Opinion No. 5960 August 18, 1981 FIREARMS: Limitation on target practice within a township The Game Law of 1929, 1929 PA 286, Sec. 10b does not prohibit target practice within a township. A hunting area control committee is empowered to adopt regulations prohibiting the discharge of firearms in a township or portions thereof in accordance with 1967 PA 159. Mr. Doyle A. Rowland Prosecuting Attorney County of Midland Courthouse Midland, Michigan 48640 You have requested my opinion on the following question: Does MCLA 312.10b(2) prohibit a land-owner from target practicing on his own property located in a township where other residences are within 150 yards, even though such target practicing is carried on in a safe and prudent manner? The Game Law of 1929, 1929 PA 286, Sec. 10b, as added by 1968 PA 61, MCLA 312.10b; MSA 13.1339(2), (FN1) provides as follows: '(1) For the purpose of this section, 'safety zone' means any area within 150 yards of any occupied dwelling house, residence, or any other building, cabin, camp or cottage when occupied by human beings or any barn or other building used in connection therewith. '(2) No person, other than the owner, tenant or occupant, shall shoot or discharge any firearm or other dangerous weapon, or hunt for or shoot any wild bird or wild animal while it is within such safety zone, without the specific permission of the owner, tenant or occupant thereof. '(3) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any landowner, tenant or occupant thereof or their invited guest while hunting on their own property, or to any riparian owner or their tenant or guest while shooting waterfowl lakeward over water from their upland or lakeward from a boat or blind over their submerged soil.' At the time the Legislature enacted amendatory 1968 PA 61, the title to 1929 PA 286, supra, stated: 'AN ACT to provide for the protection of wild animals and wild birds; to regulate the taking, possession, use and transportation of same; to prohibit the sale of game animals and birds; to regulate the manner of hunting, pursuing and killing game animals, birds and fur-bearing animals; to provide for the issuing of licenses and permits for the taking, hunting or killing of all wild animals and birds and the disposition of the moneys derived therefrom; to provide penalties for the violation of any of the provisions of this act, and to repeal certain acts relating thereto.' 1968 PA 61 did not amend the title to 1929 PA 286, supra. It is a cardinal rule of statutory construction that the Legislature is presumed to have intended the plain meaning of words used by it. Florentine Ristorante, Inc v City of Grandville, 88 Mich App 614, 619; 278 NW2d 694, lv den 406 Mich 963 (1979). The Legislature in the enactment of 1929 PA 286, supra, indicated in the title thereof its intention to provide for the protection of wild animals and wild birds; to regulate the taking, possession, use and transportation of same; and, to regulate the manner of hunting, pursuing and killing game animals, birds and fur-bearing animals. 1929 PA 286, Sec. 10b, supra, as set forth above in (2) thereof, further regulates the hunting and taking of wild birds or wild animals within the safety zone as defined in (1). The focus of this section is the hunting and taking of wild birds and wild animals. Thus, the intention of the Legislature, 1929 PA 286, Sec. 10b, supra, was the control and limitation of the discharge of weapons in the hunting and taking of wild birds and wild game and not the discharge of weapons in target practice activities. It is my opinion, therefore, that 1929 PA 286, Sec. 10b(2), supra, does not prohibit a landowner from target practicing on his own property where other residences are within 150 yards, even though target practice is carried on in a safe and prudent manner. While 1929 PA 286, Sec. 10b, supra, does not regulate or prohibit target practice within a township not involving hunting, the Legislature has provided for the regulation and prohibition of the discharge of firearms in townships by 1967 PA 159, MCLA 317.331 et seq; MSA 13.1397(101) et seq. In 1967 PA 159, supra, Sec. 1, the Legislature has authorized the creation of a hunting area control committee and empowered it, in the interest of public safety and general welfare, to regulate and prohibit the discharge of firearms upon resolution of the township board that the safety and well being of persons or property are in danger because of the discharge of firearms. 1967 PA 159, supra, Sec. 2. After a public hearing, the committee submits its findings and recommendations in the form of proposed regulations to the township board for its approval. 1967 PA 159, supra, Sec. 3. If the township board approves the proposed regulations, the committee reports them in accordance with 1969 PA 306, MCLA 24.201 et seq; MSA 3.560(101) et seq. For examples of regulations promulgated by such committees, see 1979 MAC R 317.120.3 et seq. It is further my opinion that a hunting area control committee is empowered to prohibit the discharge of firearms in the township or portions thereof. Frank J. Kelley Attorney General FN1 The Legislature has enacted the Hunting and Fishing License Act, 1980 PA 86, MCLA 316.10 et seq; MSA 13.1350(101) et seq, repealing many sections of 1929 PA 286, supra, but leaving Sec. 10b intact.