[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Lehigh 2-10-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-3.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Peace and good order — See Ch. 111.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 170, Weapons, adopted 2-12-1980 as Art. 715 of the 1980 Code of Ordinances, as amended.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
WEAPON
A. 
Any firearm of any kind, including but not limited to a pistol, rifle, revolver, automatic, musket, air rifle, gas-powered rifle or gun, which discharges pellets, shot, bullets, darts, slugs, balls, rifled slugs, BBs or buckshot, regardless of the propulsion power, whether gun powder, compressed air, gas or springs or any combination of said mechanism.
B. 
Any bow and arrow or any other form of weapon potentially dangerous to human safety or wildlife within the Township.
[Amended 12-13-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-4]
A. 
No person shall discharge weapons within the Township in a reckless or negligent manner.
B. 
Individuals discharging weapons of any kind, whether at their own personal range or otherwise shall be solely responsible and liable in the event of damage or injury to themselves, their property, and/or the lives or property of others.
C. 
It is recommended that individuals who chose to have personal shooting ranges, construct and operate them in accordance with National Rifle Association (NRA) or similar standards. The Township also recommends that individuals with personal shooting ranges notify their insurance carrier of the range and obtain appropriate and necessary insurance coverage.
D. 
The discharge of weapons whether at a personal shooting range or otherwise shall be in accordance with all federal and commonwealth laws, including but not limited to discharging a firearm with 150 yards of an occupied third-party structure and a bow and arrow within 75 yards of an occupied third-party structure.
E. 
Nothing in this section shall apply to individuals who are hunting within the Township when such individuals are acting in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
F. 
Exceptions. This chapter shall not be construed to prohibit the use of firearms by authorized United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) animal control officers and/or representatives. Further, this chapter shall not be construed or enforced to infringe upon the lawful exercise of the rights to use, transfer, own, transport or possess firearms to the extent permitted by federal laws or laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In addition, this chapter shall not be construed or enforced to regulate firearms to the extent regulation is prohibited by 53 Pa.C.S.A. § 2961 and 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6120.
The Chief of Police, as the chief law enforcement official of Lehigh Township, is directed to sign the law enforcement certification of National Firearms Act (NFA) paperwork for any citizen of Lehigh Township who may otherwise be legally permitted to obtain a Pennsylvania license to carry firearms (LTCG) in Northampton County.