'It is about safety': Stray bullet bill gains support after injuries in South Florida

A state Legislature bill to require target shooters to keep their bullets within the confines of their properties is gaining support.

Nicole Adams, the woman who was recently injured when a stray bullet struck her in the back, pleaded with Palm Beach County commissioners on Nov. 7 to endorse a bill sponsored by state Rep. Katherine Waldron, D-Wellington.

"They can't hit a golf ball onto my property, but they can fire a bullet," said Adams. "It makes no sense."

Former Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill into law that allows target shooters to fire their guns on their properties in a low-density area. As long as the zoning restricts development to no more than one home per 1.25 acres, there are no restrictions. Where Adams lives west of Lake Worth Beach near Heritage Farms, the lot sizes are large enough to permit the target shooting.

Adams said she is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and fully supports the right to bear arms. She said she often engages in target shooting but does it on licensed target ranges.

At least three commissioners back a bill requiring target shooters to keep bullets within their properties.

She appeared with others at the recent commission meeting calling on the county's lobbyist to make passage of the bill one of the county's priorities in the upcoming legislative session. And at least three of the seven county commissioners — Michael Barnett, Mayor Gregg Weiss and Maria Sachs — told The Palm Beach Post they would approve the request.

Commissioner Sara Baxter, whose district includes the area where the target shooting occurred, told The Post she wanted to review the issue before coming to a decision.

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Adams heard the sound of stray bullets on Sept. 10. She left her house to tend to horses in a nearby stall. That's when she was shot in the back. The bullet had lost much of its velocity, causing her to sustain a graze wound.

A migrant worker on Bedner's Farm, west of Boynton Beach, was shot in the head in January with a stray bullet. He sustained a non-life-threatening injury.

When Adams complained to the owner of County Joe's Nursery west of Lake Worth Beach near State Road 7, she said she was told: "Go f.... yourselves."

Her medical bills already total more than $3,000. And she is having difficulty renting out her horse stables.

"Who would want to store their horses where stray bullets fill the air?"

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Efforts to obtain comment from Country Joe's Nursery were unsuccessful. Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies responding to Adam's 911 call found assault rifles in the area where the target shooters practice.

They instructed the shooters to fire at a berm to keep the bullets away from adjacent properties, but the deputies acknowledged in their reports on the incident that there is little they can do to enforce the recommendation based on current law.

Adams said the issue has persisted for some time in the area west of State Road 7 near Heritage Farms. Risa McCarraher, another neighbor, called the bill a "very small step meant to keep people safe. We are not looking to take anyone's guns."

Waldron already has the support of Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, and she said Volusia County Sheriff Michael J. Chitwood has signed on as a supporter.

She has even contacted the National Rifle Association. While the NRA was noncommittal and said it had some concerns, Waldron said it noted it would least agree to review the bill. She called that a positive development.

"This really is not about gun rights," said Waldron. "It is about safety."

Sachs, a lawyer and a former state senator before her election three years ago to the county commission, said someone who injures another person through a stray bullet may have "culpable" negligence under the state's civil laws. She urged Adams explore the possibility of a civil lawsuit.

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Stray bullets are injuring people throughout Florida

In January 2022, a Martin County mother of three was shot in the shoulder. She was rushed to a hospital where surgeons operated on her.

Again, deputies said their hands were tied by the current state law.

“All I am doing is saying that if you want to target-practice on your property, you have to ensure that the bullets will stay on your property,” Waldron said. “It is difficult to imagine anyone being against this law."

Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and transportation. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Stray bullet bill gains support from Palm Beach County commissioners