§ 58-84. Firearms regulated.

(a)

It shall be unlawful and is hereby prohibited for any person to shoot or discharge within the corporate limits of the town any gun or pistol, air rifle, spring gun or pistol, compressed-air rifle or pistol or other similar device which impels with force, by compressed air or mechanical action, emits a shot or pellet of any kind, except as follows:

(1)

When used in defense of person or property or pursuant to lawful directions of law enforcement officers;

(2)

By law enforcement officers when in the discharge of their duties or for purposes of training; and

(3)

Indoor firing ranges constructed and operated according to the following provisions:

a.

That such facility meets all applicable OSHA guidelines and requirements concerning the construction and operation of an indoor firing range.

b.

That such facility maintains liability insurance through a company licensed in the state, with a minimum of $250,000.00 coverage and a maximum of $10,000.00 deductible.

c.

That the walls and ceiling of the indoor firing range be constructed such that any rounds, ammunition, or projectiles utilized in the firing range cannot penetrate the walls and ceiling or floor of the firing range.

d.

That there be no unreasonably loud or disturbing noise outside the building resulting from the use of firearms.

e.

That, during all hours of operation, there shall be on the premises, at the range, a range supervisor, who shall have obtained a certificate of completion of the National Rifle Association's Firearms Safety Course or an equivalent course conducted by an appropriate governmental agency, educational institution, or nationally recognized private firearms safety training certification organization.

f.

Any firearms training offered on the premises shall be taught by an instructor with the proper instructor qualification certification for the type of course such instructor is to teach (e.g., for pistol, rifle, shotgun, etc.) by the National Rifle Association or equivalent certification by an appropriate governmental agency, educational institution, or nationally recognized private firearms instructor certification organization.

(4)

Hunting, or other firing or discharge of weapons, where not otherwise prohibited by law, by using shotguns loaded with bird shot, air guns, or primitive weapons such as bows and arrows upon a tract or parcel of land at least 50 contiguous acres in size, under the same or joint ownership, with no structures located thereon that are inhabited or used for residential or commercial purposes, and:

a.

The hunting, or any firing or discharge of a weapon, is done only by the legal owner or joint owner of the property and/or invitees of the owner or joint owner; and

b.

Any firing or discharge of a weapon authorized in this subsection shall be at least 100 yards from the boundary line of such property and in a direction opposite the boundary line and towards the interior of the 50-acre tract or parcel.

(b)

Each violation of this section shall be deemed a separate violation.

(Code 1985, § 131.03; Code 1999, § 58-86; Ord. of 5-3-2010, § 1)

State law reference

Regulation of firearms, G.S. 160A-189 et seq.