Let's Vote: Using Guns On Animals In Subdivisions—Up or Down?

When a neighbor complained about a former Chesterfield councilman shooting squirrels with a pellet gun in his own yard, in a subdivision with quarter-acre lots, elected officials thought they should do something about it.

So now apparently controversial legislation is up for a vote at Chesterfield City Hall. See related story for details.

During debate, current Chesterfield councilmembers said actually there was more than just the one complaint—others were doing similar shooting on their property.

Some current councilmembers admitted shooting woodpeckers dead with a pellet gun.

"I've shot a woodpecker with a pellet gun," Chesterfield Councilman Bob Nation said Wednesday, during a public forum at City Hall about gun use. "I don't know how else you can get rid of woodpeckers."

In a preliminary vote, Nation opposed adding limits to the city gun ordinance. He said he lived in Chesterfield for three decades.

On the other hand, Councilman Matt Segal said Wednesday he was in favor of limiting the shooting of animals with pellet guns here.

"Our duty is to protect the quality of life for our citizens," Segal said.

The high-profile squirrel shooter in this case, former Councilman Gene Schenberg, lost to Segal in a 2009 race for city council. Segal said his support for the gun law change had nothing to do with that 2009 rivalry.

After the public debate Wednesday, which lasted about two hours, Schenberg said the complaining neighbor had never spoken to him about the pellet gun use. Neither did the neighbor show up or speak at the forum Wednesday, Schenberg said.

Chesterfield's city council is now taking another two weeks to consider their final vote on whether to change the city ordinance about firing guns.

Schenberg discouraged the council from changing the current law, except to add that anyone found shooting recklessly or negligently would be liable for criminal and civil actions.