Sports

Hunters Beware

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    It is hunting season and some hunting camps in Central, as well as other areas, are surprisingly close to subdivisions and homes.  Two important pieces of information can help to keep area residents and hunters safe.
    First, the travel distances of bullets are surprisingly long.  A .22 can travel a mile or more, a .30-30 up to 2.5 miles and a .30-06 almost five miles.  So look at your hunting camp on a map, or for that matter look at where you target practice.  Follow your potential missed shots out one to five miles and you will see where there is a potential for unintended injury.
    The second thing that is good to know is that Louisiana law carries penalties for less than safe shooting practices.  RS 14:94-A reads in part: "Illegal use of weapons… is the intentional (or criminally negligent) discharge of any firearm… where it is foreseeable that it may result in death or great bodily harm to a human being."  Then RS:14-94-B provides that violators "…shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars, or imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than two years, or both."
    It is reported that at least one area hunting club has become "bow hunting only" after being made aware of these potential issues.  Regardless of what decisions each shooter, hunter or club makes, the knowledge of potential flight distance for bullets as well as an understanding of the law should help everyone make an informed safety decision.
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