TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Legislators want to clarify a law that previously allowed amateur gun ranges in neighborhoods. A new proposal would ban bullets in the back yard.
The legislation would also apply to reckless celebratory shooting, but provides exemptions for people defending themselves or their homes.
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A homemade backyard gun range concerned neighbors in St. Petersburg earlier this year. The makeshift target was in Rep. Darryl Rouson's district.
"A 21-year-old thought that he could set up a gun range in his daddy's back yard and the neighbors realized how unsafe that was and how threatening it was," Rouson said.
The incident inspired action from Rouson in 2015 that ultimately failed. But a bill that would ban backyard gun ranges is back for 2016, this time with a Republican sponsor and added support.
"The National Rifle Association (and) a lot of folks support it, and just think it's a common-sense safety bill," Rep. Neil Combee said.
The Florida Police Chiefs Association is also backing the bill, which is aimed at clarifying a current law that prohibits private ranges.
However, the bill would have no effect on recreational gun clubs.
"It never meant to capture 5-acre, 50-acre plots, farms, rural areas where there's not much density," Rouson said. "What we meant to capture was urban cores where people were neighbors 25 yards apart."
Combee said he is confident that the proposal will pass.
"There will be bipartisan support, support of the Police Chiefs Association, support of the NRA. I think it'll be one that will pass early," Combee said.
The bill applies to areas with a density of one or more houses per acre and includes a penalty of a first-degree misdemeanor charge if someone sets up a private range.