Fernandina Beach Police Department
May 7, 2022
GREENWAY INFORMATION
“The situation has been handled and there is no current threat to public safety.”
Photo by Mark Delfs
Earlier today the FBPD received a report of an adult male on the Greenway stalking about with a rifle. Officers responded and located the subject who was found to be in possession of a single shot pellet rifle, although it looked like a standard sized .22 rifle.
Through an interview and search it was found the subject had been wading into the waters, hunting frogs.
FBPD officers are coordinating with FWC and have escorted the subject out of the Greenway.
The visual of him stalking about with a rifle certainly caused a level of concern, however, the situation has been handled and there is no current threat to public safety.
Is it illegal to carry a pellet gun now? What about a been gun? Asking for a friend?? LOL
BB gun (damn auto fill)
No one needs to be shooting anything in this nature preserve. Nature lovers need to feel safe peacefully enjoying this place.
Leave the frogs and other living things alone.
I was talking to the police chief the other day and he said that it is not a problem owning a BB or pelet gun. I target practice in my backyard.
Taking any gun that can harm wildlife or humans (pellet and BB guns are also weapons) to a nature preserve that has children and protected species in range is crazy. What exactly was this person going to shoot???
The tendency and willingness of some members of our community to defend the indefensible is mindboggling. There is a sign at EVERY entrance to the Greenway with rules and warning.
The unnamed “stalker,” by his own admission, violated at least three of those rules (quoted)
*Stay on the approved trails.
*Entering the water is prohibited.
*Do not feed or harass wildlife.
Mr. Collins does not care about that. He prefers to focus on on the rights of someone to use (not just carry) a pellet gun on a public, protected wildlife refuge.
Since some folks do not seem to understand the obvious, I recommend the City Counsel revise any existing ordinance, or if none exists, pass one that makes violation of the rules on the Greenway a misdemeanor with appropriate fines for violation.