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SYRACUSE - For the last time, Syracuse Town Marshal Tom Perzanowski presented the town council with an ordinance modifying the town's firearms regulations.
Tuesday was about the fourth time the town council discussed modifying the regulations in one form or another.
But even though Perzanowski said he made it as simple as he could, the motion to approve the ordinance was denied by a vote of 3 to 2. Voting in favor of the ordinance were Carol Koble and Barbara Carwile. Against the ordinance were Bill Hane, Paul Stoelting and Larry Siegel.
The firearms regulations ordinance would have made it unlawful for any person to shoot or discharge any firearms, slingshots, firecrackers or other missile propelling instruments or explosives within the town limits.
Shooting or propulsion of any missile, pellet, BB, shot, arrow, dart or other thing by means of any firearm, compressed air or gas propulsion device, bow, slingshot or propelling device of any kind, nature or description against any land, structure or facilities within the town limits would have been made unlawful.
Exemptions would include police officers in the performance of their duties and persons discharging firearms in the prevention of a felony upon their own premises. Additionally, the use of tools and equipment such as nail guns would be exempted as well as shooting at a target that prevents the ricocheting of the shot or arrow.
Penalties would be a fine of $100 and police would have the authority to confiscate any weapon discharged in the town.
Siegel said initially he wanted more time to review the matter. Personally, he said, he'd like to take the ordinance off the table completely as he still has problems with it. He said people should be able to do what they want on their own property and he doesn't see a need for the ordinance at all.
"What does the town gain from passing this?" Siegel asked.
"To me," Perzanowski said, "it's a public safety issue."
He said this year he's had more calls from residents about arrows being shot in their yards than previous years. A deer was shot with a bow and arrow in the town limits.
"If you have a problem with this, vote on it and I won't bring it up again," he said. "I don't like to have to bring things up three to four months either."
Stoelting said he still has problems with the ordinance because it may prohibit someone from using a slingshot in their own yard. Hane didn't see a problem with someone shooting a BB gun on their own yard.
