Our Community, Our Responsibility: Save the Shooting Range for Appropriate Places
As a close-knit community, we take pride in the safety and harmony that define our neighborhood. Recently, the City has received phone calls regarding the discharge of non-lethal type firearms. Non-lethal type firearms can include BB guns, air rifles, paintball guns, and arrows within our community. While we understand that these activities may be entertaining for some, the discharge of any weapon within the City for non self-protection or non-public safety reasons are prohibited as it could potentially cause harm.
The primary reason for our concern is the safety of our community members, especially our children, pets, and neighbors. Accidents can happen, and even non-lethal weapons such as BB guns and paintball guns can lead to unexpected injuries. Furthermore, the discharge of firearms and arrows carries more significant risks, and a single moment of carelessness can have severe consequences. We want our community to remain a safe and welcoming place for all, and these activities pose unnecessary dangers.
Below are the types of prohibited firearms and the violations and penalties that can be assessed if caught.
4-6-1: – UNLAWFUL DISCHARGE
It shall be unlawful for any person, other than a peace officer acting in his official line of duty, to shoot, fire or discharge, or for any person to cause or permit to be shot, fired or discharged within the City, any rifle, shotgun, revolver, pistol, firearm, spring gun or other device designed or intended to discharge or capable of discharging any dangerous missile except as hereinafter provided or except when it may be necessary so to do to protect life or property or to destroy or kill any predatory or dangerous animal.
4-6-2: – ARROWS
It shall be unlawful within the City for any person to cause or permit any arrow or similar missile to be shot over, along or across any property or easement line within the City or in such manner as to be dangerous to any person.
4-6-3: – AIR RIFLES
It shall be lawful to shoot, fire or discharge within the City an air rifle or gun if such air rifle or gun operates only on a single action spring compression or carbon dioxide cartridge or electronic device and is capable of firing only pellet-type projectiles. No such air rifle or gun, including any paintball marker, paint gun, pellet gun, shall be fired, shot or discharged over, along or across any property or easement line within the City or on any property owned by the City or in such manner that the firing thereof shall be dangerous to any person.
1-5-1: – VIOLATIONS, PENALTIES
A. Misdemeanors: No person shall violate any provision, or fail to comply with any requirement, of this Code. Any person violating any provision or failing to comply with any requirement of this Code shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, unless the violation or failure to comply is expressly stated by this Code to be an infraction, or is subsequently prosecuted as an infraction in the discretion of the City Attorney or City Prosecutor, in which case such person is guilty of an infraction and shall be punished as provided in subsection B. of this Section. Any person convicted of a misdemeanor under the provisions of this Code shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or by imprisonment in the County jail for a period not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each such person shall be guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which any violation of any provision of this Code is committed, continued or permitted by such person and shall be punishable accordingly.
B. Infractions: Any person violating any provision or failing to comply with any mandatory requirement of this Code expressly stated by this Code to be an infraction shall be guilty of an infraction. Any person convicted of any infraction shall be punishable by:1.A fine of $100.00 for a first violation;2.A fine of $200.00 for a second violation of the same provision of this Code within one year;3.A fine of $500.00 for each additional violation of the same provision of this Code within one year.
C. Separate Offense: Each person shall be guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which any violation of any provision of this Code is committed, continued or permitted by such person and shall be punishable accordingly.
For more information on the codes please visit:
https://library.municode.com/ca/hidden_hills/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT4PUSA_CH6WE
Let’s continue to enjoy our beautiful community by finding alternative ways to have fun and stay safe. The City appreciates your understanding and support in making our community an even better place to live. Thank you for being considerate neighbors.