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Board authorizes city attorney to draft amendment allowing licensed indoor shooting galleries
Summary
At the board's request, the city attorney will draft an amendment to Section 2410 (discharge of firearms) to exempt duly licensed indoor shooting galleries subject to building-code permitting, police safety inspection, staffing, and zoning constraints; the board approved authorizing staff to draft the ordinance language.
The Mayor and Board of Aldermen directed the city attorney, police chief, and code officer to prepare an amendment to Section 2410 of the Long Beach Code of Ordinances to exempt "duly licensed and approved shooting galleries." Mr. Simpson, representing the city's legal staff, said the exemption would permit indoor shooting galleries that meet building-code and police safety standards and that the amendment would include permitting and licensing requirements.
"My recommendation is that we amend that section to add a line that says this section shall not apply to duly licensed and approved shooting galleries," Mr. Simpson said, describing required involvement by the Building Code Office and the Long Beach Police Department for safety inspections and approvals. He added the amendment would specify minimum construction standards to ensure no projectiles can penetrate the exterior structure and that proper staffing and training be documented.
Board members discussed whether the permitting route would function like a special-use permit and asked the police chief and code officer to help draft operational and safety standards. Chief Seal and Mr. Gunlock (the code officer) were asked to work with legal staff to define inspection frequency, staffing and training requirements, and proximity/zoning limitations.
The board moved to authorize drafting the amendment and voted unanimously to proceed. The action does not change code language immediately; it authorizes staff to prepare and return a proposed ordinance for formal consideration and possible public hearing at a future meeting.
