[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Bellmawr 3-16-1972 by Ord. No. 4-72 as Ch. 105 of the 1972 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 9-28-2023 by Ord. No. 08:11-23]
The carrying, use, possession except within his own domicile, discharge or firing of dangerous or deadly weapons in the Borough of Bellmawr is hereby prohibited. Moreover, no person shall possess a firearm on any municipally owned or controlled building, municipally owned or controlled property, or municipal parks or grounds, with the exception of:
A. 
Any law enforcement officer who is authorized to carry a firearm (on or off duty);
B. 
Any retired law enforcement officer who is authorized to carry a firearm under 18 U.S.C. § 926C(c) (Federal Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act, aka "LEOSA"); or
C. 
Any person who receives permission in writing by the Chief of Police of the Borough of Bellmawr.
Dangerous or deadly weapons shall include, but not by way of limitation:
A. 
Slingshots, cross knuckles, knuckles of lead, brass or other metal, bowie knives or any knife resembling a bowie knife or any knife with a switchblade or device whereby the blade can be opened by a flick of a button, pressure on the handle or other mechanical contrivance.
B. 
Revolvers or pistols of any description, shotguns or rifles which may be used for the explosion of cartridges, any air gun, BB gun, gas-operated gun or spring gun, any instrument or toy weapon commonly known as a "peashooter" or "beany" or any bow made for the purpose of throwing or projecting missiles of any kind by any means whatsoever, whether such instrument is called by any name set forth above or by any other name.
The prohibition of § 216-2B above shall not apply to licensed shooting galleries or in private grounds or premises under circumstances when such instrument can be fired, discharged or operated in such a manner as not to endanger persons or property and also in such a manner as to prevent the projectile from traversing any grounds or space outside the limits of such gallery, grounds or residence, and further provided that nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent the carrying of any type of gun whatsoever, when unloaded, open and/or properly cased, to or from any range or gallery or to or from an area where hunting is allowed by law.
This chapter shall not apply to:
A. 
The United States Marshal or his deputies.
B. 
Members of the Armed Forces of the United States or of the National Guard when on duty.
C. 
Any sheriff, undersheriff, deputy sheriff, county prosecutor, assistant prosecutor or prosecutor's detective.
D. 
The regularly employed members, including detectives, of the police department of any municipality or any special policeman appointed by the governing body of any municipality.
E. 
Any member of the state police or any motor vehicle inspector or state detective.
F. 
Any jailer, constable, railway police or any other peace officer, when in discharge of his duties.
G. 
The fish and game commissioners or the regular fish and game wardens.
H. 
Any prison or jail wardens or their deputies or any guard or keeper of any penal institution in this state.
I. 
Any court attendant serving as such under appointment by the sheriff of the county or by the judge of or magistrate of any court of this state.
J. 
Any member of a legally organized detective agency.
K. 
Any guard in the employ of any railway express company or any banking, building and loan or savings and loan institution of this state.
L. 
Any officer of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
M. 
Any duly authorized military organization when under orders, or any member thereof when going to or from the place of meeting of the organization, carrying the weapons prescribed for drill, exercise or parade.
N. 
Persons having a hunter's license in going to or from the place of hunting.
O. 
Members of government civilian rifle clubs duly organized in accordance with the rules prescribed by the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice in going to or from their several places of target practice and carrying weapons necessary for such practice.
P. 
The director, deputy directors, inspectors and investigators of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control in the Department of Law and Public Safety.
Q. 
Public utility corporations in the transportation of explosives.
Shooting galleries or rifle ranges may be licensed by the Borough Clerk upon written application and payment of a license fee as provided in Chapter 210, Fees, provided that, prior to issuance of such license, written approval of the Chief of Police shall be filed with the Borough Clerk.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or imprisonment in the county jail for a term not exceeding 90 days or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days, or any combination thereof, in the discretion of a court of competent jurisdiction. Each and every day that such violation shall continue shall be a further and separate offense under the terms of this chapter, subject to the penalties herein prescribed.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).