SB120 • A bill giving more authority to the state forester to restrict target shooting because of high fire hazard swept through a Senate committee on Tuesday.
The Target Shooting and Wildfire Regulations bill — SB120 — allows the state forester to call for a ban on target shooting in places where hazardous conditions exist. The legislation adds language to a current Forestry, Fire, and State Lands law outlining the power of the state forester to close access to the public in dangerous situations.
 |
Join the Discussion |
 |
Post a Comment |
"The bill puts into statute what has been going on traditionally," said the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem.
The bill passed with unanimous approval through the Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee after vocal support from other parties.
Sterling Brown, of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation said the organization "stands behind the bill because it gives greater protections to private land owners." Brown said much of the private property that was burned in wildfires last year was adjacent to state or federal land.
Law enforcement agencies around the state were also on board with the tweak to current law to aid in curbing wildfires caused by target shooting, said Summit County Sheriff David Edmunds.
Later in the 2012 fire season, Gov. Gary Herbert ordered the state forester to work with counties to decide whether to limit target shooting.
State law prohibits any regulation of firearms. By July of last year about 20 wildfires had been started by target shooters.
The Dump Fire, started by two target shooters, ignited June 21 in dry grass near a landfill in Saragota Springs. It burned 5,507 acres and cost $2.1 million to fight. On Tuesday, a Payson man was charged in federal court with starting a wildfire last fall after using tracer ammunition rounds.
In all, more than $50 million was spent fighting wildfires last year in Utah.
-
Brazil protesters keep up pressure on government
Published Jun 18, 2013 06:29:02PM -
Unofficial ‘mayor’ of Sugar House succumbs to cancer
Published Jun 18, 2013 06:00:26PM -
Report says too many teachers, too little quality; Utah educators question study
Published Jun 18, 2013 05:56:38PM -
Utah Football: Quinton Pedroza dismissed for violating team rules
Published Jun 18, 2013 05:53:21PM
Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
