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House Bill Would Prohibit County Authority To Regulate Hunting Or Firearms Discharges    
01-31-2006 7:53 AM

(Richmond, VA) -- A bill by Halifax County Republican Delegate Clarke Hogan would prohibit county governments from regulating hunting or firearms discharges in their localities. The National Rifle Association, which advocates the bill, says hunting and sport-shooting facilities need protection from residential growth and local governments that "randomly, capriciously, and arbitrarily" make regulations. If passed, the measure would leave such regulation solely in the hands of the state Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and cancel any local laws enacted after 1995 that regulate where a person can fire a gun. Bill opponents say the measure would curtail the ability of local governments to protect citizen safety. Residents and officials of Henrico and Hanover counties showed up to oppose the bill. A subcommittee of the House Militia, Police,and Public Safety Committee has passed by discussion of the bill until next week pending response to questions from the game department.



This could be huge for keeping the few ranges we have.

If passed, this bill will also get rid of the ban on hunting w/ a rifle in eastern Loudoun County, since that was passed after 1995.

Good bill IMO.