05-03-1982 CC MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Minutes May 3, 1982 Page Three Mayor Hinkle indicated that the St. Louis Park Gun Club does hold shooting tournaments for young people under the age of 14 and the Code as written, would not allow these tournaments without the accompaniment of a parent or guardian. The City Attorney indicated that the Code could be rewritten to allow for young Jpeolpe under the age of fourteen to participate in shooting tournaments under the Club's permit. Mr. Sid Sanford, President of the United Sportsmen of Minnesota, and director of the National Rifle Association, was present to express his concerns of the firearms section of the City Code regarding the participation of young people under the age of fourteen in matches and tournaments at the Gun Club. Mr. Sanford indicated that these children are in organizations allover the State of Minnesota and they partici- pate in tournaments through their organization without the accompaniment of their parents or a guardian. Mr. Sanford indicated that there were State regulations re- garding shooting ranges and further indicated that shooting ranges must meet specific standards and have qualified instructors. Mr. Sanford indicated that the St. Louis Park Gun Club is very active in the youth programs as well as in law enforcement, and further suggested that the City Council take more time to review the firearms section of the City Code and revise the language for that section. Councilman Schuldt questioned the kinds of permission that the organized groups obtain from parents for the young people to participate in these tournaments at the St. Louis Park Gun Club. Mr. Sid Sanford indicated that the permission is granted to children to participate on the local level and that the clubs are then responsible for the children at the tournaments or matches. Mr. Sanford further indicated that the clubs carry public liability insurance. Mr. Jerry'Palmer indicated his concern of the revision of the language in the City Code to allow for the young people to receive training at the Gun Club. Mr. TomZerwas, Police Chief, indicated that this specific language in the ordinance was to eliminate young children from hunting with- out the accompaniment of:;:a('parent or.guardian. Mr. Gene Calhoun indicated that the State law covered much the same as the City Code. The City Administrator indicated that the State law does not address the zones which would be allowable or not allowable within the City of Elk River. Mr. Dave Sellergren indicated that there is some overlap between the City Code and the State law. Coun- cilman Engstrom indicated that State law does not address the problem of people hunt- ing on specific property which the City Code would do through the section as to where it is allowable in what zones of the City. Mr. Joe Roote, President of the St. Louis Park Gun Club, requested that the City re- view the firearms section regarding the language of young people under 14 requiring the accompaniment of parents or guardians. Mr. Roote further indicated that the Club provides services for the youth, for the military, the Department of Natural Resources, for the F.B.I., the Sheriff's Department and the Police Department, and further in- dicated that it has operated under safety regulations required by law. The City Ad- ministrator indicated that the requirement of a permit for the gun club would be simp-. ly to allow the Club to operate as they currently are. Various citizens expressed their opposition to the ordinance regarding the allowing of hunting in certain areas of the City of Elk River. General discussion was carried