Shooting on private property

[Tim Nunan]

During the January Hamblen county Planning Commission meeting the County Attorney stated that in the A-1 zone (agriculture) that only the property owner and their immediate family could legally shoot there. In his opinion it would be illegal for property owner to invite friends (or apparently distant relatives) to shoot on their property. It was pointed out that such activity would not be a commercial event but merely a private gathering of friends. He reiterated that he believed it would be illegal.

What say you?

[SomeGuy]

Sounds like a rather arbitrary opinion.

[johnharris]

He is wrong. County generally does not have that level of authority.

[David Lewis]

Is this the same situation described in this post?


David

[Tim Nunan]

[Tim Nunan]

[johnharris]

As a general rule in Tennessee non-commercial "shooting" on one's own land is not an issue prohibited by codes any than riding ATV's, playing ball, playing music, setting up a swingset, etc.

Now, shooting might be a nuisance (which is actionable at common law) and/or it might constitute reckless endangerment (e.g., sighting a rifle on a 1 acre lot) but shooting is not generally a regulated or prohibited activity. When local ordinances do propose to regulate it, its a slippery slope never likely to return.