News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Livingston officials amended the city’s municipal code Tuesday night in preparation for a shooting range to open in town.
City attorney John Meadows said existing code prohibited firearms from being discharged within the corporate city limits of Livingston.
“I think if the shooting gallery is going to start operating, people will be discharging firearms within the city limits,” Meadows said. “I have amended that particular part of the code.”
The amendment still makes it unlawful to discharge firearms within city limits except for on the premises of businesses providing a safe shooting gallery where firearms are discharged at a target for which a fee is charged.
The Gun Shop and Trading Post plans to open the range sometime next year on Martin Street.
Aldermen Ronald Dishman said he still has questions about how a shooting range is defined within the city’s building codes.
“I’m concerned about just anybody coming out here and building one out in a field and opening business,” Dishman said. “I know there’s going to be certain guidelines, but it could be done.”
Aldermen have asked the city planning commission to come up with speculations and regulations for shooting ranges within the city building codes.
The city had considered adopting a set of municipal codes to regulate shooting ranges within the city. Codes from Crossville were used as a model for Livingston, but the Municipal Technical Advisory Service said the city should not adopt the codes.
“I’ve been advised that we really have no statutory authority to regulate that. That’s not a regulation that’s specifically given to cities,” Meadows said. “MTAS is of the opinion that if the code adopted by the city of Crossville were ever challenged, it would likely be deemed unconstitutional.”
“All we can simply do is issue a business permit,” Meadows said. “As far as all the regulations and requirements that we were looking at doing, I don’t think the city should adopt that ordinance because I don’t think it would stand.”
The planning commission will meet September 24th to begin discussions on adopting a set building codes for shooting ranges.
