Howard County Council members are poised to amend legislation that has upset some in the hunting community, but was crafted in response to a December incident when a hunter’s shot struck a day care center.
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The original legislation would ban hunters from discharging a gun within 300 yards of a human-occupied building, instead of the current “safety-zone” law of 150 yards, which is also state law.
“The general direction we’re leaning toward would basically keep the existing 150 yards found throughout the state,” said Councilman Greg Fox on Thursday following a public hearing on the bill that was prompted by a bullet striking a window, but injuring nobody, at Kid’s Time Out in Clarksville.
“We have to balance the [positive] impacts of hunting with the health and welfare of citizens.”
The legislation could maintain the current 150-yard safety distance if the hunter is shooting downward from an elevated stand a minimum of 10 feet above the ground.
Also being explored are measures to add a civil fine for negligence.
The state Department of Natural Resources charged the hunter with negligence but the charge was dropped Thursday because of insufficient evidence, said Wayne Kirwan, spokesman for the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office.
“The [Maryland Sportsmen’s Association] will support amendments stating the continuation of the 150-yard state mandated safety zone, punishment for negligent hunting/discharge of firearm and the elevation of the hunter,” said Wendy Donahoo, president of the Maryland Sportsmen’s Association.
While Donahoo said she didn’t not want to diminish the hunter’s error in judgment, it was important to understand that hunters must pass a safety education course.
“We stand in favor of what appears to be are going to be the changes, and that is not increasing the safety distance and possibly increasing the fine for negligently discharging a weapon,” said Nick Gray, co-director of the central chapter of the Maryland Bowhunters Society.
“It’s one the hunter credos — You have to know what’s behind your target. We hope this was an isolated incident.”
The council is expected to vote on the bill on Feb. 4.
