[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors
of the Township of Hilltown 5-22-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-002. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The act of expelling, releasing or propelling a projectile
from a firearm or other weapon.
Any weapon which is designed to or may readily be converted
to expel, release or propel any projectile by the action of an explosive;
or the frame or receiver of any such weapon. The term incudes shotgun,
air gun, air pistol, spring gun, spring pistol, rifle and pistol of
any caliber or any implement which impels with force a pellet, pellets
or single projectile of any kind.
To kill or catch game for food or sport, in accordance with
rules, regulations and statutes of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Any object designed to be expelled, released or propelled
forward, such as a bullet, an arrow, pellets, etc.
The act of discharging a firearm or an air rifle or pistol,
a crossbow and a bow and arrow and other similar weapons, at an inanimate
object for the purposes of sport or for practice in preparation of
hunting.
Except as herein otherwise provided, it shall be unlawful and it is hereby prohibited for any person, firm or corporation to discharge any firearm, air rifle, air pistol, spring gun, spring pistol, BB gun, crossbow, bow and arrow, or similar device, or other implementation which impels a pellet, arrow or bolt, of any kind with a force that can reasonably be expected to cause bodily harm (collectively a "firearm or other weapon"), at any place within the Township of Hilltown, except as provided in § 80-3 of this chapter.
A.
Law enforcement. Nothing herein contained shall prohibit the use
of a firearm or other weapon when employed by the duly appointed law
officer in the course of his/her official duty.
B.
Hunting. Nothing herein contained shall prohibit the use of a firearm
or other weapon when used for hunting purposes in accordance with
statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the rules and regulations
of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
C.
Defense of person. Nothing herein contained shall prohibit the use
of a firearm or other weapon when used in the defense of human life,
as authorized by the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 101
et seq.
D.
Target shooting. Target shooting is prohibited unless conducted in
a safe and reasonable manner, in strict accordance with the following
regulations:
The Hilltown Township Police Department is charged with enforcement
of the provisions of this chapter and any rules and regulations related
thereto which are promulgated by the Board of Supervisors.
Any Township police officer lawfully engaged in his/her law
enforcement duties within the Township of Hilltown is hereby authorized
to seize, for evidentiary purposes, any firearms or other weapons,
as defined herein, which shall be fired, discharged or shot within
the limits of the Township of Hilltown in violation of this chapter.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision
of this chapter shall be subject to summary proceedings before the
Magisterial District Judge and, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay
a fine of not more than $1,000, and in default of payment, be sentenced
to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days. Each section of
the chapter violated by a single discharge shall constitute a separate
violation and each discharge contrary to the regulations herein shall
constitute a separate act of violation.
If any sentence, clause, section or part of this chapter is
for any reason found to be unconstitutional, illegal or invalid, such
unconstitutionality, illegality or invalidity shall not affect or
impair any of the remaining provisions, sentences, clauses, sections
or parts of this chapter. It is hereby declared as the intent of the
Hilltown Township Board of Supervisors that this chapter would have
been adopted had such unconstitutional, illegal or invalid sentence,
clause, section or part thereof not been included herein.
