Trousdale County, TN– shooting ordinance:

[Tempest455]

Trousdale County, TN– shooting ordinance:

I want to share a conversation I had with a clerk of courts employee and get some opinions. First here is some background:

I am in the market to buy some recreational land for the family. Something I can shoot on (paramount) ride ATV’s etc. Prior to making an offer, I thought it would be a good idea to call the county sheriff and get their opinion on what I had in mind. I called the sheriff office and they referred me to the clerk of courts. Additionally, I phrased my questions in a very polite and professional manner. The lady at the sheriff’s office was pleasant as can be. The clerk of courts was a cold fish. Here is the conversation in a Q&A format:

(Me): I am looking to purchase some recreational land out in the county for my kids and I to shoot on and ride ATV’ and such. I would like to know what ordinances there are regarding discharging firearms, proximity to property lines, distance to homes etc.

(Clerk): Do you currently own this property?

(Me): No, I’m in the shopping stage.

(Clerk): We just passed and ordinance regarding this. You will need to appear before the planning committee and cite your objectives.

(Me): So you mean I cannot fire a gun outside the city limits on my own property.

(Clerk): No, you need to appear before the committee.

His tone of voice was condescending and it appeared he was almost attempting to talk me out of buying property there.

Does anyone live in this county that can shed some light on the current laws there? I would also be interested in comments about my recourse. Needless to say, I’m on hold at the moment until I get some more concrete info on this request.

Thanks

[E4 No More]

Like they say in church: "Book, chapter, and verse." This person should be able to cite the law so that you can look it up. It smells like BS to me.

[Rightwinger]

Hmmm, went shooting with a few of the Trousdale County members a few weeks back and one of the local LEO. Just outside of the city limits, I'm sure they could hear us, and....no issues!

Ordinances against shooting in rural county areas? This ain't Kommifornia.

Call the Metro Sheriffs department and verify but plan on moving out there and having a blast.

[Guest boatme99]

Have you considered Smith Co.? Right next door, easy I-40 access, 3 good gun shops that I know of, and lots of land. Come on over and take a look around.

[leroy]

Trousdale County, TN– shooting ordinance:

I want to share a conversation I had with a clerk of courts employee and get some opinions. ....

(Clerk): Do you currently own this property?

(Me): No, I’m in the shopping stage.

(Clerk): We just passed and ordinance regarding this. You will need to appear before the planning committee and cite your objectives.

(Me): So you mean I cannot fire a gun outside the city limits on my own property.

(Clerk): No, you need to appear before the committee.

His tone of voice was condescending and it appeared he was almost attempting to talk me out of buying property there.

...

Thanks

Temp:__________

Here is a story for ya that might shed some light on this little incident:

In the mid- 1970's i worked for the TVA; who started (didn't finish) building a four unit nuclear plant near Hartsville. Several of my friends (...all East Tennessee boys; real "Sons of the Hillsides"; complete with manners, dress, and hillside accent appropriate for "real" sons of Tennessee...) went to hartsville to work and wanted to buy property. They wanted some acreage and thought that the local Farmer's CO-OP (used to be right down town) and nearby general stores where the old timers visited would be a good place to start their hunt.

They went down to an old general store near hartsville one winter saturday morning to visit and talk to the old guys there. They gradually joined into the convesation and finally asked the "big" question. One of the old farmers there replied to them: "...Son, you dont BUY land in Trousdale County; you INHERIT it. ..."

I suspect that that the clerk is a grandson of the old timers in Trousdale county. Sadly, times may be a little bit tougher there now; and the old timers have died off. You MAY be able to buy land there now.

Good luck!! I doubt that there is a "no shooting" ordinance in Trousdale County. Too many guns!! Used to be lots of great bird hunting down there; along with a lot of great old bird hunters.

By the way; there are still a few great old men alive there. I know one or two of them!! It would be a great place to live or own property!!

So, dont judge them too harshly or distain their ways. The natives are a great people. They may just be remembering the old days!!

Kind regards.

LEROY

PS: The guys in the story bought property in a SUBDIVISION near Gallatin.

Edited January 6, 2010 by leroy
Minor clean up

[Fallguy]

First let me say...I COULD BE WRONG....

But I didn't think counties could pass ordnances/laws. I thought that is why you see in some state laws that a certain law does/does not apply to counties having a population of XXXX to XXXX, just so that law would or wouldn't affect that county.

Now counties have control over things given to them by the state, such a beer licenses etc...

Also a county can Zone the county (Decatur Co recently tried this then decided not to continue it). But if they did that, I guess it would be possible that they could prevent the discharge of firearms within a certain zone. So that could be what is going on. It also about the only reason I could the Sheriff would refer you to the clerk. If there was a county wide prohibition, you'd think the sheriff would know about it. But if it is only here or there then you'd need to talk with someone that knows where the heres and theres are and which one of those places a certain parcel is in.

[GLOCKMEISTER]

I hunt in Trousdale county all he time. I have never heard of this before today, i'd make him show you a copy of the law.

[Tempest455]

I appreciate the comments. I figured it was BS. I'm going to have my agent do some digging on this.

[ttocswob]

I suspect Leroy's on the right track.

There are some other counties/towns in TN where outsiders don't buy property - period.

[Buccaneer]

I dove hunt within sight of the Nuke plant cooling tower. Never had an issue. Excluding Hartsville city limits, the entire county is rural and nobody is going to tell anybody they can't shoot on their land provided all other safety considerations are practiced.

