SB 5910-S - DIGEST

(AS OF SENATE 2ND READING 3/18/03)

Finds that sport shooting ranges in this state offer valuable hunter and firearm safety training, legitimate and important forms of recreation to the general public, and provide the opportunity for many law enforcement agencies to maintain necessary firearms skills efficiently and at little or no cost.

Finds that the continued existence and viability of sport shooting ranges is impacted by burdensome retroactive regulation and lawsuits, thereby potentially threatening the availability of low-cost firearms training to some local law enforcement agencies, as well as hunter and firearms safety training and recreation to the general public.

Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person who operates or uses a sport shooting range in this state is not subject to civil liability or criminal prosecution in a matter relating to noise or noise pollution resulting from the operation or use of the range if the range is in compliance with any noise control laws or ordinances that applied to the range and its operation at the time of construction or initial operation of the range.

Declares that, except as otherwise provided in this act, this act does not prohibit a local government from regulating the location and construction of a sport shooting range after the effective date of this act.