San Luis Obispo County Municipal Code Ch. 7.35 Discharge of Firearms

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:

"Firearm" means rifle, shotgun, pistol, revolver, spring gun, air gun or gas gun or other device from which any shot, bullet or projectile is discharged by force of gunpowder or other explosives, including projectiles which carry or contain their own fuel and are propelled by reaction.

"Highway" means any highway as defined under Sections 24 and 25 of the Streets and Highways Code of the State of California.

"Public places" means public parks, campgrounds, beaches and other public lands owned by the County of San Luis Obispo. In addition, any other place that is open to common use and participation and enjoyment or, a place where the public has a right to go and to be which is open to the free and unrestricted use of the public and, any of said other places where signs forbidding shooting are displayed at intervals not less than three to the mile along all said places.

(Ord. 2327 § 1 (part), 1987)

The purpose of this chapter is to prohibit the discharge of firearms in and into those areas of the county in which the board of supervisors has determined that the public health and safety require that there be no discharge of firearms.

(Ord. 2327 § 1 (part), 1987)

Except as otherwise provided in this title and by statute of the State of California, it shall be unlawful for any person to shoot, fire or discharge or to permit or cause to be shot, fired or discharged a firearm on or into highways and other public places within the unincorporated area of San Luis Obispo County.

(Ord. 2327 § 1 (part), 1987)

Except as otherwise provided herein, it is unlawful to shoot, fire or discharge or permit or cause to be shot, fired or discharged any firearm in or into any areas of the Los Padres National Forest in San Luis Obispo County which are posted against shooting by the authorities of the national forest, or into any inhabited area or established camp in the Los Padres National Forest in San Luis Obispo County.

(Ord. 2327 § 1 (part), 1987)

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any peace officers in the regular discharge of their duties.

(Ord. 2327 § 1 (part), 1987)

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the discharge of any firearm when necessary to protect life or property.

(Ord. 2327 § 1 (part), 1987)

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the discharge of any firearm when necessary to kill any predatory or dangerous animal.

(Ord. 2327 § 1 (part), 1987)

The provision of this chapter shall not be deemed or construed to prohibit within any district or area created under the provisions of this chapter or elsewhere in the unincorporated area of the county, the establishment or maintenance of any pistol, rifle, or target range approved by the board of supervisors or, in the national forest, by the forest supervisor, nor to prohibit the discharge at any target thereon, by any person using such range, in the event that such range is so installed, constructed, safeguarded, equipped and used as to adequately prevent any bullet, shot, or missile from being projected beyond the confines of such range.

(Ord. 2327 § 1 (part), 1987)

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to persons engaged in the protection of crops.

(Ord. 2327 § 1 (part), 1987)

If any part of the ordinance codified in this chapter is held to be unconstitutional, such portion is declared to be severable from the remainder of the ordinance and the board of supervisors declares that it would have enacted such remaining portions without the unconstitutional portion.

(Ord. 2327 § 1 (part), 1987)

Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail of not more than six months or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(Ord. 2327 § 1 (part), 1987)