[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors
of the Township of West Goshen 3-27-1984 by Ord. No. 3-1984.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Sale of air rifles and pistols — See Ch. 23.
Due to the density of the population in West
Goshen Township, it is necessary that the use of firearms be regulated
for the protection of the public health and safety and that the unauthorized
discharge of firearms be prohibited.
[Amended 9-24-1991 by Ord. No. 6-1991]
For the purposes of this chapter, the following
definitions shall apply:
- FIREARM
- Any weapon which discharges a projectile by means of gunpowder, air pressure or any other explosive force.
- SHOOTING
- The discharge or release of a projectile, whether bullets, slugs, pellets or a pointed arrow, discharged from any weapon.
- TARGET RANGE
- A place for shooting weapons, having a natural or artificial barrier of sufficient size and density to stop any projectile fired into it and which is approved and designated of record by the West Goshen Township Chief of Police as an approved target range.
- WEAPON
- Any shotgun, rifle, automatic weapon, pistol, revolver, air gun, air pistol, pellet gun, bow used to propel a pointed arrow or any weapon similar to any of the foregoing of whatever caliber or type.
[Amended 9-24-1991 by Ord. No. 6-1991]
A.
The use of firearms is permitted when employed by
any duly appointed law officer in the course of his/her official duty.
B.
The use of firearms is permitted when necessary for
the preservation of human life, as authorized in the Pennsylvania
Crimes Code.
C.
The use of weapons is permitted when hunting in conformity
with the Game Law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and any and
all regulations promulgated thereunder, all other applicable laws
of the commonwealth and the ordinances of this township; provided,
however, that no person shall hunt upon or discharge any weapon upon
the land of another unless such person has on his or her person a
certification signed and dated by the landowner, certifying that the
bearer of the certification has been instructed by the owner concerning
the topography, traffic conditions and natural and artificial hazards,
if any, existing upon his land and the location of all buildings and
structures on and within 150 feet of the property and stating that
such person, identified by name and current hunting license number,
has been granted permission to hunt upon the land. The date of the
certification must be a date within the period for which the license
is valid.
[Amended 9-24-1991 by Ord. No. 6-1991]
D.
The use of firearms shall be allowed on target ranges,
indoor or outdoor, under the supervision of the owner or occupant
of that land or his or her duly appointed representative, provided
that:
(1)
All target ranges shall be constructed and operated
in a safe and prudent manner. If standards, regulations or recommended
procedures for operation are established or promulgated by any recognized
body, such as the National Rifle Association or the American Trap
Shooting Association, then such standards, regulations or procedures
shall be adhered to.
(2)
Such range is registered as such with the township
by the owner or occupant of the land on which the range is located,
which registration shall specify the area or areas designated for
target range purposes.
[Amended 9-24-1991 by Ord. No. 6-1991]
The careless, reckless or improper use of any weapon which tends to imperil or cause danger or harm to personal security or to endanger the person or the property of any person within West Goshen Township is prohibited. Any such careless, reckless or improper use shall constitute a violation of this chapter and subject the violator to the penalty provisions of § 40-7.
[Amended 9-24-1991 by Ord. No. 6-1991]
Legible signs giving public notice of the essential
provisions of this chapter shall be posted at or near the public highways
at the boundaries of West Goshen Township; provided, however, that
it shall not be a defense to any prosecution for violation of this
chapter that the violator did not see or understand any such sign
or that any such sign did not contain sufficient description of the
provisions of this chapter to adequately warn the violator.
[Amended 9-24-1991 by Ord. No. 6-1991; 7-24-1996 by Ord. No.
7-1996; 3-12-1997 by Ord. No. 2-1997]
Any person who violates or permits the violation
of any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof in
a summary proceeding brought before a District Justice under the Pennsylvania
Rules of Criminal Procedure, be guilty of a summary offense and shall
be subject to the payment of a fine of not less than $100 and not
more than $1,000, plus the costs of prosecution. In default of payment
thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment in the county
prison for a term of not more than 30 days. Each section or provision
of this chapter that is violated shall constitute a separate offense,
and each day or portion thereof in which a violation of this chapter
is found to exist shall constitute a separate offense, each of which
violations shall be punishable by a separate fine imposed by the District
Justice of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000, plus the costs
of prosecution, or upon default of payment thereof, the defendant
may be sentenced to imprisonment in the county prison for a term of
not more than 30 days. All fines and penalties collected for the violation
of this chapter shall be paid to the Township Treasurer.
