[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Weston 6-10-2013.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor’s Note: This ordinance also superseded former
Ch. 79, Firearms, adopted 7-1-1985, effective 7-31-1985, as amended
in its entirety effective 8-1-1990 (Ch. 7.8, Art. III, of the 1981
Code).
Connecticut General Statutes, § 7-148(c)(7)(H)(xiii),
charges the Board of Selectmen with the responsibility to "promote
the peace, safety, good government and welfare of the municipality
and its inhabitants." The Board of Selectmen believes that the misuse
of firearms by individuals who are not properly trained and qualified
to use them can endanger public health and safety, and that safe storage
practices are essential to public welfare. The Board recommends securing
firearms and ammunition in a manner that will prevent unauthorized
access when not in use, preferably in a locked gun safe or similar
enclosure.
For the purposes of this chapter, certain words are defined
as follows:
Shall have the same meaning as that provided under state
law.
Shall have the same meaning as that provided under state
law.
The legal or beneficial owner of a parcel of land, or a tenant
of such owner, or an authorized agent or invited guest of such owner
or of such tenant.
Shall have the same meaning as that provided under state
law.
Shooting a firearm at a fixed or moving object.
A.
No person shall discharge any machine gun or assault weapon in the
Town of Weston.
B.
No person shall discharge any firearm for target practice in the
Town of Weston, except that trapshooting, skeet shooting and shooting
at sporting clays with shotguns, in which clay targets are thrown
to simulate birds in flight, are permissible exclusively at the Weston
Field Club, the Weston Gun Club, or other locations as approved by
the Chief of Police and the Board of Selectmen.
C.
No person under the age of 16 years shall discharge any firearm anywhere in the Town of Weston, except that persons between the ages of 12 years and 16 years may discharge a firearm for target practice pursuant to the provisions of Subsection B of this section, provided that such firearm is discharged in the presence of and under the supervision of the person's parent, legal guardian, school or camp official over the age of 18.
D.
Nothing in this § 79-3 shall apply to:
(1)
Any local, state or federal officer authorized to enforce criminal
law, or a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or of the
State of Connecticut, or an authorized messenger or bank guard, and
only when such person is acting in the performance of his or her duties
as such; or
[Amended 5-7-2015]
(2)
Any person, when acting to defend himself or herself or a third person
from physical force in a manner consistent with state law.
Nothing herein shall be construed to permit the use, possession
or discharge of any firearm for any purpose otherwise prohibited or
regulated under any statute or regulation of the State of Connecticut
or any state agency or the United States Government.
Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a fine of $250 for each such violation. This penalty shall apply to the parent or legal guardian of any minor who violates the provisions of § 79-3C.