In Florida you can build a range on private property

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southjk

New member
According to a guy quoted on a Guns.com article you can build a private shooting range on your private property and be completely within the law. He claims you can discharge a firearm on private property as long as the bullet's path does not pass over a paved public road or any occupied premises. There is a video of his range/driveway at that site as well.

Florida statue 790.15 (1)
...any person who knowingly discharges a firearm in any public place or on the right-of-way of any paved public road, highway, or street, who knowingly discharges any firearm over the right-of-way of any paved public road, highway, or street or over any occupied premises, or who recklessly or negligently discharges a firearm outdoors on any property used primarily as the site of a dwelling as defined in s. 776.013 or zoned exclusively for residential use commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083....
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What about that part about property used primarily as the site of a dwelling? Wouldn't that mean he can NOT shoot in his driveway?
 
Why? A residential driveway is not a "paved public road, highway, or street." The law doesn't say you can't shoot on the same property as a house, it says you can't soot "over" a house.
 
The way I'm reading it is that you can't discharge the weapon ON the property used primarily as a dwelling or zoned residential. His neighborhood definitely looks residential.

Even if it is legal I bet the neighbors would get fed up. I know mine would but I would love to be able to set up a target in my back yard.
 
The way I'm reading it is that you can't discharge the weapon ON the property used primarily as a dwelling or zoned residential.
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It says you can't do it "recklessly or negligently".

If you've built a safe range, it's neither of those.
 
Wow, for some reason my brain missed those words. I guess he is right, perfectly legal. I wish TN law was similar. I would sure set one up in my yard.
 
I couldn't get the link to work but I think I understand what is happening based on reading the OP and following posts.

Just because something is legal, doesn't make it a good idea. Being a good neighbor, projecting a positive image of gun owners and getting undecided people on our side in the gun control battle is more important than doing something like this just because it might be legal. At least legal for now. Every time you read about a stupid law or rule doing enough research usually results in a reason. Doing something like this could easily result in a change in the law.
 
I think this story has really been blown out of proportion.

If you can build a safe backstop and stay within noise ordinances I don't see the big deal. Should there be more to it? There probably should be something in the law about having a safe backstop capable of stopping a bullet, but to not have that already falls under firing it recklessly or negligently. A suburb with an HOA or deed-restricted community is probably not a good idea, but if I want to shoot on my land, I should be able to.

I should also buy a couple of silencers to show respect for the neighbors:D
 
southjk said:
Wow, for some reason my brain missed those words. I guess he is right, perfectly legal. I wish TN law was similar. I would sure set one up in my yard.
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What IS Tennessee law? Remember, if the law doesn't say it's illegal ... it's legal. Does Tennessee law specifically prohibit shooting on your own land?
 
Florida has state preemption of firearms laws (Florida Statute 790.33) so noise ordinance is the only thing that can get you there, but they cannot create any noise ordinances that affect only firearms. As long as you're under the decibel limit, you're good whether it's a firearm or a stereo.
 
While I generally support shooting on your own property if it's safe, a safe backstop is more than just something that catches the bullets when they go where you want them to. Any number of relatively small errors would send bullets around or over that guys shed/backstop. Based on that video the area beyond the shed is not under his control and contains homes and other areas seemingly open to the public...not really what I would consider responsible or safe.
 
Orlando area media story....

Private gun ranges(firing lines) can be installed on private property as long as they are safe & do not violate any local ordinances or laws.
A Orlando news station just ran a story on gun ranges on private lands.

A man was shot & killed by a stray bullet in central Florida a few months ago. The bullet was fired by a neighbor with a home made gun range. :rolleyes: .
 
I have two private ranges of my own. One on my son's 40 acres and one on my brothers 280 acres. Both have massive bluffs behind their berms, so even the worst misplaced shot will not leave the property. They are also in areas that even if one intentionally aimed over the bluffs, the odds of ever hitting something with a handgun round is remote. They are also areas where hunting is done regularly. I am still concerned about safety and errant rounds. Where this guy is shooting is a accident waiting to happen. His backstop is small and there is a public waterway directly behind a clear opening in his backstop where he has no control over access. His walking out and looking up and down the canal before shooting does not make it safe. Shooting with ear protection one would never hear a boat coming and expecting to see a speed boat in time to stop shooting is sheer stupidity. While what they guy is doing may be legal now, irresponsible actions like this will only lead to tougher restrictions and make it harder for those with legitimate home ranges to continue to use them.
 
Private gun ranges(firing lines) can be installed on private property as long as they are safe & do not violate any local ordinances or laws.
A Orlando news station just ran a story on gun ranges on private lands.
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There are no local ordinances. We have a preemption law.

While what they guy is doing may be legal now, irresponsible actions like this will only lead to tougher restrictions and make it harder for those with legitimate home ranges to continue to use them.
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He's actually only about 20 feet from that target. Despite the angle of the picture they're showing in the news, he probably can't see/hit anything behind that shed. Above it? Maybe, but if he knows what he's doing, he won't. I know- people makes mistakes- but they make mistakes at their residences when they're not intending to shoot at all, too.

As far as noise and being considerate, I doubt the noise is any worse than someone running a table saw or a lawnmower.

The only problem I have is the fact the guy is doing it to make a point and is actively trying to get laws passed to regulate the very activity he is engaged in.
 
From the article: "Currently, 790.15 (1) offers no regulations regarding quantity or caliber of rounds and hours of operation. And according to Monroe County Attorney Bob Shillinger, the statue even protects private shooting ranges from noise ordinances."
 
There is a great deal of difference between firing guns on a well constructed range located on a few acres of private land in the country and what the guy at the link is doing. The guy in the video is firing a handgun in a crowded area.

IMO: The guy in the video is inconsiderate and dangerous to the extreme. Yeah, it's most likely legal in FL, for now. That does not make it smart.
 
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