Shooting in the sunshine state

[SecularMotion]

Doug Varrieur likes to shoot. Problem is, it’s 25 miles to the nearest range, where they charge $45 an hour. What’s a gun enthusiast to do?

Lucky for him, Varrieur lives in Florida. Problem solved. Just erect a makeshift range in the back yard and fire away. It’s perfectly legal.

Re-read that if you want. It’s just as nutty the second time around.

In a story by my colleague Cammy Clark that appeared in the Miami Herald, we learn that Varrieur, who lives on Big Pine Key, once complained to a gun-shop owner about what a pain it was going to the range to shoot. The owner put him onto Florida statute 790.15, which lists the conditions under which one may not legally discharge a firearm in the state. Turns out there aren’t many. You may not shoot “in any public place or on the right-of-way of any paved public road, highway or street,” over any road, highway or occupied premises, or “recklessly or negligently” at your own home. Otherwise, let ’er rip.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20140131/OPINION04/301310045/Leonard-Pitts-Shooting-sunshine-state

[Duckhunter935]

1. Another drive by posting with no comment I see

That is what happens when you make it so hard to have a good range nearby. I have to go an hour away to fire my weapons safely. Unintended consequences of a person trying to keep their firearms skills up but you give them no place to practice. More lower cost ranges would solve this.

[oneshooter]

2. I have my own range on 20 acres..........

20' to 50yds for pistol and 100-400 for rifle. Don't have a shotgun (skeet) range, so my son and I are going to drive 30miles to shoot a round of Sporting Clays, and maybe skeet.

[Politicalboi]

3. Poor babies

I wonder if these yahoo's have to drive 25 miles to vote. I have no sympathy for them.

[gejohnston]

4. No

Polling places are closer and very convenient in Florida. There is also early voting.

[ileus]

5. If he has the land and can legally shoot on it what's the problem?

I do it all the time. So do the neighbors North, South, East, and West of my hunk of paradise.

[Eleanors38]

6. More public ranges needed? I agree! Thanx.