[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Town of Rock Hall
during codification 8-10-1979 by Ord. No. 79-13
(see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II). Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt for, catch,
take, wound or kill game of any kind through the use of a pistol,
revolver, bow and arrow, slingshot, shotgun, gun or any firearm or weapon
from which a shot or other object is discharged within the Town of Rock Hall
or on town-owned property.
B.
The term "game," as used in this chapter, shall mean
and include all wild birds and wild animals, whether protected or unprotected
under the game laws of the state, found in a wild state.
It shall be unlawful to discharge a rifle, air rifle or air gun of any
kind and description which impels with force a pellet of any kind or to discharge
a bow and arrow, slingshot, shotgun, gun or any firearm or weapon from which
a shot or other object is discharged within the Town of Rock Hall or on town-owned
property.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to:
A.
Properly authorized law enforcement officers acting in
their line of duty or in training.
B.
The members of duly organized gun, rifle or archery clubs,
or their bona fide guests, or of military organizations, upon the ranges of
such clubs or organizations, under the control and supervision of the duly
constituted officers of such clubs or organizations.
C.
The patrons of commercial ranges.
D.
Those persons in possession of permits issued by the
town for hunting in certain areas within the Town of Rock Hall.
Authorized enforcing agents are hereby authorized to seize and retain
any rifle, air rifle or air gun of any description or ammunition or pellets
for the same or any bows and arrows, slingshots, shotguns, guns or any firearm
or weapon from which a shot or other object is discharged which shall be used,
discharged or possessed within the town or on town-owned property, in violation
of this chapter.
It is the intent and purpose of this chapter that the killing of game
or vermin of any kind through the use of a rifle, air rifle, air gun or bow
and arrow, slingshot, shotgun, gun or any firearm or weapon from which a shot
or other object is discharged shall be unlawful.
A.
Any person who shall within the town limits have concealed
about his person any deadly or dangerous weapon or who shall carry openly
any such weapon with intent to unlawfully use the same shall, upon conviction,
be subject to the penalties as hereinafter provided.
B.
The officers, noncommissioned officers and privates of
the United States Army, Navy or Marine Corps or any regularly organized military
company, police officers, officers guarding prisoners, officials of the United
States or any state or the District of Columbia engaged in the execution of
the laws for the protection of persons or property, when any of such persons
are on duty, shall not be liable for carrying necessary arms for use in performance
of their duty; and nothing contained in this section shall be so construed
as to prevent any person from keeping or carrying about his place of business,
dwelling house or premises any such dangerous weapon or from carrying the
same from the place of purchase to his dwelling house or place of business
or from his dwelling house or place of business to any place where repairing
is done to have the same repaired and back again.
[Amended 5-5-1994 by Ord. No. 94-4]
Violations of this chapter shall be punishable as a municipal infraction.
Violators shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $100. Repeat offenders
may be assessed a fine not to exceed $200 for each repeat offense.