LITTLE ROCK — BENTON - The Benton City Council on Monday will consider banning firing guns inside the city - a law many assumed was already on the books.
"It's an ordinance that everybody thought we had," Mayor Rick Holland said.
The issue came to light earlier this year during annexation discussions when a resident asked if he'd lose firing freedom in the city. That's when the council learned that firing off a celebratory New Year's shot and even deer hunting was permissible in the city of about 28,000 people.
Nearby Bryant has banned discharging weapons since 1975. Larger cities such as Little Rock, North Little Rock and Pine Bluff also outlaw it.
Benton's proposed ordinance exempts BB guns and pellet guns. It makes no mention of archery equipment, meaning deer hunting by bow and arrow would still be allowed, city officials said.
"We're certainly not picking on hunters," said Alderman Jerry Ponder, who received a complaint from a resident about a deer stand set up on pastureland within sight of a home.
Ponder said he didn't know if the deer stand was ever used but added that the resident was concerned a stray bullet could fly into his home.
The ordinance makes an exception for law enforcement, as it does in other cities. And it should not be a problem for a resident who uses a gun in selfdefense, Saline County prosecutor Ken Casady said.
Sgt. Kevin Russell, a spokesman for the Benton Police Department, said the ban, if adopted, would be an extra tool for police. He said there are occasional reports of gunshots.
"A stray bullet - even if it's someone just firing it up in the air during July 4 or New Year's - it's got to come down somewhere," he said.
If the measure is adopted, firing a gun in the city would be a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine of $25 to $500 pluscourt costs.
The City Council meets at 7 p.m.
Arkansas, Pages 19 on 12/14/2008