§ 14-10. Same—Discharging firearms or shooting arrows from bows.
(a)
No person shall discharge any firearm within the county within 600 feet of a (i) dwelling of another; (ii) business establishment; (iii) public building; (iv) public gathering; or (v) public meeting place.
(b)
As to firearms, this section shall not apply to a (i) law-enforcement officer in the performance of his official duties; (ii) any person whose discharge of a firearm is justifiable or excusable at law in the protection of life or property; (iii) the discharge, on land of at least five acres that is zoned for agricultural use, of a firearm for the killing of deer pursuant to Code of Virginia, § 29.1-529; (iv) the discharge of a firearm that is otherwise specifically authorized by law; (v) the discharge of black powder firearms using blanks as part of historical re-enactments, historical living history programs and historical demonstrations; (vi) the discharge of starter blank weapons to initiate athletic competitions; or (vii) ceremonial and patriotic displays.
(c)
Except for target shooting, no person shall shoot an arrow from any bow within the county within 150 feet of a (i) business establishment; (ii) public building; (iii) public gathering; (iv) public meeting place; or (v) dwelling of another, except that the 150-foot limitation shall not apply if the dwelling owner or occupant has given permission.
(d)
As to shooting arrows from bows, this section shall not apply to shooting an arrow from a bow for the killing of deer pursuant to Code of Virginia § 29.1-529 on land of at least two acres that is zoned for agricultural use.
(e)
For purposes of this section, bow includes all compound bows, crossbows, longbows and recurve bows having a peak draw weight of ten pounds or more. The term bow does not include bows that have a peak draw of less than ten pounds or that are designed or intended to be used principally as toys. The term "arrow" means a shaft-like projectile intended to be shot from a bow.
(f)
Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000.00.
(Code 1978, § 15.1-22.3; Ord. of 9-21-05(1), § 1; Ord. of 12-13-06(2), § 1; Ord. of 2-24-10(2), § 1)
State Law reference— Authority of county to adopt this section, Code of Virginia, § 15.2-1209.
Editor's note— Ord. of 2-24-10(2), § 1, amended § 14-10 title to read as herein set out. Former § 14-10 title pertained to similar subject matter.
(Code 1978, § 15.1-22.3; Ord. of 9-21-05(1), § 1; Ord. of 12-13-06(2), § 1; Ord. of 2-24-10(2), § 1)