[Ord. 316, passed 5-22-1961]
On and after the effective date of this section, no person shall discharge or shoot any firearm, air gun, spring gun or other implement which impels with force a pellet or projectile of any kind, or discharge or shoot an arrow, within the limits of the Town, except as provided in Section 709.02.
[Ord. 316, passed 5-22-1961; Ord. 1188, passed 8-25-1997]
The prohibition contained in Section 709.01 shall not apply to the following:
(a) 
Any person who discharges or shoots a firearm or other dangerous weapon in defense of his property or person or in defense of the person of another.
(b) 
Any person who discharges or shoots a firearm or other dangerous weapon in the performance of his official duty as a police officer or other properly authorized and empowered representative or employee of a municipality or governmental agency.
(c) 
Any person who discharges or shoots a firearm as a member of a club or other group when firing upon a supervised range.
(d) 
Any person who discharges or shoots an arrow on the range or ranges provided by Allegheny County authorities in North Park or on a privately owned and supervised range.
(e) 
Any person who discharges or shoots an arrow when hunting deer in North Park whenever such hunting has been approved by the Board of Commissioners of Allegheny County and subject to all of the conditions and restrictions imposed upon that hunting by the Commissioners of Allegheny County, and provided further that those conditions and restrictions are approved by the Town Council of the Town of McCandless.
[Ord. 316, passed 5-22-1961; amended 10-22-2018 by Ord. No. 1480]
(a) 
Any individual, corporation or other legal entity desiring to operate a commercial range, a range open to the public or a members-only range, for the discharge of firearms, bow-and-arrow shooting, weapon throwing or other similar activity, shall be required to first obtain a permit from the Chief of Police. The applicant may seek either a ten-day permit or an annual permit. No permit under this section shall be required for ranges operated by or on behalf of a governmental agency.
(b) 
The Chief of Police shall issue the permit for a firearm shooting range if the applicant demonstrates compliance or agrees to comply, to the satisfaction of the Chief of Police, with the following:
(1) 
Use. The proposed use as a firing range has received all required governmental approvals, including, without limitation, zoning approval from the Town.
(2) 
Supervision. On-site supervision is required at all times by an adult who is an experienced range safety officer with a valid certification from a nationally recognized organization. Current certificates for range safety officers shall be on display in a conspicuous location in the premises and shall be available for public inspection. The range safety officer shall be responsible for the conduct of the range employees and the conditions of safety and order in the place of business and on the premises.
(3) 
Instruction. On-site instruction shall be given only by firearms instructors certified within the prior five years by an approved organization or government. Current certificates for firearms instructors shall be on display in a conspicuous location in the premises and shall be available for public inspection.
(4) 
Minors. Minors shall not be allowed in the range unless accompanied by an adult at all times. This shall not be interpreted to prohibit minors from participating in a firearm safety class which is supervised by an adult instructor.
(5) 
Ammunition. No ammunition shall be used in the range that exceeds the certified design and construction specifications of the range.
(6) 
Storage. Firearms and ammunition that are stored on the premises and are not for retail sale shall be stored in a gun safe or other secure locking device or in a room that is secure from unauthorized access when the range is closed for business. Firearms and ammunition that are stored on the premises and are for retail sale shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations applicable to licensed firearms dealers, including, without limitation, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6113, as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(7) 
Shooter requirements.
A. 
All shooters must complete a firearm training program given in accordance with the Pennsylvania Game Commission or a nationally recognized organization or show a valid hunting permit or gun permit before they are allowed to discharge firearms on the site.
B. 
All shooters must complete a site-specific orientation and safety program developed by the applicant and approved by the Town's Chief of Police before they are allowed to discharge firearms on the site.
(8) 
Alcohol prohibition. The consumption of alcoholic beverages or other controlled substances shall not be permitted on the site. The applicant's staff shall obtain training certificates from the Town's Chief of Police regarding field sobriety training prior to the opening of the facility to the public.
(9) 
Customer safety. The applicant and safety officers shall prohibit and shall ensure that none of its customers:
A. 
Discharge a firearm from any location on the range other than an established shooting station on the firing line.
B. 
Discharge a firearm at any target other than a target placed on a target mounted and approved by the applicant.
C. 
Operate, manipulate or discharge a firearm in negligent disregard for the safety of other persons present at or near the range. This is specifically intended to include loading a firearm, operating or manipulating a loaded firearm, or discharging a firearm anywhere on the firing range while another person is downrange.
D. 
Are intoxicated or use or possess an intoxicating beverage or controlled substance on the range.
(10) 
Activities. All activities associated with the range shall take place within the range.
(11) 
Hours of operation. Outdoor firearms shooting ranges may operate only from 8:00 a.m. until sunset Monday through Saturday and from 12:00 noon to sunset Sunday.
(c) 
The Chief of Police shall issue the permit for a bow-and-arrow shooting, weapon throwing or other similar range if the applicant demonstrates compliance or agrees to comply, to the satisfaction of the Chief of Police, with the following:
(1) 
Use. The proposed use as an archery/throwing weapons range has received all required governmental approvals, including, without limitation, zoning approval from the Town.
(2) 
Supervision. On-site supervision is required at all times by an adult who is an experienced safety officer. The safety officer shall be responsible for the conduct of the range employees and the conditions of safety and order in the place of business and on the premises.
(3) 
Minors. Minors shall not be allowed in the range unless accompanied by an adult at all times.
(4) 
Alcohol. The consumption of alcoholic beverages or other controlled substances shall not be permitted on the site. The applicant's staff shall obtain training certificates from the Town's Chief of Police regarding field sobriety training prior to the opening of the facility to the public.
(5) 
Customer safety. The applicant shall prohibit and shall be responsible for ensuring that none of its customers:
A. 
Shoot or throw a weapon from any location on the range other than an established shooting station on the shooting/throwing line.
B. 
Shoot or throw a weapon at any target other than a target placed on a target mounted and approved by the applicant.
C. 
Operate, manipulate, shoot or throw or discharge a weapon in negligent disregard for the safety of other persons present at or near the range. This is specifically intended to include handling or manipulating a weapon, or shooting or throwing a weapon, anywhere on the firing range while another person is downrange.
D. 
Are intoxicated or use or possess an intoxicating beverage or controlled substance on the range.
(d) 
The Chief of Police may add reasonable additional conditions if he/she deems such reasonable additional conditions necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of the general public and citizens of the Town.
(e) 
In the event the applicant fails to comply with any of the conditions set forth above, the Chief of Police may revoke the permit. Notice of the revocation shall be sent to the applicant by certified mail to the address listed on the permit application.
(f) 
Any denial or revocation of a permit by the Chief of Police may be appealed to the Town Council of the Town of McCandless pursuant to the Local Agency Law, 2 Pa.C.S.A. § 551 et seq., as amended.
(g) 
Annual permits shall be issued at a charge of $100; and temporary permits, valid for a period of 10 days only, shall be issued at a charge of $25. The Council may amend the permit fees by resolution.
[Ord. 316, passed 5-22-1961]
Whoever violates any provision of this article shall be fined not more than $100, and in default of payment shall be imprisoned not more than 30 days. All fines collected upon conviction or upon forfeiture of bail shall be paid to the Town Treasurer.