(a) No person shall discharge any cannon, pistol or other firearm of any kind whatsoever within the City except in accordance with subsections (b) and (c) hereof. This section shall not prohibit the firing of a military salute or the firing of weapons by men or women of the nation’s armed forces acting under military authority, and shall not apply to law enforcement officials in the proper enforcement of the law, nor to any person in the proper exercise of the right of self-defense.
(b) No person shall operate, or permit to be operated, a skeet or trap shooting range unless, prior to such skeet or trap shooting, the place or range of such shooting has been approved in writing by the City Manager. Such approval shall be given by the City Manager provided the skeet or trap shooting range or place is in compliance and remains in compliance with the following standards and regulations:
(1) The range shall conform to all applicable local, State and Federal regulations.
(2) The range shall have a clear area of 300 yards from each trap or point of fire, and a width of not less than twenty-five yards on each side of direct point of fire which such area shall be free of any use which would be endangered by falling shot.
(3) The written permission of adjacent property owners shall be obtained by the applicant and filed with the City Manager.
(4) Live birds or fowl shall not be used as targets in trap shooting.
(5) The City Manager shall specify, as part of his written approval for the use of such place or range for shooting, the hours and days on and during which such use shall be permissible.
(6) In addition to the foregoing, the City Manager may specify additional conditions which may be required prior to granting his written approval.
The approval granted herein shall be valid for a period of not more than one year, or for such lesser period of time as may be determined by the City Manager, and shall be renewed annually.
(c) A property owner may apply for a permit from the City Manager for the discharge of firearms on private property provided that the applicant owns no less than fifty contiguous acres within the City. Permit holders shall adhere to the following regulations:
(1) A shot gun with shot no larger than number eight may be used for the purpose of eradicating pests or rodents. A permit for this purpose shall be effective for a period of no longer than five days from issuance.
(2) A shot gun with a smooth bore and chamber no longer than two and three quarter inch and discharging a single slug is permitted for the destruction of deer. Note: Possession of a City permit does not relieve the property owner of his/her responsibility to acquire a nuisance permit from the Division of Wildlife prior to the use of a firearm for the destruction of deer.
(3) All permits issued will state the name of the individual permitted to discharge the firearm, and that person shall carry the permit on his/her person at all times when dicharging the firearm.
(4) The City Manager may, at his/her sole discretion, award, deny, or revoke the above mentioned permits at any time.
(d) Whoever violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(Ord. 94-1593. Passed 11-15-94.)