ord. No. 88-1020) includes devices like air rifles that launch projectiles via compressed air or gas. This means you cannot shoot an air rifle within 1,000 feet of these zoned areas unless an exemption applies (e.g., law enforcement duties or self-defense).
2. Specific Area Restrictions:
   • In Police Jury District No. 9, it’s illegal to discharge any gun, rifle, or weapon that uses compressed air or gas (explicitly including air rifles) within a 400-foot perimeter of single or multifamily residential developments.
   • Other specific locations, like Northshore Beach, prohibit discharging air rifles within a 1,000-foot perimeter, as noted in ordinances like 91-1533.
3. Exemptions:
   These restrictions do not apply to law enforcement officers acting in their official duties or to individuals lawfully defending their life or property. However, these exemptions are narrow and wouldn’t typically cover casual target shooting or hunting.
4. Practical Implications:
   Given the widespread residential zoning in St. Tammany Parish, these rules effectively limit where you can legally shoot an air rifle. Even on private property, if you’re within 1,000 feet of a residentially zoned subdivision boundary (not just houses), discharging an air rifle could violate the ordinance. The parish’s ordinances seem designed to prioritize safety and noise control near populated areas, so rural or unzoned areas might offer more flexibility, but you’d need to confirm the zoning of your specific location.
5. State Context:
   Louisiana state law doesn’t impose specific restrictions on air rifles beyond general firearm possession rules (e.g., age and felony status), and there’s no statewide ban on their use. However, local ordinances like those in St. Tammany Parish take precedence for discharge locations. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries also regulates hunting with air rifles, allowing them for small game like rabbits and squirrels, but local restrictions still apply.

Conclusion: Yes, there are restrictions on air rifles in St. Tammany Parish, primarily related to where you can discharge them. You’re generally prohibited from shooting within 1,000 feet of residentially zoned subdivisions or within 400 feet of residences in certain districts, depending on the specific ordinance. To use an air rifle legally, you’d need to be in an area far enough from these zones, likely requiring a large private property or a designated range. Always check the exact zoning and local rules for your location, as enforcement can vary, and penalties for violations could include fines or misdemeanor charges. For the most current and precise details, contacting the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office or reviewing the latest parish ordinances online would be a smart move.

 

[ocdairgunner]

The issue I have is I attempted to talk to these people, their immediate reaction was to film me and act like I was some lunatic approaching them. I'm not an aggressive or disrespectful type. I wanted to understand what the real issue was.. but, they didn't want to. They lied to the police and accused me of doing something. Serious. Which resulted in my main hobby being taking away from me ON MY OWN PROPERTY. They claimed I was "scaring their dog" on a Saturday afternoon at 3pm. These people routinely do mortar fireworks and rev their open pipe M3 in their driveway. They also have a car with an insanely loud subwoofer system.

I've had enough taken from. Me. I'm done. To boot these are "parolees" fresh in from Venezuela. I'm not okay with this. They come here, abuse the system, then use them system to bite the hand that feeds them. I'd be steamed with anyone who didn't have a legitimate gripe and called the police under false pretense. Rather than speak to me. The other factor was just a garnish on top. I give the benefit of the doubt that .20xal was not doing the equivalent of stripping the muffler of a 2stroke and going nuts. I assume, an adult man who has the means and achieved enough success in life to own a plot of land large Enough to have a 550ft buffer to the road would also have the decency and common sense to practice his hobby in a safe in respectful manner.

As for me, I had a giant berm, a catch box, a moderated .177 down tuned to be quiet. I don't shoot anything loud or high power at my home, and I don't shoot outside a very small envelope to prevent any accidents . No, they went beyond reason .

Man I am sorry to hear about your troubles with neighbors. Its sad isn’t it? These neighbors immigrated to this great country and then didn’t bother to understand and respect what makes it great (freedoms and rights granted to us) and bring that same mentality from their part of the world and apply it here. Then wonder why this wonderful place is turning into a third world too.

 

[jetpopt]

.20calguy, I'm sorry you got in trouble over that. Only very recently I read that my home state (CO) now considers air guns to be firearms. I could've sworn they were not lumped in together. I wonder when this "little change" was written in, and how many other sneaky changes are slipping by without any notice.

I don't shoot PB guns except at a range even though doing so is, in fact, still legal on my own land at this time. I do hear other people shooting PB fairly often, mostly pesting prairie dogs but at times practicing for big game seasons. It is widely accepted/tolerated in this rural county (NOT in town limits, of course). Yet I worry whether "someone" who has a chip on their shoulder either about guns--ANY guns--or about me could make false reports.

