Shooting Airgun in residential neighbourhood

[elh0102]

I believe that NY, at the state level, may not consider air guns to be firearms for regulatory purposes. However, they can be considered weapons, dangerous instruments, etc. So, regardless of the specifics of your local law, common sense and caution are required. If you were to accidentally bounce a pellet into your neighbor while he's doing yard work, I think you would find several charges that, in some manner, include the misuse of the air gun. And the civil liability could be breathtaking. If you shoot, use a good pellet stop, and be certain that every pellet goes in it.

 

[em91]

this could all be solved by calling your local sheriff or police chief and asking them if its legal to shoot an air gun in your back yard. i did this in 2010 as a kid and his response was "yeah why not, as long as its not a .22LR or another firearm" and i live in a densely populated town in a very liberal state. Calling them is the only real way of knowing. Being discrete and quiet is still important though even if its legal because they look like real guns to the neighbors if they see you with them.

 

[Avator]

this could all be solved by calling your local sheriff or police chief and asking them if its legal to shoot an air gun in your back yard. i did this in 2010 as a kid and his response was "yeah why not, as long as its not a .22LR or another firearm" and i live in a densely populated town in a very liberal state. Calling them is the only real way of knowing. Being discrete and quiet is still important though even if its legal because they look like real guns to the neighbors if they see you with them.

I think if it was an issue for me I would look up the local laws as opposed to asking an officer of the law.
You do know it's legal for them to lie, right?

 

[blackdog899]

I think if it was an issue for me I would look up the local laws as opposed to asking an officer of the law.
You do know it's legal for them to lie, right?

I was just ready to comment on elh’s and glad you beat me to it. I don’t have a bad relationship with cops at all. Friends in the past and great respect for the stress of their job. But they’re just people
Asking a cop a law or town ordinance would be about a 20% chance of being correct. Surely someone will ask in a huff
where did you get such statistics? LIFE …
anyway I looked up town and county and state and could only come up with nearness to occupied dwellings

 

[Avator]

I was just ready to comment on elh’s and glad you beat me to it. I don’t have a bad relationship with cops at all. Friends in the past and great respect for the stress of their job. But they’re just people
Asking a cop a law or town ordinance would be about a 20% chance of being correct. Surely someone will ask in a huff
where did you get such statistics? LIFE …
anyway I looked up town and county and state and could only come up with nearness to occupied dwellings

Yes... not all law enforcement officers lie... some just embellish.

I try to avoid them in the professional capacity. In our small town, I know most of them personally.

 

[delooper]

depending on law but laws in my area say its illegal for the projectile to be shot across a street so obviously check the law and don't do what is unlawful. obviously wouldn't want the pellet to go to anyone else's property too. If its lawful for him to discharge a airgun then its really simple. Just keep it quiet and don't give anyone a reason to complain.

I'm fairly skeptical of this advice. Even if something is legal that doesn't mean you should go out and do it.

I see this thread as having two issues. 1) Is what the OP asking legal? The answer is likely no, but we don't know where he lives so we can't answer that question. So there's the remaining question 2) Regardless of the laws, is what he's asking a reasonable thing to do? That's something we can give some feedback on.