[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of
the City of Vineland 11-18-1952 by Ord. No. 41 (Ch.
250 of the 1990 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter is enacted as a measure to safeguard
the residents of the City of Vineland and to protect their property.
[Amended 12-2-1952 by Ord. No. 43; 7-26-1983 by Ord. No. 83-21; 8-13-1985 by Ord. No.
85-33]
A.
No person shall, at any time, fire or discharge or
cause to be fired or discharged any firearm within the limits of the
City of Vineland, except as otherwise set forth in this section. For
purposes of this chapter, firearms shall include any handgun, rifle,
shotgun, machine gun or any other weapon by which a projectile is
propelled through the combustion of gunpowder.
B.
This section shall not apply to a duly licensed hunter
or trapper while actively engaged in the sport of hunting or trapping
or to farmers or other persons acting pursuant to the authority of
Title 23 of the laws of the State of New Jersey or the regulations
enacted pursuant to Title 23 or to any person acting under the authority
of any other state law or regulation, provided that no such hunter,
trapper, farmer or other person shall, at any time, fire or discharge
or cause to be fired or discharged any firearm as defined herein within
450 feet of any occupied dwelling, public or private school, public
playground or public, commercial or industrial building, nor shall
any such person discharge any firearm upon or across any state, county
or municipal road or highway. This subsection shall not prohibit a
person from hunting within 450 feet of his own dwelling or within
450 feet of a residential, commercial or industrial building, provided
that such person has first obtained written permission from the owner
of said building, authorizing him to discharge a firearm within 450
feet of such building.
C.
This section shall not apply to any federal, state,
county or municipal police officer or other duly appointed or elected
law enforcement officials or to members of the Armed Forces of the
United States or of the National Guard when the firing or discharging
of a firearm occurs in the actual performance of their official duties.
D.
This section shall not apply to the firing or discharging
of firearms under the following circumstances:
(1)
The use of a firearm for the protection of life, for
the protection of persons against bodily injury or for the protection
of property.
(2)
The firing or discharging of a pistol or rifle at
a range equipped with proper safeguards for the protection of life
and property and operated by any person, organization or group organized
for target practice, provided that said pistol or rifle range is inspected
yearly and declared safe, in writing, by the Police Department of
the City of Vineland and that the operator of said range obtains liability
insurance with limits of not less than $500,000, in which the City
of Vineland is named as an additional insured, and provided, further,
that, in the event that such pistol or rifle range is open to the
general public or used for commercial purposes, its use shall be in
compliance with the Land Use Law of the City of Vineland[1] or the subject of a variance granted by the Zoning Board
of Adjustment.
(3)
The firing or discharging of a shotgun by the owner
or lessee of the property for the purpose of target practice or trap
shooting, provided that the pellets from such firing or discharge
cannot cross over the property line on which the discharge of the
weapon occurs, and provided, further, that the firing or discharge
of such shotgun can be accomplished without undue risk to the person
or property of another.
[Amended 8-11-1970 by Ord. No. 766; 12-22-1970 by Ord. No. 784; 8-13-1985 by Ord. No.
85-33]
No person or persons shall hunt with a firearm as defined in § 358-2 above within the following area of the City of Vineland, County of Cumberland and State of New Jersey, bounded and described as follows: beginning at a point at the intersection of the centers of Becker Drive and Oak Road and extending westwardly along the center of Oak Road to the center of Delsea Drive; thence along the center of Delsea Drive southwardly to the center of Almond Road; thence along the center of Almond Road westwardly to the center of Orchard Road; thence along the center of Orchard Road southwardly to the center of Chestnut Avenue; thence along the center of Chestnut Avenue eastwardly to the center of Delsea Drive; thence along the center of Delsea Drive southwardly to the center of Walnut Road; thence along the center of Walnut Road eastwardly to the center of Spring Road; thence northwardly along the center of Spring Road to the center of Maple Avenue; thence along the center of Maple Avenue westwardly to the center of Becker Drive; thence along the center of Becker Drive northwardly to the center of Oak Road and the point and place of beginning.
[Amended 12-2-1952 by Ord. No. 43]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall hold
a license issued by the State of New Jersey or a federal license for
the sale and dealing of firearms shall be permitted to discharge firearms
on his or their property, trying the same for prospective purchasers.