I also worry how fairly any enforcement would be applied. One guy shot 16 rounds at about 2 am that woke me up, I knew it was coming from an area about half a mile away. We found the 9mm casings on the roadside next day, with footprints showing that someone had stood behind a smaller someone else (guessing it was a girlfriend) and had them fire *from the public road* directly *into a neighbor's private property.* When I reported the findings to the sheriff's dept, the deputy I talked to immediately yelled at me because "people here can shoot guns on their own property" despite my just having explained that the guy shot from the road and into someone else's property, and at 2 am it sure was suspicious anyway. Another neighbor said he had also heard those shots but he never reported it even though it made him worry.

If that deputy still works here, something tells me he would ignore the genuinely illegal and dangerous acts but yell at someone else's legal shooting if that someone were "different" or "not one of the longtime local families."

The LE who you spoke with did his job fairly. He didn't make the laws, but the whole situation S___S anyway. Good luck making a shooting area that nobody can harass you about, and keep tabs on what that neighbor is up to. You just can't be too wary about people's motives.

 

[airgunmike56]

Didn't read all the post, But cops do not no the LAW,,,, Talk to a few Lawyers , I did not say HIRE them , Talk,,,, Then if you have a case take it to court ...
Air guns, are not firearms ,

 

[.20calguy]

thats sux, either try suppression or indoor shooting if you have a place to do it.

I don't think it's sound, I'm just too visible from the highway especially in the winter. I don't know who called in the complaint, it is likely not a close neighbor, but a passer by who spotted me shooting a big dangerous looking gun towards the highway into my concieled pellet traps.

If I would have concealed the veiw of my bench like my traps, I don't think this would have happened.

 

[.20calguy]

I've built a small wood fence to hide my outdoor shooting bench, and I also try to not strut with my guns outside anymore than necessary.
My neighbors are 100 yards away but you never know how people will react. I figure if they know I sometimes shoot outside, the first time a cat gets shot or a window broken they'll come looking at me.

My neighbors have actually come and shot with me.
I have also called them to ask how different guns sound.
The neighbors the officer referred to are not immediate, but likely passer byes down the road a bit, who spotted my activity, to your point.

 

[jkingrph]

Install something to shield your view from that area. Maybe a roll up Roman shade, some lattice , anything to block your shooting area from the road.

 

[.20calguy]

A 1000 ft is close to 1/5th of a mile and from and “state road”. That sounds a little made up.

Are you in a residential zoned area or 400 ft to another residence?

A little Grok AI produced this

In St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, there are specific restrictions regarding the use of air rifles, as outlined in the parish’s Code of Ordinances. While air rifles are not explicitly singled out in all firearm-related regulations, they are often included under broader definitions of “firearms” or “weapons” that launch projectiles by means of compressed air or gas. Here’s what applies based on the available information:

1. Discharge Restrictions Near Residential Areas:
   According to Section 15-207.00 of the St. Tammany Parish Code of Ordinances, it is unlawful to discharge a firearm within a 1,000-foot perimeter of any single-family or multifamily residentially zoned subdivision. The definition of “firearm” in some parish ordinances (e.g., Ord. No. 88-1020) includes devices like air rifles that launch projectiles via compressed air or gas. This means you cannot shoot an air rifle within 1,000 feet of these zoned areas unless an exemption applies (e.g., law enforcement duties or self-defense).
2. Specific Area Restrictions:
   • In Police Jury District No. 9, it’s illegal to discharge any gun, rifle, or weapon that uses compressed air or gas (explicitly including air rifles) within a 400-foot perimeter of single or multifamily residential developments.
   • Other specific locations, like Northshore Beach, prohibit discharging air rifles within a 1,000-foot perimeter, as noted in ordinances like 91-1533.
3. Exemptions:
   These restrictions do not apply to law enforcement officers acting in their official duties or to individuals lawfully defending their life or property. However, these exemptions are narrow and wouldn’t typically cover casual target shooting or hunting.
4. Practical Implications:
   Given the widespread residential zoning in St. Tammany Parish, these rules effectively limit where you can legally shoot an air rifle. Even on private property, if you’re within 1,000 feet of a residentially zoned subdivision boundary (not just houses), discharging an air rifle could violate the ordinance. The parish’s ordinances seem designed to prioritize safety and noise control near populated areas, so rural or unzoned areas might offer more flexibility, but you’d need to confirm the zoning of your specific location.
5. State Context:
   Louisiana state law doesn’t impose specific restrictions on air rifles beyond general firearm possession rules (e.g., age and felony status), and there’s no statewide ban on their use. However, local ordinances like those in St. Tammany Parish take precedence for discharge locations. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries also regulates hunting with air rifles, allowing them for small game like rabbits and squirrels, but local restrictions still apply.

