As a hunter for over 40 years, I’ve had the pleasure of hunting all over the United States. I have hunted in the mountains, deep forest, farms and I have legally hunted inside city limits. Yesterday, I came across this video from Bob Hodge and Joe Justice at Sport Source Digital Network on a topic that I am sure has been looked at before. This video came about because some duck hunters, hunting their property in Sweetwater, TN, were confronted and ticketed by Sweetwater City police due to an ordinance not allowing the discharge of a firearm inside city limits. Bob and Joe do a great job dissecting the issue and ramifications. I highly recommend watching the entire video and then leave a comment or shoot an email to the hosts.
If I read the ordinance correctly, it states in Sweetwater Municipal Code:
11-503. Discharge of firearms . It shall be unlawful for any unauthorized person to discharge a firearm within the corporate limits.
I am not a lawyer, but wouldn’t a licensed hunter be authorized to discharge a firearm according to that vague wording? Food for thought.
Here’s my humble opinion on this topic; this is Tennessee, not California. There, I said it. As a hunter, and lifetime California hunting license holder, I have direct knowledge of the laws and many city ordinances. I’ve also been confronted before and been told by law enforcement that I was completely legal in my hunting and to have a nice day. Here’s my opinion, if you don’t like hearing the report of a gun and don’t like hunting, don’t move to a state like Tennessee that is a haven for hunters. I will not apologize for my right to hunt. Tennessee Constitution’s Article XI, Section 13 states that Tennessee citizens have the right to hunt and fish, but with restrictions set by law. Does a city ordinance supersede a state law allowing hunting and fishing? I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.
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