[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Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 170,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:
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.
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.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 170-4, Private shooting
ranges, was repealed 12-13-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-4.