Conclusion: Yes, there are restrictions on air rifles in St. Tammany Parish, primarily related to where you can discharge them. You’re generally prohibited from shooting within 1,000 feet of residentially zoned subdivisions or within 400 feet of residences in certain districts, depending on the specific ordinance. To use an air rifle legally, you’d need to be in an area far enough from these zones, likely requiring a large private property or a designated range. Always check the exact zoning and local rules for your location, as enforcement can vary, and penalties for violations could include fines or misdemeanor charges. For the most current and precise details, contacting the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office or reviewing the latest parish ordinances online would be a smart move.

Thanks for your research.
Our properties are only about 215' wide so our buildings are likley only 125' or so apart.

An interesting note that may have an effects is that we recently went to court to fight having this property zoned industrial. We my neighbors fought to keep it residential, but we lost.
One of my neighbors was with the other side, and apologized saying he was compensated, and has since moved leaving his house and property abandoned.
The company who bought the large piece of land behind us intends to make a gravel pit. So this property is now zoned industrial.

Another thing, when I bought this property I went to St Tammany to get all my permits in order and found that my property, although physically in St Tamanny, was under Washington parish regulation. All of my inspections, my utilities, and my mailing address, is all Washington parish.
The parish line is very close.

 

[.20calguy]

Install something to shield your view from that area. Maybe a roll up Roman shade, some lattice , anything to block your shooting area from the road.

Im going to take the officers advice and move to the back yard.

 

[rokonman]

A lot of jurisdictions put airguns into the firearms category, it's easier than having two similar regulations/laws to manage. Locally, (Ontario Canada), bows and crossbows are classed as firearms by the MNR for the hunting regulations.

While I fundamentally disagree with that, you have to admit that most airguns these days are considerably more powerful than even a decade ago and many are capable of taking big game.

I hate regulations but if instead of being classed as firearms, there were low (in the city), medium (suburban) and high (rural) power categories for airguns more of us might be able to shoot at home.

Cheers!

I have long harbored the fear that big bore Airguns will bring on regulations. I can see the piece on 60 minute’s coming. They will be blowing up pumpkins with a .50 cal they bought off the internet.

 

[.20calguy]

.20calguy, I'm sorry you got in trouble over that. Only very recently I read that my home state (CO) now considers air guns to be firearms. I could've sworn they were not lumped in together. I wonder when this "little change" was written in, and how many other sneaky changes are slipping by without any notice.

I don't shoot PB guns except at a range even though doing so is, in fact, still legal on my own land at this time. I do hear other people shooting PB fairly often, mostly pesting prairie dogs but at times practicing for big game seasons. It is widely accepted/tolerated in this rural county (NOT in town limits, of course). Yet I worry whether "someone" who has a chip on their shoulder either about guns--ANY guns--or about me could make false reports.

I also worry how fairly any enforcement would be applied. One guy shot 16 rounds at about 2 am that woke me up, I knew it was coming from an area about half a mile away. We found the 9mm casings on the roadside next day, with footprints showing that someone had stood behind a smaller someone else (guessing it was a girlfriend) and had them fire *from the public road* directly *into a neighbor's private property.* When I reported the findings to the sheriff's dept, the deputy I talked to immediately yelled at me because "people here can shoot guns on their own property" despite my just having explained that the guy shot from the road and into someone else's property, and at 2 am it sure was suspicious anyway. Another neighbor said he had also heard those shots but he never reported it even though it made him worry.

If that deputy still works here, something tells me he would ignore the genuinely illegal and dangerous acts but yell at someone else's legal shooting if that someone were "different" or "not one of the longtime local families."

The LE who you spoke with did his job fairly. He didn't make the laws, but the whole situation S___S anyway. Good luck making a shooting area that nobody can harass you about, and keep tabs on what that neighbor is up to. You just can't be too wary about people's motives.

Thanks
Our neighborhood is rural and outside of city limits as is yours.
I take responsibility because I didn't conceal my activity well enough from onlookers on the highway. I actually got a pic of me shooting from the Google earth mobile.
Some people are scared of guns and the people who shoot them. The problem is with them, but our hobby is shooting theirs may be activism.

 

[RabbitofCaerbannog]

Man I am sorry to hear about your troubles with neighbors. Its sad isn’t it? You immigrated to this great country and then didn’t bother to understand and respect what makes it great (freedoms and rights granted to us) and bring that same mentality from your part of the world and apply it here. Then wonder why this wonderful place is turning into a third world too.

