City of Vineland, NJ Chapter 358 Firearms

[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.]

§ 358-1 Purpose.

This chapter is enacted as a measure to safeguard the residents of the City of Vineland and to protect their property.

§ 358-2 Discharge restricted.

[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.

[1] Editor's Note: See Ch. 425, Land Use.

(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.

§ 358-3 Area where use of firearms prohibited.

[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.

§ 358-4 Discharge by licensed persons.

[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.

§ 358-5 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 7-26-1983 by Ord. No. 83-2; 8-13-1985 by Ord. No. 85-33; 10-27-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-68]

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter, upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable as provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article II, General Penalty.

§ 358-6 Permits.

[Added 2-14-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-07]

A. Any person applying for a permit to carry a handgun must first own a legally acquired and registered handgun.

B. The applicant shall complete all of the requirements of the Firearms Applicant Instructional Form attached hereto and made a part hereof,[1] including written proof of ownership of the handgun and proof of recent qualification with a handgun from a certified firearms instructor and comply with all of the requirements of N.J.A.C. 13:54-2.4.

[1] Editor's Note: Said form is on file in the City offices.

C. The applicant shall deliver the completed forms and all required documents to the Vineland Police Department between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. with two money orders; one in the amount of $150 made payable to the "City of Vineland" and one in the amount of $50 made payable to the "Superintendant of State Police."

D. The applicant shall be required to have his/her fingerprints recorded and reviewed through Ident2Go. A form shall be given to the applicant upon the delivery of all the aforementioned items.

E. Only persons meeting the criteria set forth in N.J.A.C. 13:54-2.3 shall be considered for a permit to carry an handgun.

F. Any permit to carry issued is valid for two years from the time of approval. All applicants for a renewal shall be required to undergo additional fingerprinting before a renewal will be considered.

G. Any applicant denied a permit to carry a handgun may request a hearing in the Superior Court of New Jersey in the County in which the applicant resides or a county in which the applicant intends upon carrying a handgun. Such requests shall be made in writing within 30 days of denial with copies of the request seved upon the Superintendant of the State Police, the County Prosecutor and the Vineland Chief of Police.

H. A permit to purchase a handgun shall be issued in accordance with N.J.S.A. 2C:58-3e.

I. A firearms purchaser identification card shall be issued in accordance with N.J.S.A. 2C:58-3f.