By AMY BANTON
Aiken City Council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance on Monday evening that will allow indoor firing ranges inside the city limits.
This was the first of two readings of an ordinance to amend the code to allow the discharging of guns in "appropriately permitted indoor firing ranges" that are compliant with local, state and federal laws, according to a memorandum from City Manager Richard Pearce.
Pearce said that several individuals from the commercial sector have expressed interest in possibly establishing an indoor firing range in the city. Pearce said he reviewed the city code regarding firearms and was surprised to find nothing in the code permitting indoor firing ranges.
Aiken Public Safety maintains an indoor practice range at its training facility on Dupont Drive, and the addition of wording to allow indoor firing ranges will ensure that the city is compliant with its own ordinance when conducting weapons training at the ADPS facility, Pearce said.
"Obviously, that is a training facility that is very important to Public Safety and used quite frequently," Pearce said.
The amendment, which is an addition to Section 22-4 of the code, reads, "Nothing in this Code shall prevent the discharge of firearms in an approved indoor firing range constructed, operated and maintained within all applicable local, state and federal rules, regulations and laws."
The rest of the code will remain as is, which states that nobody is permitted to discharge any firearm within the city limits unless it is law enforcement on duty or a resident protecting themselves or their property from a direct threat.
Several Council members were concerned with where a commercial indoor shooting range may locate.
Pearce said there are no concrete plans, just interest shown by several people wanting to open one up, and if it's proposed, the public would have an opportunity to address any concerns.![]()
Aiken City Council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance on Monday evening that will allow indoor firing ranges inside the city limits.
This was the first of two readings of an ordinance to amend the code to allow the discharging of guns in "appropriately permitted indoor firing ranges" that are compliant with local, state and federal laws, according to a memorandum from City Manager Richard Pearce.
Pearce said that several individuals from the commercial sector have expressed interest in possibly establishing an indoor firing range in the city. Pearce said he reviewed the city code regarding firearms and was surprised to find nothing in the code permitting indoor firing ranges.
Aiken Public Safety maintains an indoor practice range at its training facility on Dupont Drive, and the addition of wording to allow indoor firing ranges will ensure that the city is compliant with its own ordinance when conducting weapons training at the ADPS facility, Pearce said.
"Obviously, that is a training facility that is very important to Public Safety and used quite frequently," Pearce said.
The amendment, which is an addition to Section 22-4 of the code, reads, "Nothing in this Code shall prevent the discharge of firearms in an approved indoor firing range constructed, operated and maintained within all applicable local, state and federal rules, regulations and laws."
The rest of the code will remain as is, which states that nobody is permitted to discharge any firearm within the city limits unless it is law enforcement on duty or a resident protecting themselves or their property from a direct threat.
Several Council members were concerned with where a commercial indoor shooting range may locate.
Pearce said there are no concrete plans, just interest shown by several people wanting to open one up, and if it's proposed, the public would have an opportunity to address any concerns.