They're renters, not even in the legal sense.. they're using a citizen front man as their leasee and front man while subletting to other 'newcomers'

I have long harbored the fear that big bore Airguns will bring on regulations. I can see the piece on 60 minute’s coming. They will be blowing up pumpkins with a .50 cal they bought off the internet.

they won't need to film a scare segment. They'll use YouTubers own clips of the leshiy 2 9mm, mordax, or rattler blasting bleeding, anatomicallu correct Human gel targets and showing
.72cal hollow points blowing a racquetball sized hole in a "heckin cute forest dogorino" or 9mm HP slugs exploding chipmunks. They'll mute the original audio except for the flippant remarks and laughter and cue the ominous, dark droning "this is terrible and you should be afraid"-dissonant chords using every outrage manufacturing buzzword and catchphrase. We'll have shot ourselves in the proverbial foot.

 

[techna]

Im going to take the officers advice and move to the back yard.

This. I was going to say, as others have said, that it’s time to go quiet and (figuratively) dark. Quiet the gun, quiet the backstop hide/relocate/camouflage the shooting position, and block direct view of the actual target from any angle other than from said shooting position. If you are caught red handed by someone with authority, just politely take your lumps. I’m typically very much a law and order type of guy, but I’m not above a little bit of civil disobedience as long as that disobedience isn’t infringing on someone else’s DUE happiness, rights and safety. All that said, my ethos does require some honest assessment of one’s actions. Sounds like you’ve done that In this situation.

 

[crowski]

Ill have to move to the back yard. In the end it will be a good thing. I wasn't finishing my porch since I started shooting off of it. The plan was to close it in with screen and lattice board up to a hand rail.
I like your freind up in the woods set up, and I have a 14X20 foot building, with 100 yards of woods behind it. If I could pull it off that would be a nice project.
Put a wider window in case i have guests. Shoot from a built in bench with airconditioning, rain and sunlight protection, etc. Then build a birm on my far corner which is a dead straight shot from that window. Set it up with different ranges, out to 100 yards, and thank my neighbor with a pot of chicken and sausage jambalaya.

At least you have an alternative and don’t have to drive an hour to shoot. I know you enjoy your shooting.
My buddies setup is awesome. I’ll soon be heading up that way soon.
‘Neighbours”, most are fantastic, but there’s always one. I have one I could do a 4 day conference on them. Tried helping them at first, didn’t take long to see true colours. “ I wouldn’t piss in his ear even if his brains were on fire.”.
Even though he shoots, I shoot too much, according to him. They’re only here 2 days out of 14, a blessing.
Good luck. Crow

 

[PowderBurnt]

Good fences, good neighbors.

 

[cmatera]

Many of us have written about this subject on this forum (ever more powerful air guns, and lack of consideration of others). The loudmouth jerks and greedy manufacturers will now be silenced. I try to shoot into silent targets, a dirt berm if possible. I never shoot steel, got rid of all my steel targets. Why would I want to announce what I'm doing by "ringing steel"? I never walk around with my guns on display. I try to be discreet even when chasing quarry if a finishing shot is required. I wait until everyone leaves for work/school before shooting and keep my sessions short and always hidden. If I have to, I will hunt at night over bait (mice and rats) out of a building.
I have owned 2 Huben K1's, an LCS SK19, and a Sidewinder. Sold the last one (Sidewinder) a month ago. If an airgun is defined as a firearm, and it is semi or full auto, you can see where this is headed. My current state of residence (CO) adds new gun regulations every year and aims to be a copy of IL which I left 10 years ago. I will be leaving here soon. I actually sold my house last year, but the deal on the new house fell through. I vote with my feet.

 

[rcs9250]

Next thing you know, they’re going to consider this a firearm. What the heck, it’s getting crazy out there.
In all seriousness though, I can feel your pain. In my city (suburb) we can’t shoot anything. Pretty sure a slingshot would be in same category as a 9mm. No bows, knife throwing (outdoors anyway). I have a steady flow of starlings, grackles, chipmunks and squirrels that all we can do is feed them. Fortunately my gun club is 25 minutes away with every kind of shooting, hunting and fishing and grounds maintenance that I would ever want to engage in, my second home, year around.

AEA 95 Cal

I just seen the video by bintac. of the new AEA, Zeus, 95 caliber. 500 grain at 900 ft./s and 4000 foot pounds of energy. I know I said I wouldn’t buy another AEA. But I’m thinking I might have to buy this one to repair. Seems like it would be a lot of fun.

www.airgunnation.com