As expected, the Reno County Commission passed a county resolution that restricts the firing of weapons between the dikes along the Arkansas River, county wide.

The resolution indicates that it shall be unlawful for anyone to discharge a firearm within the banks of the Arkansas River, or to discharge from public or private property when the intended target for the firearm’s projectile lies within the banks of the river.

Now those who have hunting license during open seasons on lands and waters designated for public hunting would still be allowed.

Officials says the concern is more over target shooting with debris left behind by the shooters. That includes bottles, television sets and propane tanks and clay targets, just to name a few.

But, it’s also the issue of safety including a recent incident in Nickerson where a spent round landed on the couch next to a mother and her infant. As we have told you in past stories, there have been other reports of the rounds coming close to other homes located near the river. Luckily, none of them enter the homes and no one was struck.

A violation would be considered a class B misdemeanor offense with a possible 6-month jail sentence and thousand dollar fine, or both.