[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of
the City of Saco 5-1-1995 as Ch. III, Sec. 3-2, of the 1994 Code.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
An approved outdoor firearms range having a backstop constructed
of logs or timbers of at least 12 inches in diameter with an earth
barrier behind or an earth barrier of suitable materials with no less
than a forty-five-degree slope. There shall be a natural obstruction
of trees or terrain to the rear of the backstop. The target area shall
be placed no less than three feet from the top and sides of the backstop.
The range widths of the target shall be no less than 15 feet for 50
yards, 25 feet for 100 yards and 50 feet for 200 yards. No range shall
be situated closer than 100 feet from any roadway and shall be constructed
so that bullets or projectiles will not travel toward the nearest
roadway. No shooting at an outdoor range shall be allowed between
the hours of sunset and sunrise. These regulations shall not apply
to indoor shooting ranges.
[Amended 5-2-2016]
Any weapon, whether loaded or unloaded, which is designed
to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, and includes
any such weapon commonly referred to as a "pistol," "revolver," "rifle,"
"gun," "machine gun" or "shotgun." Any weapon which can be made into
a firearm by the insertion of a firing pin or other similar thing
or repair is a firearm.
A rifle or smoothbore firearm that is loaded through the
muzzle with powder or priming charge or a flint-, match- or wheel
lock mechanism.
That portion of the City encompassed within the following
boundaries: Deep Brook, from the Saco River notherly to Route 112;
then easterly to the intersection of Route 112 and Jenkins Road; then
northerly to so-called Newton Farm Pond; then easterly to the Maine
Turnpike; then southerly to Goosefare Brook; then following Goosefare
Brook easterly to Old Orchard Road; then southerly to Ferry Road;
then easterly to the easternmost boundary of Laurel Hill Cemetery;
then southerly to the Saco River, thence along the Saco River to Deep
Brook, the point of beginning.
[Amended 11-7-2005]
A rifled or smoothbore firearm designated to shoot shot shells,
e.g., 10-, 12-, 16-, 20- and 28-gauge and .410-caliber.
That portion of the City encompassed within the following
boundaries:
[Amended 4-1-1996; 11-7-2005; 5-2-2016]
That area from the point where Deep Brook joins
the Saco River northerly along the westerly side of Deep Brook to
Buxton Road; then westerly along Buxton Road to Simpson Road; then
southwesterly along Simpson Road to Fire Lane 4; then from the intersection
of Fire Lane 4 and Simpson Road southwesterly to the Saco River; thence
along the Saco River to the Maine Turnpike, the point of beginning.
Beginning at a point along the Saco River at
the southeast corner of Laurel Hill Cemetery; then in a northerly
direction to Ferry Road; then westerly on Ferry Road to Old Orchard
Road; then northerly on Old Orchard Road to the Goosefare Brook at
the town line; then easterly along Goosefare Brook to the ocean's
edge; then southerly along the shoreline to the breakwater at Camp
Ellis; then westerly along the Saco River to Laurel Hill Cemetery,
being the point of beginning.
That portion of the City not encompassed within the no-discharge
or shotgun/muzzleloading firearm-only zones.
[Added 5-2-2016]
[Amended 5-2-2016]
It shall be unlawful for any person to shoot or discharge a
firearm of any kind or description in the City within 100 yards of
a residential dwelling without the permission of the owner or, in
their absence, of an adult occupant of that dwelling.
[Amended 5-2-2016]
It shall be unlawful for any person to shoot or discharge a
firearm of any kind or description in the City in a reckless manner.
[Amended 5-2-2016]
A.Â
Shotgun/muzzleloading firearm-only zone. It shall be unlawful for
any person to shoot or discharge a firearm of any kind or description
other than a shotgun, muzzleloading firearm, or blank cartridges in
any portion of the City which is designated as a shotgun/muzzleloading
firearm-only zone, and the western-style shooting will be done in
a confined internal building.
B.Â
No-discharge zone. It shall be unlawful for a person to shoot or
discharge a firearm of any kind or description in the no-discharge
zone except as specifically allowed in this chapter.
C.Â
Unrestricted zone. There are no municipal restrictions on discharging
legally possessed or licensed firearms in this zone, subject to all
applicable federal, state or municipal laws or ordinances.
[Amended 5-2-2016]
No provision of this chapter shall be construed to limit the
authority to discharge a firearm by a person who is:
A.Â
Acting
in lawful defense of a person, including themselves.
B.Â
A
law enforcement officer or government official acting within the scope
of their lawful duties.
C.Â
A member of any branch of the United States military, veterans'
organizations or similar organizations in connection with public ceremonial
events and do involve the release of projectiles.
D.Â
Discharging a firearm with blank cartridges for school-sanctioned
theatrical productions or athletic events.
E.Â
In the shotgun/muzzleloading firearm-only zone, discharging a firearm
with blank cartridges if otherwise compliant with 12 M.R.S.A. § 11209.
F.Â
In the shotgun/muzzleloading firearm-only zone, discharging a firearm
at an approved firearms range.
G.Â
Raccoon hunting at night with a .22 long rifle caliber firearm.
H.Â
A trapper tending his traps.
[Added 5-2-2016[1]]
Notwithstanding the preceding, any contest or event that involves
shooting, and any facility that hosts, promotes or facilitates shooting
on its premises, must also comply with any applicable City noise limitation
and ordinance.
Any person who violates any of the provisions
of this chapter shall be subject to a fine of not less than $500 nor
more than $1,000, plus costs, which fines shall be recovered in a
civil action to the use of the City.
