Hanover County Board of Supervisors Rejects Shooting Restrictions

Gun owners packed the Hanover County Board Room last night and spoke out against the proposed changes to the county's shooting regulations. Speakers opposing the changes stated the proposed changes would reduce the opportunity to shoot and hunt. Besides the gun related proposals, there was also a proposal related to shooting a bow.

The changes would have:

• doubled the distance that a weapon could be discharged, from 100 yards of someone's dwelling or any place where the public gathers, unless given written permission by the building's owner;
• changed the penalty for violating the ordinance from a Class 1 misdemeanor, which includes a $2,500 fine and up to a year in jail, to a misdemeanor that carries a $1,000 fine and no jail time;
• prohibited the discharge of firearms within the urban service area, except for anyone hunting with a shotgun on at least 20 acres; and,
• prohibited the discharge of a bow within the urban service area, unless target shooting or hunting on at least 20 acres.

Included in those speaking out against the proposed ordinance were the Sheriff and the Commonwealth Attorney. Both said the proposed noise ordinance was unenforceable. In the end, the Board voted unanimously to defeat all of the proposed shooting ordinance changes as well as the proposal dealing with hunting and the noise ordinance.

Thanks to all VSSA members who either contacted the supervisors or who attended the meeting last night.