The Charleston City Council passed an amendment to the weapons discharge ordinance at Tuesday’s meeting.

The adjustment added more items to the list of weapons that are now illegal to discharge within the city limits to include all pellets, arrows and missiles.

While many residents expressed their opinions on the situation, the Eastern Hunting and Fishing Club and the Eastern Paintball Club had opinions about the issue, as well.

Zach Huber, president of the Eastern Hunting and Fishing Club, said the city has overlooked a few things.

“Many different kinds of projectiles can be dangerous,” Huber said. “A golf ball being hit by a club or a baseball by a bat; those are all projectiles that can cause damage, too.”

Given wind resistance and the tumbling factor, many pellets are no longer dangerous on the way back down after missing a target, Huber said.

Daryl Betts, a member of the Eastern Hunting and Fishing Club, said regulations should have been set, but to completely eliminate shooting for target practice was excessive.

“I think there should have been regulations to provide safety; such as safe distances from someone else’s property and backdrops before eliminating the option completely,” Betts said.

If done safely there should be no problem, Betts said. “It all comes back to being responsible while you are shooting anything.”

Both Betts and Huber agreed that the gun laws would continue to be stricter; however, they believe the lawmaker’s time could be used better elsewhere.

“Anything like this will continue to have tightened restrictions,” Huber said. “But, if they really wanted to make a difference there are others issues they could deal with in this area than the gun laws.”

Despite the law, people will continue with their habits, Huber said.

“I think people will continue to do what they do, no matter what the law says,” Huber said. “It’s just like the smoking ban, it will stop for a little bit and then people will find ways around it.”

While the Hunting and Fishing Club will have to make adjustments for its target practice, the Eastern Paintball Club has had to find ways to practice with the regulations restricting the use of paintball guns before this amendment was made.

When it is warm outside, the paintball club practices for its tournaments at the Norman Paintball Field east of Charleston, said Danny Naatz, a member of the club.

“Now that it is cold we have to travel an hour south to an indoor field,” said Bob Sheahan, a member of the club.

Both Sheahan and Naatz said restrictions for the discharge of paintball guns are in effect in Charleston and in their hometowns, like many places within the state.

“But most of these laws are very lax,” Sheahan said. “I have never ran into problems with it.”

While the paintball club does not have safety talks for practice, the point of safety is expressed before every tournament.

“Every time we go to a new field, we are given a 15-minute talk about safety with the sport and field,” Naatz said. “It’s pounded into our heads a lot.”

Kayleigh Zyskowski can be reached at 581-7942 or kzyskowski@eiu.edu