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.

 

[JDR]

My city in the northwest metro Atlanta allows airguns and slingshots, provided you have a safe backstop on your yard. . The law is antiquated as the town has become much denser in population, but so far is under the radar of the City Council. Just will take one complaint, and shooting them will be illegal, so I hide my shooting the best I can.

 

[Twiceshy]

In the city I live in, an air gun is defined as" Air gun shall mean an instrument from which a projectile is propelled by a spring. Air rifle shall mean any instrument in which, by means of a lever, air is pumped into a chamber and then released by pulling the trigger; and the release of compressed air forces out the pellet, or any instrument in which compressed carbon dioxide is used to propel the pellet or shot." Other than that, it is considered to be a firearm. Also, you must ensure that no pellet/projectile does not leave your property and that provisions are made to stop said pellet/projectile from doing so. With that being said I personally only shoot my springer in .177 when the neighbors on both sides of me are not home. Which limits my time, but I am retired, and they still work. So, Monday thru Friday I pick my times but still take slow/random shots being stealthy as to not draw any attention. I shoot into a home made a pellet trap; a heavy-duty storage tub filled with rubber mulch and a steel plate backer. In my humble opinion I would not shoot anything larger than a .177 springer in a residential area and even then, only with safety first always in mind!

 

[beerthief]

I think you’re confusing the DEC 600fps rule… My understanding is that an Airgun needs to make at least 600fps to be included in the definition of firearm for purposes of hunt and fishing laws. This is technically what makes them legal for small game. This definition only applies to hunt and fishing laws though, not in general. AFAIK airguns are not firearms for NYS laws so in NY it all rides on County/Town/Village laws. Some time back I checked with a sheriff of a town and was told “nothing in NYS laws preventing you, but stay current on county and town ordinances”. Was a few years back though… Obviously no legal advice, just some guy’s understanding, which may very well be wrong and/or outdated…

This is the trouble asking a local beat cop or even the desk cop , They are only concerned with illegal use or potential use .

 

[SDellinger]

I live in town right next to a busy street with a heavily used sidewalk right on the other side of my wooden fence. I have purposely waited until someone is walking right on the other side of the fence to shoot my FX Royal 500. No one even notices the shot. Kina sounds like a nail gun maybe. I shoot into a 4×12 block of wood. Most people walk with an earpiece in their ear. I shoot alot and sofar no problems.

 

[CoyoteGod]

Many city’s or counties have their own ordinances against Airguns specifically. Have to watch out for that. Can be big big fines.

 

[Avator]

Worse case scenario.. they confiscate your stuff.

 

[Twiceshy]

Again, the best advice I can give you is to be stealthy! DONT BE HEARD AND DONT BE SEEN! And use something smaller like .177, they are still fun and will drop small varmints with accurate hits.

 

[Calson]

Check the local ordinance and the specifics in terms of use as with "hunting". In my area the "hunting" needs to be done during the permitted months of the year as with wild turkeys. I have a very quiet Benjamin Marauder and my Karma SLS with a DonnyFL moderator makes even less noise.

I have a range of sorts at the back of my house and have a 1/4" steel backstop covered with a 1" thick piece of rubber for my targets. When going after critters I avoid doing so when my neighbors are outside.

 

[Avator]

Every time I read threads like this it makes me feel so grateful that we live where we do. Pretty sure if I couldn't shoot guns at home I would find a different hobby.

 

[MorningCoffeeNairguns]

It can happen in an instant. The ordinance of your local. I live in Arkansas. Used to be a state where anything looking left / got the finger fast. 5 years and 3 liberal mayors. NOW, I get the cops called on me every single time I load up for the gun club or public shooting range. The officers know what's going on. They are "duty bound" and they know I know this. We wave "HI" to one another as they drive bye: everytime. As it stands I have concrete position legally. If I'm in the confines of my domicile they have ZERO legal authority to make me desist. So I make due with my garage range when weather keeps me from shooting. At our last city open council I itemized the cost anyone would face trying to bring false claims and the cost of forensically challenging an individual in the courts. min...25K or better with legal fee's and lab testing and legal expert giving testimony. All our family units grew up and left leaving nothing but hr. rate pay boat making positions and single parent fallouts to take up the vacuum. Hence why the left walked right in and changed. Soooo, to sum up I still get to shoot here as long as nothing leaves.

 

[stefus_prime]

I had a similar concern and called my local police department, I think that would be the move. My city doesn't allow it but my the nearby construction noise drowns me out. Though I shoot .177 and not .25.

 

[603Born]

I live in Mt. Juliet, TN, and it is illegal to discharge any air-powered gun (even a BB gun) within city limits.

 

[BriarpatchMtn]

So, so glad I live in BFE and closest neighbors a mile away. Can go to my "Back 40" range and shoot as soon as it's light enough to see, even the big bore. I'd do it at the house but my pound puppies were traumatized and even a .177 freaks them out. One even hides when I just get out a gun.
I'm also the nut case that's out mowing my grass at 5am on a Sunday morning, takes 5hrs and want to be finished before it gets hot.
My opinion, .25 cal isn't residential friendly. I'll hear ricochets skip and zinging into the trees 100yds away. On little unintentional mishap could have serious consequences.

 

[.20calguy]

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

I was first investigated for shooting .22 rimfire after complaints from one of my neighbors. The officer said, "i see it's only aitguns and that you have good backstops."
Three weeks later the officer returns saying that the neighbor is still complaining so he checked the local law and found that in our parish, airguns are regulated under firearms laws, and that I indeed had to quit shooting. Then, completely off the record, it seems like he said, "Just move to the backyard out of sight." Which, off the record, I am in the process of doing.