[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Rochester as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 6-18-1985 by Ord. No. 309 as Art. 735 of the 1985 Codified Ordinances; amended in its entirety at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
FIREARM
Any pistol or revolver with a barrel length less than 15 inches, any shotgun with a barrel length less than 18 inches or any rifle with a barrel length less than 16 inches, or any pistol, revolver, rifle or shotgun with an overall length of less than 26 inches. The barrel length of a firearm shall be determined by measuring from the muzzle of the barrel to the face of the closed action, bolt or cylinder, whichever is applicable.
Except in necessary defense of person and property and except as provided in § 73-4 of this article, it shall be unlawful for any person to use, fire, or discharge any gun or other firearm within the Township.
It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any air rifle, air pistol, spring gun, spring pistol, BB gun, bow and arrow, or similar device, or any implement that is not a firearm but which impels a pellet of any kind with a force that can reasonably be expected to cause bodily harm, at any place within the Township, except as provided in § 73-4 of this article, and except on a target range which is properly constructed to trap or stop the projectile as ascertained by the Chief of Police.
This article shall not apply to:
A. 
Persons licensed to hunt in this commonwealth while actually engaged in hunting where permitted under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
B. 
Members of any organization incorporated under laws of this commonwealth engaged in target shooting upon the grounds or property belonging to or under the control of such organization.
C. 
Any law enforcement officers when used in the discharge of their official duties.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $600 and costs and, in default of payment, to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days.
[Adopted 11-15-1988 by Ord. No. 321]
It shall be unlawful for any person to use, fire or discharge any gun, air rifle, air pistol, spring gun, spring pistol, BB gun or any other type of firearms within the area which is zoned industrial according to the Zoning Ordinance[1] in effect in Rochester Township, except as provided under § 73-7 of this article.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 162, Zoning.
This article shall not apply to:
A. 
Any law enforcement officer using said weapon in the discharge of his/her official duty.
B. 
An individual who discharges a firearm when there is an intruder who has entered into his/her residence.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $600 and costs and, in default of payment, to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).