[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of West Milford as Sec. 6-5 of the 1976 Revised General Ordinances. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
FIREARM RANGES
Any place designed, used or intended to be used for the discharge of a rifle, pistol, shotgun or other firearm defined in N.J.S.A. 2C:39-1f.
[Amended 10-20-1982 by Ord. No. 1982-29]
It shall be unlawful for any person to open, operate, or maintain, or cause to be opened, operated or maintained any rifle range, as herein defined, within the limits of the Township without first having obtained a permit to do so and without first complying with the standards and regulations herein stated.
In addition to the provisions of § 203-2, the following shall apply:
A. 
The name and address of the record owner of the real estate upon which such range is located.
B. 
The name and address of the person in charge of and responsible for the maintenance of the range.
C. 
A description by way of map or sketch of the range, including the lot and block numbers, as shown on the tax assessment map, upon which the range is located. The location upon the lot of the range, stating the distance in feet between the firing points and the furthest targets, between the targets and the nearest property line, and between the firing points and the nearest property line and direction of firing; and a full and complete description of the plan for construction of the place for stopping and controlling bullets. The sketch or description shall also show all houses, barns or other buildings and all streets or highways within 2,000 feet and in direction of fire of any part of the range and 1,000 feet on either side of the direction of fire.
[Amended 3-17-1982 by Ord. No. 1982-7; 4-16-1986 by Ord. No. 1986-6; 6-6-1990 by Ord. No. 1990-19; 5-2-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-013[1]]
Upon receipt of the application from the Chief of Police with his endorsement thereon approving the same, and the resolution of the Township Council authorizing the issuance of the permit, the Township Clerk shall issue the permit upon the payment of a fee by the applicant for the range to be licensed. The amount of the permit fee is set forth in Chapter 135, Fees and Costs. The permit shall be conspicuously exhibited upon the premises licensed thereunder.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
A. 
The following shall apply:
(1) 
No permit shall be issued for any range, unless, in addition to any other requirements and specifications provided in this chapter, such range is so constructed and maintained so as to prevent any shot, bullet or missile going beyond the property line on which the range is located.
[Amended 10-20-1982 by Ord. No. 1982-29]
(2) 
The applicant shall provide proper bullet stops, which may be natural slopes, or of such artificial construction so as to insure that no shot, bullet or missile will go beyond such stops.
(3) 
No bullet stops shall consist of brick, stone or concrete walls.
(4) 
Proper stops and wings shall be provided so as to prevent the ricochet of bullets, shots and missiles.
(5) 
The applicant shall comply with the specifications of the National Rifle Association of America, or equivalent, in the construction of bullet stops, ranges, and adopt its recommendations for safety.
[Amended 10-20-1982 by Ord. No. 1982-29]
B. 
The failure of the applicant to maintain such bullet stops, or to take the above precautions, shall subject the applicant to a revocation of the range permit after due hearing on notice has been held. Each range shall be under the supervision of qualified persons. The Chief of Police is authorized to qualify the type of rifle or weapon to be used on a range, his qualifications to be based on the proper bullet stops and wings installed, and the safety precautions provided and taken.
[Amended 10-20-1982 by Ord. No. 1982-29]
The Chief of Police is empowered to make regular inspections of at least three-month intervals in order to carry out the provisions of this chapter. Where in his opinion a range is being conducted contrary to the provisions of this chapter, is not under qualified supervision, and is not conducted in accordance with the rules and regulations hereof, and such a violation constitutes a danger to the safety of the public and adjacent property owners, he shall have the right to direct the discontinuance temporarily of the use of the range, in which case he shall submit his report in writing to the Township Council for appropriate action under this chapter. The Township Council after hearing on due notice to the applicant may revoke or suspend the permit granted for failure to comply with the terms of the above section, or any of the rules or regulations relating to the use of the rifle range.
[Amended 10-20-1982 by Ord. No. 1982-29; 1-3-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-2]
No person shall open or operate under this chapter before 9:00 a.m. prevailing time, on any weekday, or before 10:00 a.m. prevailing time on Sunday, and not later than 4:00 p.m. during the months of November, December, January and February, not later than 6:00 p.m. during the months of March, April, May, September, and October, and not later than 7:00 p.m. during the months of June, July and August. No person shall open or operate under this chapter on the following holidays: Easter, New Year's Day and Christmas. During the prohibited hours above listed, no range or any premises for which a permit has been issued pursuant to the provisions hereof shall be used for any event wherein shotguns, pistols, revolvers or other firearms are used; the discharge of any type of weapon on a range during the prohibited hours shall constitute a violation under this chapter.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the members of the Police Department of the Township, the members of any municipal, county or State of New Jersey Police Department, detectives of the office of the Prosecutor of the Police of Passaic County, conservation officers of the State of New Jersey, or any other person authorized by the statutes of New Jersey to carry firearms, when firearms shall be used in the performance of their duties. Any ranges set up by them in the Township shall comply with the safety regulations as provided for in this chapter.