Backyard shooting range in a residential neighborhood?

Jinglebob

Jinglebob

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Joseph Carannante built a backyard shooting range in a residential area of St. Petersburg, Florida. While the range is legal it seems to me the possibilities of a bad outcome are endless. Joe has agreed to dismantle the range after concerns from neighbors.

P.S. I didn't know that it is legal to shoot in a residential backyard in St. Petersburg, Florida. Learn something new every day.


Florida man takes down backyard gun range after outcry | Fox News
 
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There was a similar case a few years ago also in Florida. Seems there IS a loop hole in the state law that allows a rabge on private property. The last one I heard of the guy hadn't stop using it but that was a long time ago.

Was what this guy was doing safe? I don't know. Would I have done it? NO. I don't think that "social media" was the best thing to do in this case. Why not contact the man and ask him to stop because you think what he's doing is unsafe. Stand up on your hind feet so to speak and be counted. Hiding behind "social media" is the cowards way out. In my little town we have an agitator who will inflame the people through social media but won't stand up in public and speak out. In my book a coward.

Sorry I got on my high horse again. Rant over.

One last point: where is the spirit of the law in this case? If the law doesn't forbid a backyard shooting range what spirit has been ignored?
 
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This makes me think of the Mom in Oregon who was hit in the head and suffered a concussion from a bullet- most likely fired from a nearby outdoor rifle range.We just have to KNOW where those bullets are going to end up, and prevent them going astray, or be far enough away from any potential victims.
 
With proper precautions, I think you could safely shoot conventional air guns in your backyard. I'd love to be able to do that legally.
 
Pecos Bill said:
There was a similar case a few years ago also in Florida....

Was what this guy was doing safe? I don't know. Would I have done it? NO. I don't think that "social media" was the best thing to do in this case. Why not contact the man and ask him to stop because you think what he's doing is unsafe. Stand up on your hind feet so to speak and be counted. Hiding behind "social media" is the cowards way out. In my little town we have an agitator who will inflame the people through social media but won't stand up in public and speak out. In my book a coward.

Sorry I got on my high horse again. Rant over.

One last point: where is the spirit of the law in this case? If the law doesn't forbid a backyard shooting range what spirit has been ignored?
Click to expand...

Saw the "range" on local TV. Nothing safe about it. A backstop (well, kinda) about the size of a washing machine. Pallets, concrete and plywood. The bubba in question was within the law...but the folks down range were none too pleased, and for good reason. The bubba went on to bleat about how he was concerned about safety, but he couldn't afford to use an commercial range.
The good news is that the owners of a local range (Shooters World, the nicest range in town) offered the guy a year's free membership if he would tear it down, which he agreed to do. Problem solved...but I will not be using the lane next to that bubba.
 
A shooting buddy of mine told me about a guy he did some work for a couple of years ago that had a really slick shooting range in his basement. Basically had it built before the house was put up, it was a tunnel over 50 yards long complete with overhead target track, the whole nine yards. The friend of mine was called in to upgrade the ventilation system which was having problems coping with more than a .22 pistol when the guy started shooting his .45 down there.
 
jack oconnor said:
This makes me think of the Mom in Oregon who was hit in the head and suffered a concussion from a bullet- most likely fired from a nearby outdoor rifle range.We just have to KNOW where those bullets are going to end up, and prevent them going astray, or be far enough away from any potential victims.
Click to expand...

========================

Allegedly hit with a bullet, I have my doubts and have seen no evidence to verify her story, except for her story.
 
S42N8 said:
Saw the "range" on local TV. Nothing safe about it. A backstop (well, kinda) about the size of a washing machine. Pallets, concrete and plywood. The bubba in question was within the law...but the folks down range were none too pleased, and for good reason. The bubba went on to bleat about how he was concerned about safety, but he couldn't afford to use an commercial range.
Click to expand...

Yeah I saw the coverage of the "range". I'd say that calling that a back stop would be stretching the description of a range just a bit. I don't know what was beyond the back stop but if it was more residences THAT was NOT safe.

My rant was meant to be about the social media. As I said I've seen social media used to incite people to disrupt a city council meeting. People use social media to hide behind. I prefer to stand up and be recognized.

Sorry for side tracking the thread.
 
When the youngest grandkids got big enough to shoot bb guns, I'd let them shoot in the house, but I didn't have a clear 50' for them to practice on that didn't seriously endanger some of our computer & TV. I approached one of our local policeman about using our large un attached garage with a back stop in it & was told it was illegal.

He was nice enough to ask our city council about it & they changed the law back to allowing BB guns to be used in town...but if a neighbors windows got broken we'd have to pay for them & they'd change the law back to illegal. Dern nice of the policeman & our city council/mayor. It's good to live in a small town.
 
HOME MADE PISTOL RANGE?

Yet another classic FLORIDUH moment. Surely it must be another states turn by now. Total BUBBA construction of pallets/plywood & only filled 1/2 way with sand. St Pete is not exactly a rural/agricultural type area, so I was surprised it was legal there. I'm sure zoning will change quickly. Other more remote parts of the state are not only likely to be legal, but have less quality type shooting backstops. If he was after his 15 minutes in the spotlight, and a free range membership, he got it. Crazy as a fox? I'm glad for the neighbors sake he never got a chance to use it.
 
So is it really bad, I'm not talking legal or illegal, how bad is it to test fire a .22 or even a 9mm into a stack of wood in your basement?
 
Believe it or not a short outdoor range of 50 yds or so is feasible in a residential area. I believe this based on a Long Beach, CA range I frequented in the seventies which was "residentialized" by creeping urbanization, but remained open for many years. Over-shoot was limited by heavy beams over the benches which prevented shots above the target area (Yes many bullets were lodged in the beams attesting to years of the predictable accidents). Sound was deadened to a surprising degree by well placed walls.
 
Just keep the noise down...

IMG_0448_zps6bd8aca5.jpg
 
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