Santa Rosa County commissioners decided not to repeal a noise ordinance adopted two years ago to quiet a recreational gun range.
At the March 21 commission meeting, it was voted to put a public hearing on the agenda for the March 24 meeting about an emergency ordinance for House Bill 45 and Senate Bill 402. The bills would implement a $100,000 financial penalties against local governments with gun laws stricter than the state’s. At the meeting, the commissioners tabled consideration of the emergency ordinance “repealing any county ordinance provisions that conflict with [House Bill] 45 and its Senate counterpart regarding discharge of firearms.“  
“At this point, I feel it would be premature for us to repeal our noise ordinance,” Commission Chairman Lane Lynchard said . “[State Rep.] Matt Gaetz doesn’t want to see shooting start up down there again, either.”

For more on this story, see the March 31 edition of the Navarre Press or subscribe online.