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Approved 11/4/15 <br /> <br />7 <br />Michael Harvey: We have a standard in here that stipulates a discharged shell be directed into a backstop which 317 <br />would consist of concrete, steel, wood, or combination. The concern is can any consideration be given to a property 318 <br />owner who locates a shooting area in low lying area and takes advantage of topography to reduce to scope of 319 <br />backstop. Since topography can be altered I am worried about relying on that as a means of guaranteeing a 320 <br />reasonable backstop. 321 <br /> 322 <br />Herman Staats: I have a shooting range on my property with an earth backstop. The shooting range I have built on 323 <br />my property does not meet the definition of suitable. I believe it is safe and I think some consideration should be 324 <br />given to these other factors despite my own personal range. The other issue I have is that concrete and steel are not 325 <br />ideal for a backstop if you have ricochet issues and there needs to be some consideration for that as well. Lastly, this 326 <br />broadly specifies shooting activities and does not address shooting clay pigeons in the air. 327 <br /> 328 <br />Tony Blake: I agree. Steel is very dangerous. 329 <br /> 330 <br />Michael Harvey: What I am hearing from comments is if we could reconfigure the back stop standards and provide 331 <br />distinction for skeet shooting? 332 <br /> 333 <br />Buddy Hartley: I think the earth backstop is obviously your best option. 334 <br /> 335 <br />Tony Blake: The Sherriff’s letter seems to indicate that he has standards for backstops and for safe shooting and I 336 <br />was wondering if it would be a good idea to coordinate with the Sheriff’s Department. 337 <br /> 338 <br />Michael Harvey: The Sheriff does not have ordinance for stablishing regulations for a backstop. What they do is go 339 <br />out and make a determination if the activity is safe, but they do not have specific standards. The Sherriff has 340 <br />reviewed this. Also I would like to remind the Board the proposed text amendment indicates target shooting activities 341 <br />are governed by the Ordinance. I would interpret that to mean skeet shooting as well. 342 <br /> 343 <br />Lisa Stuckey: Are there any state laws on this? 344 <br /> 345 <br />Michael Harvey: There are state laws, but they do not get specific to the construction of a backstop. There is 346 <br />nebulous language in the general statutes, but not definite state law regulating the backstop. 347 <br /> 348 <br />Paul Guthrie: Are there any considerations on what type of weapons are being fired? 349 <br /> 350 <br />Michael Harvey: No. From a land use stand point we do not have the legal authority to tell people they cannot shoot a 351 <br />certain weapon. 352 <br /> 353 <br />Herman Staats: This language on page 123 is the distinction of the times per month for shooting? 354 <br /> 355 <br />Michael Harvey: Yes on page 123 we added language with the direction of the County Attorney indicating that if you 356 <br />are a property owner and are discharging your gun on your property three days or less a month that is not going to 357 <br />be considered an activity that warrants you to build a backstop. 358 <br /> 359 <br />Lydia Wegman: For clarification, someone could go out on their property three times a month and target shoot all day 360 <br />long? 361 <br /> 362 <br />Michael Harvey: Unfortunately, that is exactly what that means. 363 <br /> 364 <br />James Lea: And not only can they target shoot, but they can shoot any gun they want? 365 <br /> 366 <br />Michael Harvey: They can shoot any gun they want anyway, period. 367 <br /> 368 <br />Lydia Wegman: Does this exemption also exempt them from the hours of the day. 369