§ 11-1. Discharging firearms, etc., prohibited; exceptions.

(a)

It shall be unlawful for any person to shoot or discharge any gun, pistol or other firearm, BB gun, air compression gun, spring gun or other similar device which propels with force a shot, pellet or other projectile within the municipal corporate limits of the city.

(a1)

It shall be unlawful for any person to shoot or discharge, by bow, crossbow or otherwise, any arrow, or similar projectile of deadly force within the municipal corporate limits of the city.

(b)

Nothing herein shall be construed so as to prohibit:

(1)

Any person from discharging any firearm in the lawful defense of his person, family or property or pursuant to lawful directions of law enforcement officers;

(2)

Any sworn law enforcement officer from discharging a firearm in the performance of official duties;

(3)

Any person, corporation or organization operating a rifle, pistol, skeet or trap range or other firing range including "turkey shoots," which range is substantially in accordance with specifications promulgated by the National Rifle Association or by an equivalent nationally recognized firearms safety authority for the type and caliber of firearm being fired;

(4)

Any person using, as intended, any device used for the firing of stud cartridges, explosive rivets or similar industrial ammunition;

(5)

Any person using model rockets designed to propel a model vehicle in a vertical direction;

(6)

Any person using a weapon or other instrument used to fire blank ammunition for a lawful purpose;

(7)

A person hunting on his own property or with the property owner, or on another's property in their absence if he has on his person a valid North Carolina hunting license and written permission from the property owner, and

a.

The firearm discharged by the person hunting is a shotgun employing number seven (7) or higher shot; and

b.

There is a valid hunting season in effect at the time the shotgun is discharged; and

c.

The shotgun is not discharged within five hundred (500) feet of a dwelling house, school, church, any other occupied building, street or road, park or recreation area or any other type of public gathering place; and

d.

The parcel or tract of land which the hunter owns or has permission to hunt upon is greater than fifty (50) acres in area; and

e.

The person discharging the shotgun exhibits reasonable regard for the safety and property of other persons.

(8)

A person hunting by bow or crossbow on his own property, or with the property owner, or on another's property in their absence if he has on his person both a valid North Carolina hunting license (or who qualify for an exemption from licensing by the state wildlife commission) and written permission from the property owner or the property owner's authorized agent or manager, and meets the following requirements:

a.

Hunts from a permanent or portable elevated platform of at least ten (10) feet above the ground; and

b.

Does not discharge a bow or crossbow from an elevated platform when within five hundred (500) feet from any property line or boundary of a dwelling house, school, church, commercial building, governmental property or other occupied building, street or road, park or recreation area or any type of public gathering place; and

c.

The parcel or tract of land which the hunter owns or has permission to hunt is greater than ten (10) acres in area; and

d.

There is a valid hunting season in effect for which the hunting license applies at the time the bow or crossbow is discharged; and

e.

The person discharging the bow or crossbow exercises reasonable regard for the safety and property of other persons.

(9)

Any person, corporation or organization operating or using an archery range which range is substantially in accordance with the outdoor target range or field archery specifications promulgated by the National Archery Association or by an equivalent nationally recognized archery safety authority or advocate.

(c)

Any person violating the provision of this section shall, upon conviction thereof, be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined or imprisoned in accordance with law.

(Ord. of 3-26-90, §§ 1—3; Ord. of 8-27-90, § 1; Ord. No. 2009-03, § 1, 3-9-09)

Editor's note

Sections 1—3 of an ordinance adopted Mar. 26, 1990, not specifically amendatory of this Code, have been codified as § 11-1 at the discretion of the editor.