[Guest highvoltage]

i live in trosdale co guess i better find out myself. my dad lives in the city last time i visited he spoted my carry gun under my shirt and said thay don't go for that around here. i told him i had my permit.he said i do not care thay do not like it. i did not think much about it at the time. i will have to ask him more about it.

[wjh2657]

Macon County, just north of you is real gun friendly.

[Verne]

Being from Trousdale I would like top know who you talked to? The only ordinances I am aware of pertain to Public Ranges (If you wanted to open one). There are the usual safe shooting stuff but I have shot here my whole life with out a single issue.

I don't think there is any of the mentality that out of towners are not welcome. There have been countless people to move in over the past 10 years but this is a small town/county community. Everybody knows everybody. My dad was the local FFL up till he passed so I knew all the Police growing up and now all of them are friends or people I went to school with.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask.

Verne

[Tempest455]

Update on this:

The clerk was apparently full of ****. I found some land and was getting ready to make an offer. Prior to that, I stopped at the Trousdale County Sheriff. I spoke w/ two gentlemen that were very helpful. The sheriff explained there is no ordinance against discharging a firearm, even in the city for that matter. He did, however, proceed to explain that Trousdale for whatever reason tends to complain to the Sheriff often for gunfire noise.

He indicated the most they will do is check out the complaint, make sure the people are shooting in a safe manner, ask a few questions and leave. He did rattle off 3-4 examples of things that he said would guarantee a visit. Those were situations like early in the AM, late at night, blatant recklessness etc. He also cited a specific situation where a neighbor of his moved from MI and does not like fireworks or guns. I said, looks like he moved to the wrong state!

My interpretation after talking with them was, it would not be a problem but would probably see them in the future at some point when they are doing their job. I did buy the land, so I’m looking forward to using it.

[Verne]

Congrads on the purchase. I don't really think you will hear much from them. We shoot almost every weekend with weather permiting only a few hundred yards outside the city limits. Not even a mile from town and never have problems. There are up to 10 of us out there at one time shooting at once.

And the Sheriff has no problem signing any NFA forms. Ray is a good guy.

[Fallguy]

Glad it was cleared up

[Alpha7]

Trousdale County, TN– shooting ordinance:

I want to share a conversation I had with a clerk of courts employee and get some opinions. First here is some background:

I am in the market to buy some recreational land for the family. Something I can shoot on (paramount) ride ATV’s etc. Prior to making an offer, I thought it would be a good idea to call the county sheriff and get their opinion on what I had in mind. I called the sheriff office and they referred me to the clerk of courts. Additionally, I phrased my questions in a very polite and professional manner. The lady at the sheriff’s office was pleasant as can be. The clerk of courts was a cold fish. Here is the conversation in a Q&A format:

(Me): I am looking to purchase some recreational land out in the county for my kids and I to shoot on and ride ATV’ and such. I would like to know what ordinances there are regarding discharging firearms, proximity to property lines, distance to homes etc.

(Clerk): Do you currently own this property?

(Me): No, I’m in the shopping stage.

(Clerk): We just passed and ordinance regarding this. You will need to appear before the planning committee and cite your objectives.

(Me): So you mean I cannot fire a gun outside the city limits on my own property.

(Clerk): No, you need to appear before the committee.

His tone of voice was condescending and it appeared he was almost attempting to talk me out of buying property there.

Does anyone live in this county that can shed some light on the current laws there? I would also be interested in comments about my recourse. Needless to say, I’m on hold at the moment until I get some more concrete info on this request.

Thanks

My ex fiancee lived there. They have a bunch of weird and crazy people around there. It felt like I had just gone to "deliverance" as the people were backwoods as hell (least the ones I met) and were weird to. No offense to any "good" people that live there but from what I saw i wouldnt live there. Now I am from the country and have met a few back woods types myself but these people I met in trousdale took the cake. Needless to say this relationship did not last long. I wont get into it but lets just say it didnt work out.

Edited January 17, 2010 by Alpha7

[Tempest455]

It should work out good. We live in Hendersonville and it's only a 45 min drive from my house. That's less time than I spent driving to other ranges to wait my turn to shoot.

I plan on being as respectful as possible about shooting times, so hopefully there will not be an issue.

[Rightwinger]

What, no bump fire tracers at 2 AM Sunday morning? Come on!

Hey Verne! Glad you chimed in. When we shooting again?

I can go tonight around 2 AM

[Retired Navy GMC]

I plan on being as respectful as possible about shooting times, so hopefully there will not be an issue.

At least until the Mosins get going!!!! I know how you yankees are.

[Verne]

2 am would work but I'm out of tracers. Now if I can get Sam to part with some.

[Guest charlie8584]

I dove hunt within sight of the Nuke plant cooling tower. Never had an issue. Excluding Hartsville city limits, the entire county is rural and nobody is going to tell anybody they can't shoot on their land provided all other safety considerations are practiced.

there is no hartsville city limits. trousdale is metro, all county is now city.

[Tempest455]

Is this something new or been this way?

[Verne]

Has been like this for several years now. Not a big deal just the cops can now chase you from county line to county line.

I shoot all over the county and have never had a problem. Just don't shoot in town. Where we shoot at the most probably is actually inside the city limits but it is farm land.

[Tempest455]

I don't think it's a problem where I shoot, it's a couple miles North of town. I did get some attention when we shot "reactive targets", however.