Town of Weston, CT Chapter 79 Firearms

[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[1] Editor’s Note: This ordinance also superseded former Ch. 79, Firearms, adopted 7-1-1985, effective 7-31-1985, as amended in its entirety effective 8-1-1990 (Ch. 7.8, Art.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).

§ 79-1 Legislative findings; purpose and intent.

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.

§ 79-2 Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, certain words are defined as follows:

ASSAULT WEAPON

Shall have the same meaning as that provided under state law.

FIREARM

Shall have the same meaning as that provided under state law.

LANDOWNER

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.

MACHINE GUN

Shall have the same meaning as that provided under state law.

TARGET PRACTICE

Shooting a firearm at a fixed or moving object.

§ 79-3 Prohibition.

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.

§ 79-4 State and federal regulations applicable.

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.

§ 79-5 Penalties for offenses.

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.