A public input meeting Wednesday will give residents the chance to address a proposed change in Mission's firearms discharge bylaw.
Petitions have been making the rounds in the community for about a week, with recreational shooters signing to voice their opposition to the alteration, which would see all firing of weapons banned in the District of Mission, with the exception of at the local rod and gun club, or with a permit.
According to Mission Mayor Ted Adlem, the proposal was primarily brought forward to address problems on the west side of Stave Lake.
The municipality is trying to build a family-friendly interpretive forest, which would complement the Zajac Ranch for Children and proposed Tim Hortons Children Foundation camp already located nearby, he said.
"I'm continuously hearing from people who fear [going into that area] because of people shooting. If the interpretive forest is to be successful, it's going to need to be a place for families, and where they want to go," he said Monday. "It's time, perhaps, for the community to say no to random shooting."
High Caliber Service Corp.'s Dave Kunstler said in last week's Mission Record that an outright ban isn't needed, and that areas should be set aside for recreational firearms enthusiasts who still want to shoot.
The June 19 meeting will feature presentations from Mission staff, including the forestry department's Bob O'Neal, Mission RCMP Insp. Richard Konarski and the Mission Rod and Gun Club.
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in council chambers.