The following local ordinances apply in Suffolk City:
- Sec. 22-86. - Injuring or defacing enclosures, trees or plants; shooting firearms. (reference)
Any person who shall injure, deface or remove any part of any cemetery enclosure or any enclosure of a burial lot or grave or any monument, tombstone, slab, urn or other appurtenance, or any inscription or device thereon, shall be guilty of a class 6 felony. Anyone who shall destroy or injure any tree, shrub, vine, plant or flower in a cemetery shall be guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor. Anyone who shall hunt with a gun, dog or otherwise in any cemetery, or shall shoot any gun, pistol or other firearms in any cemetery, for each offense shall be fined not more than $500.00; however, this provision shall not apply to the firing of the military salute over the grave of any soldier, sailor or marine, nor to the firing of the salute on Memorial Day.
(Code 1976, § 6-8)
- Sec. 54-122. - Discharge. (reference)
(a) Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Densely populated area means an area extending 200 yards from the exterior boundaries of any five or more parcels or tracts, each one of which is adjacent to at least one other, each parcel or tract being one acre or less in area, and which parcels or tracts each contain a structure designed for human use.Pneumatic gun means any implement, designed as a gun, that will expel a BB or a pellet by action of pneumatic pressure. "Pneumatic gun" includes a paintball gun that expels by action of pneumatic pressure plastic balls filled with paint for the purpose of marking the point of impact.
(b) Prohibited. It shall be unlawful and constitute a class 3 misdemeanor, punishable as provided in subsection 1-14(3), for any person to:
(1 )Discharge a firearm or pneumatic gun:
a. Within any densely populated area;
b. Within 200 yards from any structure owned by another and used for human occupancy or for business purposes, or for the storage of personal property, including but not limited to, structures used for the housing of livestock or for other agricultural accessory storage uses, without permission of the owner;
c. Within 100 yards from any public street, secondary road or highway within the city, except on a permitted firing range; or
d. At or upon the property of another without permission.
(2) Shoot a longbow, compound bow or crossbow at or upon the property of another without permission.
(3) Use of a rifle to hunt bear or deer except from a stand located at least 15 feet in elevation above the ground; provided, however, that the requirement that the use of a rifle be from a stand located at least 15 feet in elevation above the ground shall be expressly inapplicable to all legally handicapped persons.
(4) All uses of pneumatic guns on public or private property by minors below the age of 16 without supervision of parent, guardian or other adult supervisor approved by the parent or guardian.(5)All uses of pneumatic guns by minors above the age of 16 without the written consent of a parent or guardian at any place designated for such use by the local governing body or on private property with the consent of the owner.(c) Exceptions. The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to:
(1) Law enforcement officers engaged in the lawful performance of their duties as such, nor shall they be applicable in any situation in which the discharge of a weapon is necessary for the preservation or protection of human life or property.
(2) The use of muzzle-loading rifles during the prescribed open seasons for the hunting of game species as permitted in the city; provided, however, that the use of such muzzle-loading rifle shall be only from a stand located at least ten feet in elevation above the ground; provided, however, that the requirement that the use of such muzzle-loading rifle be from a stand located at least ten feet in elevation above the ground shall be expressly inapplicable to all legally handicapped persons.
(3) The killing of deer pursuant to Code of Virginia, § 29.1-529, on parcels of five acres or more in the agricultural zoning district.
(4) The use of pneumatic guns at facilities approved for shooting ranges, on other property where firearms may be discharged, or on or within private property with permission of the owner or legal possessor thereof when conducted with reasonable care to prevent a projectile from crossing the bounds of the property. For the purpose of this subsection "reasonable care" means that the pneumatic gun is discharged in a manner so the projectile is contained on the property by a backstop, earthen embankment or fence. The discharge of projectiles across or over the bounds of the property shall create the rebuttable presumption that the use of the pneumatic gun was not conducted with reasonable care and shall constitute a class 3 misdemeanor.(Ord. No. 64-93, § 18-15, 9-1-1993; Ord. No. 86-01, 7-18-2001; Ord. No. 09-O-046, 9-2-2009; Ord. No. 10-O-33, 4-21-2010; Ord. No. 13-O-051, 6-19-2013)
State Law reference— Authority to adopt, Code of Virginia, § 15.2-1113.