Illegal to fire BB gun in own house/back yard in Dublin? (credit)

[big_nanners]

From the Dublin Municipal Code:

5.88.010 Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings set out in this section:
“Dangerous weapon” means and includes:

(snip)

5. Any firearm, air rifle, B-B gun, air gun, sling, sling shot, or other similar instrument or device designed or intended to discharge or capable of discharging a bullet, shot, or other missile of any kind.

“Firearm” means any device, designed to be used as a weapon, from which a bullet, shot or other missile of any kind is expelled through a barrel, by the force of any explosion or other form of combustion. (Ord. 7-08 § 1 (part): Ord. 20-86 § 1)

5.88.020 Discharging firearms prohibited.
A. No person shall fire or discharge any firearm of any kind within the corporate limits of the city.
B. This section does not apply to peace officers in the performance of their official duties. (Ord. 7-08 § 1 (part): Ord. 31-87 §§ 1, 3)

Am I reading this right? It looks like it's illegal to shoot a BB gun anywhere within Dublin city limits, including my own garage or back yard.

Anyone know if this is actually enforced? I find it hard to believe that a city that still allows fireworks in the streets on the 4th would actually care about some dude shooting a BB gun in his own back yard.

(Normally I wouldn't even ask about something as silly as this, but I've read a couple of stories about cops in other CA cities actually showing up with lights ablaze and confiscating BB guns from people in their back yards.)

[ImRandy]

"by the force of any explosion or other form of combustion"

Seems like this rules out any air rifle. I think your best bet is to just call the local PD and ask.

[jaypee]

How will cops know someone is shooting a BB gun in their backyard unless someone reports it?Why would someone report it if the shooter is innocently and safely shooting a BB gun in the backyard?

[ImRandy]

Originally Posted by jaypee

Why would someone report it if the shooter is innocently and safely shooting a BB gun in the backyard?

You give people too much credit for being reasonable and rational.

[gone down south]

It's not like the projectile miraculously knows it's reached your property line and stops in mid-air.

[fizbin]

Originally Posted by gone down south

It's not like the projectile miraculously knows it's reached your property line and stops in mid-air.

Too funny. Imagine that - it's against the law to fire guns in a suburban environment. I'm shocked, shocked I tell ya . . .

[big_nanners]

Originally Posted by gone down south

It's not like the projectile miraculously knows it's reached your property line and stops in mid-air.

No, it's not. It's more like I have a giant, impenetrable hill for a backstop.

[jaypee]

You guys act like you've never shot a BB gun in your backyard as a kid.
You can simply set up targets in the backyard and plink away w/o hurting anyone.
Now if they were shooting at cars and windows, that's another thing. People don't call and report BB gun sightings for no reason.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by jaypee

You guys act like you've never shot a BB gun in your backyard as a kid.
You can simply set up targets in the backyard and plink away w/o hurting anyone.

Many of us have done this (still do, albeit less frequently). But even the best shots occasionally ricochet over the fence, which can, and should, irritate the neighbors to some extent.