City Living ... Teaching BB gun markmenship

[Southbendfamily]

So I live in the city limits of South Bend, I know, why would someone ever consider doing that ... But I am also teaching my Cub Scout son how to shoot a BB gun, is it legal to shoot a BB gun within city limits based on the thought that it is not classified as an explosive driven projectile, and therefore not a firearm?


IC 35-47-1-5

IC 35-47-1-5
"Firearm"
Sec. 5. "Firearm" means any weapon:
(1) that is:
(A) capable of expelling; or
(B) designed to expel; or
(2) that may readily be converted to expel;
a projectile by means of an explosion.
As added by P.L.311-1983, SEC.32. Amended by P.L.3-2008, SEC.254.

 

[japartridge]

Be very careful alot of cities have regs even against air rifles and BB guns. You may want to *shudder* call the SBPD and ask them if it is legal... if they say it isn't, ask for the code number to verify.

 

[Dwight]

Japartridge nailed it. For example, I'm in Noblesville and there is a local ordinance that prohibits ANY projectile and specifies air guns, slingshots & bow and arrow, etc. in addition to the firearms.

Unfortunately, the IC is just the beginning of the limitations. Be sure to check locally.

 

[schapm]

When I was 9 years old I had my first negative contact with law enforcement due to shooting a BB gun inside the city of Lafayette.

 

[eldirector]

BB guns are not a "firearm" by IC (no explosion).

But, according to SB Ordinances, you cannot shoot a BB gun:
Municode

Sec. 13-58. - Discharging firearms prohibited; exception.

(a)
No person shall shoot any revolver or pistol of any description, shotgun or rifle which may be used for the explosion of cartridges, any air gun, gas-operated gun, spring gun, pellet gun or instrument made for the purpose of throwing or projecting missiles of any kind by any means whatsoever, whether the instrument is called by any name set forth above or by any other name. [9]
(b)
This section shall not apply to any legally appointed officer in the discharge of his duty.

Sorry about your luck....

 

[SmokinSigs357]

Not sure about your living quarters, but growing up, my dad bought us a pellet/BB gun and a pellet trap. We set up in the basement and shot pellets into the pellet trap.

Fun city livin'!

 

[jerryv]

Not sure about your living quarters, but growing up, my dad bought us a pellet/BB gun and a pellet trap. We set up in the basement and shot pellets into the pellet trap.

Fun city livin'!

Yeah .. a basement is perfect for that .. doesn't take much of a backstop for a BB or pellet ..

 

[Lock load]

Not sure about your living quarters, but growing up, my dad bought us a pellet/BB gun and a pellet trap. We set up in the basement and shot pellets into the pellet trap.

Fun city livin'!

We did the same thing when I was a kid.

 

[PGRChaplain]

Or your garage! I have an Oak log I use in my garage for stuff larger that BB's.

 

[BIGnTall83]

I grew up inside SB city limits and shot my BB gun for years... lol guess I was lucky (well my parents) that I wasnt reported to the cops

 

[Southbendfamily]

Thanks for the reply's, I guess I will have to take him to Mishawaka with friends or find a friendly farmer that would let us set up cans in a field outside of the limits. I'm sure that with the responsible lessons I'm trying to espouse I shouldn't start him off with breaking the law in his own backyard. I can tell you that this city is leaving me with a worse taste in my mouth every day.

 

[Tinner666]

Yeah .. a basement is perfect for that .. doesn't take much of a backstop for a BB or pellet ..

Just thought I'd add my 2 cents here. A BB is a steel ball last time I checked. It requires a lot more forethought. Those things bounce bounce all over the place. Hit a brick and it just goes in anther direction. Pellets will flatten and even fragment with much less chance of an injury. I wouldn't want to be within 100' of a ricocheting BB.
Be careful out there.

 

[cubbetm]

When I was 9 years old I had my first negative contact with law enforcement due to shooting a BB gun inside the city of Lafayette.

weird I shoot my pellet gun bb gun and paintball guns in my backyard all the time and I've never had any trouble. maybe I should check the laws

 

[Kirk Freeman]

BB is a steel ball last time I checked.

Lead BBs are available and what I shot in my grandfather's garage when we went to visit.

 

[jerryv]

Just thought I'd add my 2 cents here. A BB is a steel ball last time I checked. It requires a lot more forethought. Those things bounce bounce all over the place. Hit a brick and it just goes in anther direction. Pellets will flatten and even fragment with much less chance of an injury. I wouldn't want to be within 100' of a ricocheting BB.
Be careful out there.

You'll put your eye out, kid ..

 

[danielson]

Laws like this are just so stupid. By the definition stated above, If I take the ends off a pen, chew a piece of paper, and spit it at you, Ive just violated city law.. WTF?

 

[sun]

I shoot pellets into a .22 trap that's set up in my basement.
When my kids were young, I set up a foam archery target for bow and a cardboard box for shooting BB's into.
And a wall composed of thick layers of cardboard was hung from a rope behind the target area to act as another barrier for errant shots.
The laws are made to protect the public from accidents and stray shots landing on other properties within what could be a densely populated area. But there's little chance of law enforcement getting involved as long as all of the shooting is done indoors and out of the sight of neighbors who might complain.
Shooting indoors provides all the more reason to wear eye protection to help prevent injury.

 

[JoshuaW]

Go with an airsoft gun that he can use inside. If you have a privacy fence, I wouldnt worry about using it outside, but otherwise I wouldn't risk it. Also, know your neighbors. I don't think I would have problems with my neighbors, but your mileage might very. Growing up in Elkhart, we had some awful neighbors who HATED us shooting our pellet guns in the backyard. More than once we had the police called, and my parents always handled it and explained to us that sometimes things are wrong that shouldn't be.

You would probably be okay going outside city limits somewhere, or take him to Kodiak. He can still shoot his pellet rifle there, he will just have to still use eyes and ears.

 

[DC47374]

The laws are made to protect the public from accidents and stray shots landing on other properties within what could be a densely populated area.

I would say the law was made to bring in revenue to the city and provide possible "victims" with easier means to sue in civil court.

 

[rdd2]

bs i guess a nerf gun is illegal in south bend