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Back yard gun ranges and firing a gun into the air to celebrate…if it’s in an urban area, would be against the law under a bill that cleared its second legislative committee today. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, lawmakers say they are trying to balance public safety with the rights of gun owners.

Residents of this quite neighborhood just miles from the state Capitol have been startled more than once by the sound of a shotgun. A neighbor was shooting squirrels.

”It’s very surprising” said a neighbor that was willing to talk with us, but not appear on camera.

“It’s concerning a little bit.”

Q:”Concerning in what way?”

“Um, with animals in the yard. Kids in the yard. You know, what is he really shooting at? What is he doing?”

From St. Petersburg to Ponce Inlet and across Florida, more people are firing weapons on their property. When neighbors complain, they’re told to take it up with the legislature.

”This bill gives law enforcement a tool” Co-Sponsor Rep. Daryl Rouson of St. Petersburg told the committee.

Legislation being considered would ban shooting into the air in urban areas and limit weapons use to property bigger than an acre. Rep. Debbie Mayfield (R-Vero Beach) said common sense is an issue “Any reasonable person would know you should not be shooting a gun in the backyard of a neighborhood” said Mayfield.

The legislation has the backing of the NRA, local governments,  and police.

Frank Fabrizio is the Chief of Police in Ponce Inlet and spoke for the Florida Police Chiefs Association. “The barricades that I’ve seen would make any of us scared. And I certainly wouldn’t stand behind one of these barricades, and I certainly would not want my house behind one of these barricades, and I wouldn’t want to be a neighbor” said Fabrizio.

Our squirrel shooter wouldn’t talk with us on camera, but when we knocked on the door, he did tell us if the law is changed, he’ll obey it.”

If the legislation becomes law, breaking it would result in up to a year in jail and a thousand dollar fine.

The legislation has an exception for the accidental firing of a weapon, which some called a loophole in the bill. The legislation lets police decide if the gun use was reasonable.