Hutto considers firearms restrictions
Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 12:41 pm
http://www.kvue.com/news/local/stories/ ... b3bd0.html
"Hutto considers firearms restrictions
06:46 PM CST on Monday, March 20, 2006
By MELISSA MCGUIRE / KVUE News
A small Central Texas city is growing so fast, it's now considering big city rules. Monday night, the Hutto city council in Williamson County will likely pass new firearm restrictions.
If council members approve the ordinance, residents will not be allowed to shoot any type of gun within the city limits of Hutto.
"There are so many kids here now and the houses are so close, I really think that as parents we should stop and think about it," said Dawn Phelps, Hutto resident.
Harold Thomas has been the chief of police in Hutto since December. He says new firearm restrictions were on the top of his to-do list, and it's all about safety.
"By all means it doesn't ban people from having firearms, but it does, to a certain degree, regulate them and their discharge within the city limits," he said.
Hutto is growing quickly. The Williamson County town has grown from 1,250 residents in 2000 to around 12,000 in 2006.
"The population here is exploding. I think we've been termed the fastest growing city in the nation," Thomas said.
The ordinance affects anything that can shoot projectiles, including BB guns and paintball guns. The ordinance also states, you can't show a fake weapon that will create alarm in the public. The rules also give police the right to charge a parent if their child, who is also a minor, shoots a weapon illegally.
Larger cities like Austin have similar rules. Hutto residents say the new ordinance tends to detract from what's great about a small town... but they also say safety comes first.
"I think the city council is right on line in getting this done, which should have happened sooner, but fortunately we haven't had any incidents that anyone would have gotten hurt," said Jeff Phillips, Hutto resident. "
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Seems pretty overboard to ban the discharge of BB guns and paintball guns.
"Hutto considers firearms restrictions
06:46 PM CST on Monday, March 20, 2006
By MELISSA MCGUIRE / KVUE News
A small Central Texas city is growing so fast, it's now considering big city rules. Monday night, the Hutto city council in Williamson County will likely pass new firearm restrictions.
If council members approve the ordinance, residents will not be allowed to shoot any type of gun within the city limits of Hutto.
"There are so many kids here now and the houses are so close, I really think that as parents we should stop and think about it," said Dawn Phelps, Hutto resident.
Harold Thomas has been the chief of police in Hutto since December. He says new firearm restrictions were on the top of his to-do list, and it's all about safety.
"By all means it doesn't ban people from having firearms, but it does, to a certain degree, regulate them and their discharge within the city limits," he said.
Hutto is growing quickly. The Williamson County town has grown from 1,250 residents in 2000 to around 12,000 in 2006.
"The population here is exploding. I think we've been termed the fastest growing city in the nation," Thomas said.
The ordinance affects anything that can shoot projectiles, including BB guns and paintball guns. The ordinance also states, you can't show a fake weapon that will create alarm in the public. The rules also give police the right to charge a parent if their child, who is also a minor, shoots a weapon illegally.
Larger cities like Austin have similar rules. Hutto residents say the new ordinance tends to detract from what's great about a small town... but they also say safety comes first.
"I think the city council is right on line in getting this done, which should have happened sooner, but fortunately we haven't had any incidents that anyone would have gotten hurt," said Jeff Phillips, Hutto resident. "
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Seems pretty overboard to ban the discharge of BB guns and paintball guns.
