[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Freehold by Ord. No. O-02-2 (§ 6-23 of the Revised General Ordinances), as amended through Ord. No. O-02-15. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Firearm purchaser identification cards — See Ch. 150.
FARM
A parcel of land containing at least five acres which is used for the raising of agricultural products, livestock, horses, poultry and dairy products and which is vacant land or upon which is located only a principal dwelling and related outbuildings.
FIREARM
Any handgun, rifle, shotgun, machine gun, automatic or semiautomatic rifle, or any gun, device or instrument in the nature of a weapon from which may be fired or ejected any solid projectible ball, slug, pellet, missile, or bullet, or any gas, vapor or other noxious thing, by means of a cartridge, or shell or by the action of an explosive or the ignition of flammable or explosive substances. It shall also include, without limitation, any firearm which is in the nature of an air gun, spring gun or pistol or other weapon of a similar nature in which the propelling force is a spring, elastic band, carbon dioxide, compressed or other gas or vapor, air or compressed air, or is ignited by compressed air and ejecting a bullet or missile smaller than 3/8 of an inch in diameter, with sufficient force to injure a person.
HANDGUN
Any pistol, revolver or other firearm originally designed or manufactured to be fired by the use of a single hand.
RIFLE
Any firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder and using the energy of the explosive in a fixed metallic cartridge to fire a single projectile through a rifled bore for each single pull of the trigger.
SHOTGUN
Any firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder and using the energy of the explosive in a fixed shotgun shell to fire either a number of ball shot or a single projectile for each pull of the trigger, or any firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder which does not fire fixed ammunition.
[Amended 5-24-2022 by Ord. No. O-22-8]
The provisions of § 154-2 of this chapter shall not be applicable to the discharge of any handgun, rifle, shotgun, weapon or firearm in the following places and/or under the following circumstances, provided that the firearm is legal to be possessed in the State of New Jersey and its use is permitted by state and federal laws:
A. 
Upon a firearm range which is under the supervision of the Township. Township Police Department, the County of Monmouth or the New Jersey State Police, or other authorized agency as approved by the Township Committee.
B. 
By members of the Township Police Department, any law enforcement officer of any municipal, county or state or federal government or any representative of the Division of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Environmental Protection, State of New Jersey, while in the performance of their official duties.
C. 
On a farm, duly recognized and registered by the Monmouth County Agricultural Development Board, for the discharge of firearms, provided that such discharge meets the following: 1) the closest outbound property line is at least 200 feet from the proposed target; and 2) the closest outbound property line, as measured in the direction of fire, is at least a distance of 200 feet; and 3) the firearm, while loaded, and the proposed target are at least 450 feet from any occupied building other than that of the owner, except that 1) and 2) above will not apply if the intended target is an animal that is detrimental to the farmer's crops or property.
D. 
By any person in protection of himself/herself, members of his/her family or his/her guests or in protection of his/her property.
E. 
On any properties within the Township which are zoned R-R (Rural Residential) or R-E (Rural Environmental) pursuant to the latest official Zoning Map of the Township, so long as either Subsection F(1) or (2) below applies:
(1) 
The closest outbound property line is at least 200 feet from the proposed target; the closest outbound property line from the firearm, as measured in the direction of fire, is at least a distance of 200 feet; and both the firearm, while loaded, and the proposed target are at least 450 feet from any occupied building other than that of the owner, tenant or lessee; or
(2) 
Upon a supervised firearm range operated by a duly organized and established gun club which has at least two years' experience operating and supervising a firearm range.
F. 
By a duly licensed hunter, so long as he/she is in full compliance with all laws, rules and regulations governing hunting in the State of New Jersey.
G. 
By a person to whom has been issued a permit by an agency of the State of New Jersey permitting the killing of a bird, animal, vermin or pest with the type of firearm permitted thereby, so long as he/she is in full compliance with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to such permit holder.
The prohibited areas affected by this chapter are intended to be supplemental to those areas described in N.J.S.A. 23:4-16, as amended from time to time.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 154-4, Posting of signs, distribution of chapter, was repealed 5-24-2022 by Ord. No. O-22-8. This ordinance also renumbered former §§ 154-5 and 154-6 as §§ 154-4 and 154-5, respectively.
Each and every person violating any of the provisions of this chapter, except § 154-4, shall, upon conviction, be subject to the fines and penalties as set forth in Chapter 1, Article II, General Penalty.