§ 7-17 — Same—Discharging firearms, exceptions

Sec. 7-17. - Same—Discharging firearms, exceptions.

(a) Discharge of firearms prohibited. Except where permitted according to subsection (b) or (c) of this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to shoot, fire or discharge any gun, pistol, rifle, or other firearm within the City of Gulfport. (b) Self-defense. It shall not be a violation of this section for any person to discharge a firearm in necessary self-defense of his or her person or property. (c) Permitted discharge of shotguns. (1) Shotgun Defined. For purposes of this subsection (c), a shotgun is defined as a smoothbore shoulder weapon designed and often used for bird and small game hunting by firing shot at short ranges, and does not include rifles or handguns. (2) Permitted firing of shotguns. The Chief of the Gulfport Police Department shall issue permits for the shooting, firing and discharging of shotguns in areas of the City of Gulfport according to the limitations of this subsection (c). (3) Prohibited location. a. No shotgun shall be discharged in a location not permitted. b. No shotgun shall be discharged on public or municipally owned property unless set aside for such purpose by order of the governing authority of the City of Gulfport. c. No permit shall be granted under this subsection (c) to discharge a shotgun in the City of Gulfport in any location containing less than forty (40) continuous acres of uninhabited land or having a width at its narrowest point of less than one thousand three hundred twenty (1,320) linear feet. d. No shotgun shall be discharged under this subsection (c) within one thousand (1,000) feet of any public road, or of the boundary line of any residential, commercial property, or other inhabited property, or within three hundred (300) feet of the boundary line of uninhabited property owned by an adjoining property owner. e. No shotgun shall be discharged under this subsection (c) unless the property is posted conspicuously around the entire perimeter with such warning signs as the permit instructions shall require. (4) Permit/Applications. a. Permit applications shall be filed with the Gulfport Police Department. b. Permit applications shall be accompanied by evidence of ownership of the property, identification of the property location and a sketch of size and configuration of the property, and the names and addresses of all adjoining property owners. Application shall be signed by the owner. If the property is leased, the owner and the lessee shall make joint permit application. The applicant shall be a resident of Harrison County having attained the age of twenty-one (21) years. c. Permits, if granted, shall be granted to the applicant of applicants. d. An application fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) shall be paid to process the application. e. The chief of police shall review the application and shall grant or refuse to grant the permit to the applicant within ten (10) days after a complete application is filed. f. The chief of police may refuse to grant a permit for any location in which the chief determines that the public safety or the safe and peaceful use of adjoining private properties may be threatened thereby. g. It shall be unlawful for a convicted felon to apply for a permit under this subsection (c), or to discharge a shotgun or to possess an individual permit under this section. h. All permits granted under this subsection (c) shall expire one (1) year after the date of the permit, and renewal may be effected only by filing a new application and review according to this section. i. Up to eight (8) individual permits shall be granted to the applicant for use by individual permittees. Applicant shall be responsible for granting individual permits to the users thereof. (5) Permit violations. a. Discharge of a shotgun in violation of any provision of this subsection (c) shall be an offense punishable as a misdemeanor against the person discharging the gun. Each person firing a shotgun hereunder shall have in his possession an individual permit, which shall be worn by the permittee in a visible manner. b. Violation of any provision of this subsection (c) shall be reason for immediate termination of any permit issued hereunder and shall be presumed to be a violation by the applicant or applicants and the person violating subsection (c)(5)a. of this section. c. No more than eight (8) persons with shotguns shall be allowed by applicant to participate in a hunting or practice shooting activity at a permitted location, and each such person shall have an individual permit granted by the applicant. d. No shotgun shall be fired on a permitted location before daylight or after sunset. e. It shall be a violation of any permit to discharge buckshot or high-powered shells, and no more than three (3) shells shall be permitted to be loaded in an automatic shotgun at any time. f. Discharge of a shotgun under this subsection (c) in violation of any state or federal law or regulation for control of hunting of birds or wildlife shall be a violation of this subsection (c).

(Code 1963, § 17-23; Ord. No. 2022, § 1, 6-20-95; Ord. No. 3066, § 2, 3-3-21)