Updated rules for firearms advance
Changes were drafted as a response to resident request
TOWAMENCIN >> Staff and the township supervisors are moving ahead with a new set of rules and regulations prompted by an unusual request from a township resident.
The new code will spell out the terms and conditions for any resident seeking to set up a shooting range on their own private property.
“A property owner applied for a permit to set up a target range, and that’s when we looked and said, ‘Oh boy, we could do much better in terms of tightening the ordinance,’” said Solicitor Jack Dooley.
According to Dooley and supervisors Chairman Chuck Wilson, that request from a resident was fielded in early 2018, and in response the township called in an expert.
“The board authorized the engagement of a firearms legal expert to provide professional review, risk management consultation, and other advisory services regarding the township’s target range regulations on private property,” Wilson said.
Since then, Wilson and Dooley said, a draft amendment to the current firearms code has been prepared, that Dooley said contains “considerable” standards for any resident to meet.
“It has operating times, it has actual details
in terms of berms that must be present, if you’re going to have a target range, there has to be a minimum size of a property, it has to basically be on a larger property,” he said.
“It’s quite a number of specifications or details that we previously did not have in our code,” Dooley said.
Chapter 79 of the township’s codebook contains firearms rules and regulations, including definitions of firearms, prohibitions on discharging them, exceptions for using a firearm for defense or hunting, and authorization for police to seize firearms for evidentiary purposes. Section five of chapter 79 says the township manager is authorized to issue permits for outdoor target ranges “after the inspection and approval of such ranges by the board of supervisors or its designated representative,” but with few specifics on what to look for. The current code, last updated in 1980, states “such target range shall have a natural earth backstop or other comparable type backstop of the type and kind approved by the National Rifle Association,” and says “the conditions and cost of such permits” shall be determined by the board of supervisors, with no additional specifications.
After a brief discussion during their June 26 meeting, the board voted unanimously to direct staff to publicly advertise the draft for discussion and adoption at a future meeting. Dooley and Wilson said that approval will likely come when the board meets on July 10 or 24.
“The ordinance will be advertised, and then after the advertisement, it’ll be available for action by the board,” Dooley said.
“Everything is based on the health, safety and welfare of the community. That’s the pole star by which the board of supervisors always acts,” he said.
Towamencin’s supervisors next meet at 7:30 p.m. on July 10 and 24, both at the township administration building, 1090 Troxel Road.