Hutto considers firearms restrictions

[Paladin]

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.

[KinnyLee]

If safety comes first like they've claimed then why not start teaching safety?

[DevilDoc]

Seems pretty overboard to ban the discharge of BB guns and paintball guns.

But....you'll shoot yer eye out!

My city has the same law and I was disappointed when I found out that I'm not supposed to shoot a bb/pellet gun in my own backyard.

[Paladin]

You know I decided to check the local ordinance for League City (we have a shooting range in the city limits)

It states:

"Sec. 70-1. Discharge of dangerous weapons.
Any person who discharges any gun, pistol or firearm of any kind, or who discharges an air rifle or air pistol of any description, by whatever name known, that by means of compressed air, compressed gas, springs or any other means is capable of discharging shots, pellets or any solid object at a velocity in excess of 300 feet per second, within 1,000 yards of any residence, public building or business house within the city shall be fined not more than $100.00.
(Code 1968, § 14-12; Ord. No. 39, § 1, 5-6-1964)"

I lucked out, cause my airsoft gun only fires at 290fps <no I'm not kidding> ;)

[gigag04]

What about pools???? since after all...its "all about safety...

[anygunanywhere]

I have more knife scars on my hands than scars from bullets.

How about a law that bans Ted Kennedy from the city limits?

Make alcohol illegal.

Video games.

Fast food.

Oprah Winfrey.

Violent movies.

[nitrogen]

What about pools???? since after all...its "all about safety...

What about Doctors? Doctors kill more people with medical mistakes than guns do...

[flintknapper]

What a shame.

I grew up in Austin, and as kids.. we Dove hunted around Hutto (go hippos), Taylor and Pflugerville. It was all pretty much farm land then.

I guess Austin (and everything that goes with it)... has spilled over into the surrounding areas. I moved to Deep East Texas in the mid '80's, just in time apparently.

I'm glad I live out in the country. I can shoot right in my back yard if I like.

Oh well, such is "progress"!

[Paladin]

"Firing a pellet or paintball gun within the city limits of Hutto is now illegal. "

http://www.news8austin.com/content/livi ... 1&SecID=68

"New ordinance prohibits discharge of certain guns
4/9/2006 7:09 PM
By: Valerie Gutierrez

Firing a pellet or paintball gun within the city limits of Hutto is now illegal. The city council passed the ordinance last month giving the police department the power to charge anyone breaking the new law.

Hutto's new Police Chief Harold Thomas says it's all about safety.

"Before we'd get complains about paintball guns, BB guns and all we could do was try to talk them into not doing it here and try to steer them away because people were afraid they were going to get their windows broke or someone injured," Thomas said.

The rule also gives police the right to charge a parent with a misdemeanor and a $500 fine if their child shoots a weapon illegally.

This type of law is common in urban areas. Now less populated towns like Hutto are trading in small town life for big city rules. Hutto is the fastest growing city in Williamson County, expanding its population from 1,250 residents six years ago to about 12,000 this year.

"As these neighborhoods grow and get more compact, those items coming out of these firearms gotta go somewhere," Thomas said.

The ordinance affects anything that can shoot projectiles, including BB guns and paintball guns. It also states that a fake weapon that might be mistaken for a real gun can’t be brandished.

“Paintball guns look like real guns. We have to treat them like they are real until we get there and find out otherwise," Thomas said. "

[HighVelocity]

Well, the folks that hatched this plan were put in office by the voters so if the voters of Hutto don't like it then they need to speak up.

[Wilson]

Is the city comforting to the 10-acre shotgun and 50-acre pistol & rifle law that took effect last year?

[stevie_d_64]

If you go to Google Earth (load up the program) and take a look at the area...

Its rather obvious...

You can see the development, and future development in that area...

Round Rock is just down the road the the west, and Austin is a "Houston style" commute from Hutto...

As for the ordinance, I have to say that if the population demographics have anything to do with it, that this type of agenda, that their local government is installing, will either stunt the growth tremendously, or those who will oppose such oppressive infringements, will make the changes necessary to remove the stupidity out of the local government...

There is just too much good hunting around there, to have such a stupid ordinance...

...just to have one...