(A) It shall be unlawful for any person to fire, shoot or discharge, or cause to be fired, shot or discharged, within the municipal corporate limits of the City of Creedmoor, any gun, pistol, rifle, or other firearm, or make use of any crossbow, slingshot, blowgun, or similar device, by whatever name, for throwing or propelling with force a metal projectile, shot, slug, bolt, or rock, except:
(1) Any sworn law enforcement officer, licensed private protective services officer, or bail bondsman in the performance of his/her official duties;
(2) Any persons using firearms in necessary, lawful, self-defense or defense of another person;
(3) Any sworn law enforcement officer or authorized representative of the City of Creedmoor conducting wildlife management activities for the sole purpose of shooting or killing any dangerous or nuisance animal or reptile encroaching upon public or private property, city park, greenway, or conservation land;
(4) When such firing or discharge is made without projectiles (i.e. blank rounds) pursuant to a pre-approved recreational, educational, theatrical, instructional program, athletic event, demonstration, show, exhibit, funeral or ceremony conducted or supervised by the City of Creedmoor, the City of Creedmoor Police Department, or another competent authority acceptable to the Chief of Police. Approval shall be evidenced in writing by the Chief of Police to the applicant, and the Chief shall impose any condition or conditions upon the discharge(s) deemed to be necessary and prudent with due regard to life, property, general welfare, and public safety. Such permit shall be revocable by the Chief upon a finding that the permit holder is not exercising the privilege of such permit in a careful and prudent manner and with due regard to life and property;
(5) A certified gunsmith, firearms manufacturer, or firearms research and development laboratory that during the course of experimentation, fabrication, assembly, repair, or maintenance must test fire a firearm to determine its functionality, as long as there is a proper bullet or snail trap, or other acceptable method of projectile capture and noise reduction in place;
(6) The owner or occupant of any land who has been granted temporary written permission by the Chief of Police to shoot blank cartridges at birds when they become a nuisance on such land;
(7) Any adult person attending a facility lawfully operating as a rifle, pistol, skeet, or trap range or other firing range or shooting gallery and any minor attending such a facility with direct adult supervision.
(B) The Chief of Police or any member of the Police Department is hereby authorized to seize and hold subject to order of court, any such firearm, rifle, gun or pistol, crossbow or other similar device which impels with force any shot of any kind, which shall be used, shot, or discharged within the city, in violation of this section.
(C) Any person who shall knowingly and willfully permit his or her minor child under 18 years of age to discharge, fire, shoot or operate, within the corporate limits of the city, any such air rifle, BB gun or pellet gun, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(D) Violation of this section may constitute an infraction in accordance with § 10.99 of this Code and G.S. § 14-4.
(`84 Code, § 8-1002) (Ord. passed 1-15-16; Am. Ord. 88-O-10, passed 11-22-88; Res. 2010-R-02, passed 1-26-10; Am. Ord. 2015-O-01, passed 3-16-15; Am. Ord. 2022-O-01, passed 3-1-22) Penalty, see § 10.99
Statutory reference:
Authority to regulate and restrict firearms and pellet guns, see G.S. §§ 160A-189, 160A-190