Ordinance imposes restrictions on distance, time and backstop
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Kennett Township Supervisors Scudder G. Stevens (from left) and Robert A. Hammaker discuss the rationale behind a new ordinance on firearms usage.
Acknowledging that it’s a work in progress that may require tweaking, two of the Kennett Township supervisors present at Tuesday night’s work session approved an ordinance regulating the discharge of firearms.
After minimal discussion, Supervisors Robert A. Hammaker and Scudder G. Stevens voted to pass the regulations, which will go into effect in five days and have been in development since a group of residents raised concerns in June. Supervisors’ Chairman Michael E. Elling was absent from the meeting.
At the June meeting, residents told the board that they fearing being outside because of the risk of being hit by stray gunfire from other township residents who routinely shoot on their properties. After several revisions, the supervisors passed an ordinance similar to ones in other Chester County municipalities.
The Kennett Township Firearms Usage Ordinance limits shooting to within 150 yards of any occupied building or 100 yards of a property line. In addition, no discharge is permitted between the hours of sunset and 8 a.m. and shooters must use a backstop “in accordance with the NRA regulations.”
The ordinance, which exempts law enforcement officers acting in the line of duty and hunting regulated by the state Game and Wildlife Code, is billed as a way for the township “to maintain peace and order by enhancing the safety of its residents” and a way to “protect the legal rights of firearms owners by creating regulations for the safe and authorized use of said firearms.”
One resident, Bill Shelton, questioned whether any evidence existed that unsafe activity was occurring. “Every complaint has been about noise,” he said. “We’ve taken noise and turned it into safety.”
But Stevens said the ordinance was safety-driven and designed to give police a reason to investigate, “short of a body on the ground.” Stevens said regulations were needed to “make sure it’s not an uncontrolled environment.”
The supervisors agreed to turn the ordinance over to the Planning Commission for its review, explaining that they did not want to delay the implementation of the ordinance by doing that first. “I think we need to get on with it and live with it for a little while,” said Stevens, adding that the board would be receptive to making changes if needed.
Violations could result in fines ranging $300 and $1,000 per incident, the ordinance said. Police Chief Albert J. McCarthy told residents – about 20 attended the meeting – that they should call 9-1-1 to report possible violations. He stressed that the ordinance is not an “anti-shooting,” but pro-safety.
On a related topic, McCarthy asked the supervisors to encourage residents who stage fireworks to file a community event form.
He said several recent displays demonstrated wide variations in their approach, with some handled by a licensed pyrotech and some oblivious to safety precautions. He said the township wasn’t interested in “preventing it, just regulating it.”
