The days of firing a bow within Campbell River city limits are numbered.
The city is collecting written comments until Aug. 3 on a change to its firearms law.
It would prohibit the use of bows within 100 meters (328 feet) of the urban boundary, in the Beaver Lodge Lands and the city area inside Elk Falls Provincial Park.
The change comes after Kevin and Catherine Doll of Blesbok Road in Rockland complained last year about a neighbour setting up archery targets and firing arrows from a bow with a 35 pound draw toward their property.
Campbell River RCMP and bylaw officers were powerless at the time to do anything despite talking with the archer.
Speaking at a recent council meeting, Mayor Kermit Dahl says it’s unfortunate a bylaw has to be crafted to deal with one person.
“I think it’s pretty disappointing that bylaw and RCMP went there and the individual didn’t think that he needed to change the way he’s behaving and it’s very irresponsible,” Dahl said.
Coun. Susan Sinnott told bylaw staff some regulations are needed.
“What we’re really trying to say is in your contained property, that’s hard to define, we don’t want people shooting arrows and I’ve talk to bow hunters, it’s stupid to be doing it in your back yard with your neighbours around! I think there is some need to allow you guys to control stupid because apparently it happens,” she said.
A couple of councillors – Ron Kerr and Sean Smyth – are not keen on the bylaw, having voted against it during the first two readings last month. Kerr calls it “overkill” while Smyth believes there has to be a better way to deal with the issue.
Comments and suggestions can be dropped off at city hall on St. Ann’s Road or emailed to [email protected]
Council will give third reading to the law change on August 17th.
