GUN ORDINANCE • In order for shooting enthusiasts to lawfully discharge their firearms at the newly annexed gun range, Nephi City made some changes to the ordinance regarding shooting within city limits. Above are some of the improvements made at the gun range.
By Myrna Trauntvein
TN Correspondent
Now that the city council has chosen to annex the gun range into the city limits, a change needed to be made to the city code regarding the discharge of a firearm within the city limits. “The attached ordinance clarifies the circumstances where the discharge of a firearm would be permitted,” said Kasey Wright, Nephi City attorney. Prior to the amendment, it was illegal to discharge a firearm anywhere inside city limits. Wright presented the ordinance though Seth Atkinson, city administrator, would normally do so. Atkinson was ill and unable to attend as was Kyle Marchant, public works director. Justin Seely, mayor pro tempore, conducted the meeting in the absence of Glade Nielson, mayor, who was out of town. Wright said that the amendment would allow the firing of guns inside city limits under the following conditions: peace officers in the pursuit of official duties, persons acting in self-defense, upon a range inspected and approved for such use by the mayor or his designated agent and in compliance with the rules of such range. “I like the wording of the amendment,” said Skip Worwood, council member. Larry Ostler, council member, made the motion to accept the ordinance and to have Ordinance 11-17-2020 make the needed changes to Section 5-3-7 of the Nephi City Code. “WHEREAS, Section 5-3-7 of the Nephi City Code sets forth regulations regarding Firearms Discharge in the city limits; and “WHEREAS, the City Council of Nephi City, State of Utah, desires to amend the Nephi City Code to include a provision to discharge a firearm within the city limits at a designated firearms range; “NOW THEREFORE, be it ordained by the City Council of Nephi City, State of Utah, that Section 5-3-7 of the Nephi City Code be amended as follows: “SECTION 1. The current Section 5-3-7 of the Nephi City Code is amended as follows: “It shall be a class B misdemeanor, subject to penalty as provided in section 1-4-1 of this code, for any person to discharge any firearm within the city limits...” The new wording adds: “except peace officers in the pursuit of official duties, persons acting in self-defense, or upon a range inspected and approved for such use by the mayor or his/her designated agent and in compliance with the rules of such range.” This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its passage and publication as prescribed by law. Kent Jones, council member, said that he had heard loud shooting, likely a 9mm rifle, recently. It might have been a semi automatic and thought that the ordinance was needed. Now that the gun range is city property, it will give city police officers the authority to enforce the rules and regulations at the gun range as well as the ordinance. Nathan Memmott, council member, said that the range was remaining busy. He had visited there several times and found that it was difficult to get a spot. He said that he would make the motion to adopt the amended ordinance with the words “his/hers” added to the sentence: “...approved for such use by the mayor or his/her designated agent..” Larry Ostler, council member, made the second, it was unanimously adopted and Seely was authorized to sign the amended ordinance.
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