The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Air gun.
Any device designed, made or adapted to expel a projectile through a barrel by using the energy or force generated by the release of a spring, compressed gases or air. The term "air gun" includes, but is not limited to, pellet guns, air pistols, and BB guns.
Bow, crossbow, compound bow.
A weapon for shooting arrows, typically made of a curved piece of wood whose ends are joined by a taut string. A compound bow is a modern bow that uses a levering system, usually of cables and pulleys, to bend the limbs.
City.
The city and encompasses the territory situated within the corporate boundaries of the city, state, including any and all public watercourses, rivers, streams lakes and other state waters, and any and all banks, beds, courses, or other property comprising a part of said public watercourses, rivers, streams, lakes and other state waters.
Firearm.
Any device designed, made, or adapted to expel a projectile through a barrel using the energy generated by an explosion or burning substance, or gas, or air-powered substance. A firearm includes, without limitation, a rifle, shotgun, automatic rifle, revolver, and pistol.
Public place.
Any place to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access and includes, but is not limited to, parks, streets, highways, and the common areas of the schools, hospitals, apartment houses, office buildings, transport facilities, and shops.
Public right-of-way.
The area on, below, or above a public roadway, highway, street, public sidewalk, alley, public waterway, or public utility easement.
Shotgun.
A firearm designed, made, or adapted and intended to be fired from the shoulder and designed, made, or adapted to use the energy of the explosive in a fixed shotgun shell to fire through a smooth bore either a number of ball shot or a single projectile for each single pull of the trigger.
(Ordinance 2023-06 adopted 8/8/2023)
(a) 
Discharge of firearm.
Except as otherwise provided in this section, it shall be unlawful and an offense for any reason to discharge, fire or shoot, or cause to be fired or shot, any firearm, or any other weapon designed for the purpose of discharging a projectile, whether such shell or cartridge is blank or live ammunition, within the corporate limits of the city.
(b) 
Discharge of air gun, pellet gun, bow, crossbow or compound bow, etc.
Except as otherwise provided herein, it shall be unlawful and an offense for any reason to discharge, fire or shoot, or cause to be fired or shot a projectile from air gun, pellet gun, bow, crossbow, compound bow or other like instrument or by other means within the corporate limits of the city.
(c) 
Discharging from outside the city limits into the city limits.
Except as otherwise provided in this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to discharge or cause to be discharged any firearm, bow, crossbow, compound bow, air gun or pellet gun from or on real property situated outside the corporate limits of the city such that a projectile discharged from said firearm, bow, crossbow, compound bow, air gun, or pellet gun enters into or upon real property situated within the corporate limits of the city.
(d) 
Exceptions.
This section shall not be construed to prohibit the following:
(1) 
Any peace officer or animal control officer from discharging a firearm, bow, crossbow and compound bow in the lawful performance of their duties.
(2) 
Any citizen from discharging a firearm, bow, crossbow, and compound bow when lawfully defending persons or property.
(3) 
The use by workers in the construction business or any mechanism designed to propel nails, bolts, screws, rivets or other fasteners, provided such mechanism is being used in the manner for which it was intended.
(4) 
The use of blank cartridges for a military ceremony, theatrical production, or sporting event sponsored by an educational institution.
(5) 
The discharge of the firearm, bow, crossbow, and compound bows in an approved indoor or outdoor firing range, gunsmith's establishment, or shooting facility, lawfully operating pursuant to a permit issued or in accordance with local, state, and federal laws regulating such establishments.
(6) 
Destroying depredating animals on one's property or with the written permission of the owner of the property in accordance with any applicable local, state, or federal laws.
(7) 
The discharge of a projectile from a bow, crossbow or compound bow into a target designed specifically to stop the projectile and the target is placed in an area that will maintain the projectile within ten feet of the target, and the target is not placed in an area that will allow the projectile to accidentally be discharged towards a residence or inhabited area.
(e) 
Penalty.
(1) 
Each occurrence of a violation of this section shall constitute a separate offense.
(2) 
Any person violating any provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $500.00 for each offense.
(Ordinance 2023-06 adopted 8/8/2023)
It shall be lawful, under limited circumstances, to harvest wild game from the city's golf course and city farm premises with the use of an approved firearm. All harvesting of wild game shall comply with state parks and wildlife rules and regulations and other applicable state and federal regulations. The city shall work closely with the local game warden(s) to effectively manage and control any game management measurements taken upon the city golf course and city farm premises. Only persons approved by the city manager will be authorized to engage in the use of firearms and wildlife harvesting upon the city's golf course and city farm. Any discharge of firearms on the city golf course and city farm will be done in a manner not reasonably expected to cause a projectile to cross the boundary of the golf course and city farm premises and any such discharge will be done more than 300 feet from a residence or occupied building located on an abutting property. The harvesting of wild pigs, feral hogs or boars is permitted year-round or as otherwise authorized by local and state regulations. Persons approved to engage in wildlife harvesting and management upon the city's golf course and city farm must have express authorization from the golf course management prior to engaging in any harvesting or management activities on each instance such activity is to occur. At no time shall an approved individual enter the city's golf course or city farm with a firearm with the intent to harvest or manage wild game without receiving prior approval. At no time shall approved hunters be authorized to discharge a firearm on the golf course or city farm premises when golfers or other members of the public are present.
(Ordinance 2023-06 adopted 8/8/2023)