Updated July 3, 2023.
I posted an article a few days ago about someone who just built a new home in Ivins with an indoor shooting range in their basement. But they can’t use it because the city has an ordinance prohibiting the discharge of firearms.
So, the city council is considering changing our ordinance about discharging firearms so they can use it and anyone else can build a below-ground shooting range in residential neighborhoods.
I was originally against the ordinance change for a number of reasons, including an objection that someone would build something they were not allowed and then ask for permission to use it. I apologize. I was wrong to describe the situation that way.
I talked to the homeowner and it’s clear the city council did not have all the facts because it appears the city didn’t know them. That’s because the building inspector who reviewed and approved the building plans no longer works for Ivins. I also reached out to that building official to get the actual story and he confirmed the homeowner’s explanation.
The homeowner was up front with the city from the beginning. In fact, the city’s building inspector connected the homeowner to a shooting range consultant so the range would be built safely, with a lot more concrete in the walls, ceiling, and floors, along with heavy duty ventilation, sound barriers, etc.
So, now here we are dealing with two related but very different issues: (1) An individual homeowner who can’t use part of his home even though the city approved it, and (2) a potential workaround that would open up the ability to build and use below-ground shooting ranges anywhere in the city.
I was wrong to voice my objections to the homeowner’s actions. He did what he was allowed to do and used professional advice to do it properly. But I am still opposed to adding this exception to our firearms discharge ordinance.
I believe that this use does not belong in any residential neighborhood. That is not because I am opposed to guns. I am not opposed to guns. I own guns. Gun ranges exist in Washington County. They are not in residential neighborhoods. I also oppose changing any ordinance unless the changes clearly support the needs of the community.
But it looks like a majority of the council disagrees with me. I believe that mostly stems from the position that property owners should have the freedom to use their homes as they see fit. I get that. If we were proposing to take away a freedom that property owners have been enjoying for years, I’d have trouble with that. But we’re not taking away anything by leaving the restrictions as is. They have been in place for years.
But this situation creates a dilemma. It is now clear the homeowner did nothing wrong in building the shooting range in his home. That doesn’t violate any building codes and it was known by and approved by the city. And it sounds like he built it to the safety standards of a professional range at significant additional cost.
But someone should have known about the city code that prohibits discharging firearms. Is that a situation of “buyer beware” and incumbent on the homeowner to know? Or should the city have told the homeowner about it, especially since it is buried in 257 pages of city regulations?
Or, is it now just a matter of what’s done is done and we need to figure out a solution? If it’s the latter, then let’s solve the problem for this situation, not open up the opportunity to build shooting ranges in any residential neighborhood in the city.
UPDATE: On July 20, 2023 the City Council approved allowing below ground shooting ranges anywhere in Ivins. Lance and Adel voted in favor, Jenny and I voted against. Dennis was absent (but indicated he was in favor at prior meetings) so the mayor broke the tie by voting in favor.