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]
Except as provided in §
40-4C hereof, it shall be unlawful and a violation of this chapter for any person to fire or discharge any weapon in West Goshen Township. The violator shall be subject to the penalty provisions of §
40-7.
[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.