Gary council bans discharge of firearms, air guns and bows inside city limits

The Gary Common Council on June 17 voted unanimously to ban the discharge of firearms, air guns, air rifles, bows and crossbows within the city's municipal corporate boundaries.

The ordinance, amended by substitution before final passage, makes "it unlawful for any person to shoot, fire, or discharge any firearm, air gun, air rifle, bow, or crossbow within the city of Gary municipal corporate boundaries," Attorney Morgan said while summarizing the measure.

Why it matters: council members and staff said the restriction is intended to reduce hunting and other discharges near populated areas and to clarify which projectile devices are covered by local law.

Attorney Morgan told the council the ordinance adds a definitions section to identify terms such as air gun, crossbow and firearm and references state law for the statutory definition of firearms. He said the revised measure removes a separate hunting provision and allows for lawful discharges at designated ranges and clubs. "For purposes of this ordinance, the term firearm may be used interchangeably with the terms air gun, air rifle, bow, and crossbow," Morgan said during the overview.

Councilman Whittington thanked Morgan for adding definitions that make the text clearer for enforcement and residents. After an amendment by substitution was adopted, the council voted 8-0 to approve the ordinance.

What's next: the ordinance passed on final reading and "is so ordered," the clerk announced; the city will publish the enacted ordinance and begin enforcement according to its effective provisions.