After talks, board members agree to have Sept. 3 hearing on proposal
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
KENNETT — It appears that township Supervisors have reached a compromise that would allow a proposed ordinance to restrict firearm discharges to go to a public hearing, Sept. 3.
Although more than a dozen township residents attended Monday’s Board of Supervisors’ meetings to push for action, an ongoing issue since residents raised concerns in June, the board didn’t appear to be comfortable with the ordinance as proposed. At that June meeting, residents told the Board of Supervisors they were worried about about being out walking and potentially being hit by stray gunfire from other township residents who routinely shoot on their properties.
After further discussion of a proposed ordinance at the board’s July meeting, more refinements were made to the ordinance as developed by Township Solicitor Bob Adams. Still, sticking points remained during Monday night’s meeting.
Two issues within the proposed ordinance drew concerns: the distance requirements — 150 yards of any occupied building, or within 100 yards or property lines had Supervisors’ chair Michael Elling objecting, suggesting that they would be too tight for many to ever discharge a weapon, while supervisor Scudder Stevens read a statement into the record noting his concerns, including a failure to address safe shooting, National Rifle Association (NRA) backstop standards or appropriately referencing local zoning or building codes. Both Elling and Stevens also noted concerns about discharges being permitted in defense of human life — suggesting that state code, including the “right to shoot” law would hold precedence.
With a seeming impass, Elling suggested sending the matter back to the township’s Planning Commission. But Township Manager Lisa Moore noted such a move would delay any action for least 90 days — and a number of residents in the audience objected to further delay. Elling said he would consider supporting the ordinance as is, if the distance limits would be removed, but Stevens argued that they serve an important purpose in the ordinance.
Moore asked if the board members would be willing to work with her to craft a version of the ordinance that would be acceptable to advertise for public hearing on Sept. 3, and members agreed. After later discussion, the proposed ordinance was hammered out.
The proposed ordinance keeps the distance requirements, but does now specify NRA backstop rules, and reference local zoning regulations. A few other passages were reworked, including the penalty section, which now specifies fines of between $300 and $1,000 per incident. The defense of human life provision remains in the proposed ordinance.
