The Commerce City Council voted Monday night to let city residents — after they get a permit from the police — shoot “animal pests” under certain circumstances.
The ordinance was designed with squirrels in mind, but it does not specify any particular animal. Is the deer munching your tomato plants a pest? The neighbor’s dog who chases your cat and defecates in your yard?
The determination rests with Police Chief John Gaissert — or whomever he designates to handle permits under the ordinance.
“I suspect you’re going to have a difficult time getting a permit to shoot a dog,” city manager Clarence Bryant observed wryly.
“No dogs, no cats,” concurred Gaissert, who explained that “animal pests” will generally be interpreted as “squirrels or rodents.”
Gaissert said he or one of his command staff will go over permit applications carefully on a case-by-case basis.
“The goal is to allow citizens to take care of some of the complaints we’ve had in a safe manner,” the police chief said. “I or my designee is going to have a conversation with whoever is applying for a permit to make sure they understand. Groundhogs, rats, squirrels, that’s one type of thing. Not dogs, not cats, not deer. We’re not going to have a hunting season in the city.”
Likewise, the nature of the ordinance will limit the types of guns and ammunition that would be allowed.
Ammunition will be limited to .410 shotguns, .22 caliber rat shot and .22 caliber or smaller pellet guns.
The typical complaint of the past, said the police chief, is about squirrels in attics chewing up wires and causing other damage.
That is what reportedly led Ward 5 Councilman Richard Massey to propose the ordinance. Massey, who is recovering from a stroke, was unable to attend Monday’s council meeting.
The police chief issued two warnings. One is that someone failing to act safely can be charged under the state’s reckless conduct ordinance. Secondly, someone shooting a firearm without a permit can be charged with discharging a firearm in the city limits.
Larger pests - raccoons raiding the cat’s food, feral dogs and cats - remain the province of the animal control officer.
Permits are $20. They are good for 45 days and cover the cost of a background check, although Gaissert said a Georgia firearm license will suffice for the criminal background check.
Correction
An earlier report of the “animal pest ordinance” indicated that part of the requirement would be fingerprinting by the police. That was an error. The permitting process requires a background check, but that does not involve fingerprints.
I suspect it wouldn't be that difficult for someone to hit the neighbor's kid when the squirrel on the tree lines up perfectly to the bedroom window. I find it hard to believe Clarence Bryant is backing this. His wife was my teacher. I would think safety for the citizens of Commerce would be a priority for him, and he would be smart enough to realize this could result in a disastourous accident.
realized the commissioners had gun control in their job description I would have reconsidered who I voted for!