In yet another attack on Second Amendment rights, I bring you Senate Bill 353, which prohibits the operation of:
an outdoor shooting range within 500 yards of any property zoned for residential use unless the Range Design Criteria developed by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Health, Safety and Security have been met.
Now, this may not sound like a huge deal. But, they’re not just talking about paid ranges. A range is defined as:
any partially enclosed or unenclosed area or facility designed for the use of rifles, shotguns, pistols, silhouettes, skeet, trap, black powder, or any other similar sport shooting.
Note there is no mention of paid operations. That berm in your back yard? Yeah, that’s a “range.” This is basically a ban on shooting in your back yard, even if your back yard is big. It’s not within 500 yards of your neighbor’s house. It’s within 500 yards of their property. Oh, and technically it’s within 500 yards of your property unless you live in a commercial or other zone. Live on 10-15 acres? Still can’t shoot if you’re zoned residential.
I know what they’ll say – “people shoot irresponsibly!” Do some people shoot irresponsibly? Sure. But that’s no reason to completely ban it.
This is nothing more than yet another attempt to restrict your Second Amendment and property rights. Exercising those rights will cost you now, to the tune of
not less than $1,000 nor more than $100,000 for the initial violation and $5,000 per day for each day of violation thereafter.
I really shouldn’t be surprised at this point. The Democratic Party of Virginia is doing absolutely everything they can to make sure you can’t exercise your Second Amendment rights. It’s so blatant right now that they’re not even bothering to deny it, they’re doubling down on it.
Talk to your representatives. Let them know you won’t stand for this. Your rights depend on it.
