Arcata Municipal Code Art. 2 Firearms

Except as otherwise provided in this article, no person shall sell, give, loan, or in any way furnish to any person under the age of 16 years any firearm, air gun, gas-operated gun, sling, sling shot, bow and arrow, or other device designed or intended to discharge, or capable of discharging, any dangerous missile.

Except as otherwise provided in this Article, no person under the age of 16 years shall have in his possession, care, custody, or control within the corporate limits of the City of Arcata any firearm, air gun, gas-operated gun, spring gun, sling, sling shot, bow and arrow, or other device designed or intended to discharge, or capable of discharging, any dangerous missile.

Nothing in this Article shall be deemed or construed to prohibit the furnishing or possession of a firearm or a bow and arrow for the purposes of, and while actually engaged in, bona fide organized and supervised youth activity. Nor shall anything in this Article be deemed or construed to prohibit the furnishing to, or the possession by, a holder of a valid hunting license issued to such person in accordance with the provisions of the Fish and Game Code of the State of California a firearm or a bow and arrow while going to or returning from a lawful hunting expedition.

Except as otherwise noted provided in this Article, or any law, no person shall fire, discharge, shoot, or operate, or assist or participate in the firing, discharging, shooting, or operating of any firearm, air gun, gas-operated gun, spring gun, sling, sling shot, bow and arrow, or other device designed or intended to discharge, or capable of discharging any dangerous missile.

Nothing in Section 4117 of this Article shall be deemed or construed to prohibit the firing or shooting of a firearm or a bow and arrow at a duly established range in conformance with the regulations set forth for that range.

Nothing in this Article shall be deemed or construed to restrict or prohibit the use of any weapon or device by any peace officer in the performance of his duty, nor by any person while lawfully engaged in protecting life or property.

A. Nothing in this Article shall be deemed or construed to restrict or prohibit the use of a shotgun while engaged in the lawful pursuit of upland game or migratory waterfowl; provided, that all applicable Federal and State laws pertaining thereto are complied with; and further provided, that it shall be lawful to pursue said game only within the following described areas: (1) areas zoned agricultural pursuant to the Zoning Map of the City that are used as agricultural lands and exceed ten (10) acres individually or in aggregate among smaller parcels in common ownership; or (2) on public facility lands where authorized by the City Manager.

B. For the purpose of this Section, the following shall apply:

(1) "Shotgun" means a weapon designed or redesigned, made or remade, to use the energy of the explosive in a fixed shotgun shell to fire through a smooth bore a number of ball shots.

(2) Use of ammunition containing lead projectiles is prohibited.

(3) Hunting is prohibited within one hundred fifty (150) yards of a dwelling unit, commercial building, or public facility.

(4) The discharge of any firearm or release of any arrow or crossbow bolt over or across any public road or trail open to the public is prohibited. (Ord. 1493, eff. 11/17/2017)

Any person convicted of violation of this Article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided in the Arcata Municipal Code.