A. Definitions: For purposes of this section, the terms defined in this subsection have the meanings given them:
AIR PISTOLS: | Any hand weapon that propels a projectile by means of compressed air or carbon dioxide. |
AIR RIFLES: | Any shoulder weapon that propels a projectile by means of compressed air or carbon dioxide. Air rifles shall include BB guns. |
FIXED AMMUNITION: | Gun ammunition of the type comprising a cartridge case with primer, a propellant charge and a projectile or projectiles (fused or unfused), all of these components being assembled as a unit for one firing. |
PISTOL: | Any handgun capable of propelling fixed ammunition. |
RIFLE: | Any shoulder weapon designated as a rifle, capable of propelling fixed ammunition. |
SHOTGUN: | Any smooth bore weapon designated as a shotgun capable of propelling fixed ammunition. (1974 Code § 925.02) |
B. Rifles, Pistols, Shotguns, Air Rifles And Air Pistols: The shooting or carrying of rifles, shotguns, pistols, air rifles and air pistols which are not encased or dismantled is prohibited in the city except in the following circumstances:
1. By law enforcement officers in the line of duty; or
2. By a person discharging any rifle, shotgun or pistol when in the lawful defense of person, property or family, or the necessary enforcement of the law; or
3. By any person discharging a rifle, shotgun or pistol on a licensed shooting range within the city; or
4. By a person shooting or carrying an unencased and undismantled .22 caliber rifle with CCI Quiet .22 caliber long rifle ammunition only when such shooting and carrying occurs while participating in a gun safety instructional program administered and sponsored by the Minnesota department of natural resources on land zoned E-1 where the zoning requirements for the program have been met and where the landowner has given written consent and only at specific locations on the land that have been approved and designated in writing by the city's chief of police. In granting approval of the specific locations, the city's chief of police may impose conditions, limitations and restrictions with respect to the number of participants, the number of instructional sessions, the times and dates of the instructional sessions, the number and placement of warning signs and the duration of the program.
5. By employees of any government entity approved by the Chief of Police, when needed to harvest or reduce populations of animals within the city limits.
C. Restrictions On Use Of Bow And Arrow:
1. The shooting or discharge of any bow and arrow within the city is hereby prohibited except in the following circumstances:
a. While engaged in target practice within an enclosed structure; or
b. While engaged in target practice at a posted and designated archery range in a city park; or
c. While engaged in target practice on school or college grounds as part of an instructional course or supervised recreational activity and only with the permission of the school or college;
d. While engaged in target practice at a licensed commercial archery range;
e. While engaged in target practice or hunting activities on an individual parcel two and a half (2.5) or more acres in size located in that geographic portion of the city designated on the map approved by the City Council and on file with the city clerk and in accordance with all Department of Natural Resources rules and requirements for such hunting activities; or
f. While engaged in deer management activities pursuant to a Council resolution specifically authorizing such the deer management activities.
2. The shooting or discharge of a bow and arrow under the circumstances described in subsection C1 relating to hunting or target practice on parcels of at least 2.5 acres located in that geographic portion of the city designated on the map approved by the City Council and on file with the city clerk shall only occur if the following conditions are met:
a. There shall be no shooting or discharge of any bow and arrow within three hundred feet (300') of any residential or commercial structure; provided, however, the prohibition contained in this subsection C2a shall not apply if the person shooting or discharging the bow and arrow owns the residential or commercial structure or has written permission from the owner(s) of the property where the residential or commercial structure is located to shoot or discharge a bow and arrow on the property and within three hundred feet (300') from the structure.
b. There shall be no shooting or discharge of any bow and arrow within two hundred feet (200') of any driveway not owned by the owner(s) of the property on which the shooting or discharge is occurring.
c. There shall be no shooting or discharge of any bow and arrow within two hundred feet (200') of any public street or private roadway.
d. There shall be no shooting or discharge of any bow and arrow within two hundred feet (200') of any city, state, or county owned park property.
e. On an individual parcel of two and one-half (2.5) acres or more in size but less than five (5) acres in size, the owner(s) of the parcel and, with written permission of the owner(s), tenants residing on the parcel as well as the spouses, parents, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters of the owners, may shoot or discharge a bow and arrow on such parcel for hunting or target purposes. On an individual parcel of five (5) acres or more in size, only the owners of the parcel and those receiving written permission from the owner may shoot or discharge a bow and arrow on such parcel for hunting or target practice purposes. The written permission from the property owner must specifically state the beginning and end dates for which permission has been granted. The person receiving such permission must have the written permission in possession at all times while hunting or engaging in target practice on the subject parcel. Discharge of the bow and arrow on the subject parcel shall only occur on the dates stated on the written permission. No shooting or discharge of a bow and arrow and no hunting shall occur on the subject parcel if the property owner revokes the written permission.
f. The person discharging the bow and arrow for hunting purposes must comply with all the laws and regulations of the state of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources relating to hunting.
D. Shooting Ranges: All owners of commercial rifle ranges, commercial trap ranges, commercial target ranges and commercial archery ranges at any place within the city shall, from and after the effective date hereof, be required to obtain a license and pay a license fee in the amount established by resolution of the city council. Such ranges shall be operated so as to result in maximum safety to the residents and property of the city, and the owners and operators of such ranges shall comply with all regulations for such ranges that the city may hereinafter enact. Violation of any of the terms of such regulations constitutes a violation of this section and is cause for revocation of the license granted under the terms of this section. (1974 Code § 925.05) (Ord. 1162, 9-24-2007; amd. Ord. 1257, 9-10-2012; Ord. 1320, 8-22-2016; Ord. 1375, 11-12-2019; Ord. 1432, 8-22-2022; Ord. 1460, 8-28-2023)