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Resident urges Delaware County to create firearm‑discharge safety rules after backyard shooting
Summary
A Muncie resident described a dangerous backyard target‑shooting incident and asked commissioners to research local rules that would allow safety regulations for firearm discharge in unincorporated county areas; commissioners asked staff to survey nearby counties' ordinances.
A Muncie resident told the Delaware County Commissioners on July 20 that an unsafe backyard target‑shooting incident near his home has left his family fearful and urged the county to consider a narrowly tailored ordinance to regulate the discharge of firearms in unincorporated areas for safety.
“I am a huge advocate of the Second Amendment,” the resident said during public comment, “but it’s my position that they should do it not only lawfully, but safely.” He described metal targets and ricocheting rounds that made it unsafe to sit on his back deck and suggested rules such as 500‑foot distance requirements from homes and schools, backstop requirements (earth or railroad‑tie backstops), limits on firing over rights‑of‑way or bodies of water, and possible time‑of‑day noise restrictions.
The speaker cited language in state law referring to firearm preemption but noted an explicit exemption that allows local governments to regulate the discharge of firearms for safety purposes. Commissioners agreed the county should research other counties’ approaches; staff said Lake County already has an ordinance and pledged to collect examples for the board to review.
No ordinance was drafted at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to return with model language and county comparisons to inform next steps.
Next steps: staff will compile existing ordinances from surrounding counties and report back to the commissioners.
