[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council
of the Township of Stafford 3-26-1985 by Ord. No. 85-42. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Peace and good order — See Ch. 153.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Any gun, shotgun, rifle, pistol, revolver or other device
from which a bullet, shot, ball, slug, pellet, solid projectile or
other missile or any gas, vapor or other noxious thing is propelled
by means of a cartridge or shell or by the action of an explosive
or the igniting of flammable or explosive substances.
Any place designated, used or intended to be used for the
discharge of any firearms at a fixed mark or target.
A.
No person shall discharge any firearm upon or across
any state, county or municipal road or highway nor within 450 feet
of any occupied building, dwelling or school playground.
B.
No person, except the owner or lessee of the property
and person specifically authorized by him in writing, shall have in
his possession a loaded firearm while within 450 feet of any occupied
building, dwelling or school playground.
The provisions of § 107-2 shall not be construed to limit:
A.
The discharge of a firearm in connection with a target
behind which there exists a backstop or firing range, either natural
or artificial, which has been approved by the Township Council as
hereinafter provided.
B.
The discharge of firearms on or in connection with
trap or skeet shooting on ranges approved by the Township Council
as hereinafter provided.
C.
The discharge of firearms in defense of life or property.
D.
The discharge of firearms by any police officer or
other duly-authorized law enforcement officer in the performance of
his official duties.
The following provisions shall govern the application for and the granting or denying of the permit provided for by § 107-3A and B:
A.
The applicant for initial approval shall file an application
with the Township Clerk on a form provided by the Clerk and shall
provide thereon information describing the firing range, trap shooting
range, target and backstop in such detail as to provide an adequate
basis for judging its safety. The application shall be endorsed by
the property owner if the owner is other than the applicant.
B.
An application for renewal of an existing approval
shall be made within 30 days before the expiration of the existing
approval and shall state whether any of the facts stated on the initial
application have been changed and, if so, shall describe such changes.
D.
The application shall be forwarded by the Township
Clerk to the Chief of Police, who shall cause the range or target
area in question to be inspected and shall report thereon to the Township
Council.
E.
The Township Council shall thereafter approve or deny
the application based on its determination as to whether the safety
of the public, nearby property owners and property and the users of
such ranges shall be assured.
F.
In the event that the application is denied, the applicant
shall be informed in writing as to the reasons for the denial.
G.
In the event that the application is approved, such
approval shall expire at the end of the calendar year for which it
is granted and shall terminate forthwith upon alteration of any of
the safety features or conditions described in the application or
stipulated in the approval.
[Amended 2-21-1989 by Ord. No. 89-22]
Any person violating or failing to comply with
any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof,
be punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000,
by imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days or by community service
of not more than 90 days, or any combination of fine, imprisonment
and community service as determined by the Municipal Court Judge.
The continuation of such violation for each successive day shall constitute
a separate offense, and the person or persons allowing or permitting
the continuation of the violation may be punished as provided above
for each separate offense.
[Added 5-1-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-14]
The Stafford Township Police Department will collect a fee in
the amount of $5 for each application for a firearms purchaser identification
card and a fee of $2 for each application for a permit to purchase
a handgun. Such fees are in accordance with N.J.S.A. 2C:58-3f.
