[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Maplewood 5-18-2010 by Ord. No. 2631-10. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
To shoot or fire a firearm.
A handgun, rifle, shotgun, machine gun, automatic or semiautomatic
rifle, or any gun, device or instrument in the nature of a weapon
from which may be fired or ejected any solid projectable ball, slug,
pellet, missile or bullet, or any gas, vapor or other noxious thing,
by means of a cartridge or shell or by the action of any explosive
or igniting of flammable or explosive substance. It shall also include,
without limitation, any firearm which is in the nature of an air gun,
spring gun or pistol or other weapon of similar nature in which the
propelling force is a spring, elastic band, carbon dioxide, compressed
or other gas or vapor, air or compressed air, or is ignited by compressed
air, and ejecting a bullet, pellet or missile smaller than 3/8 of
an inch in diameter with sufficient force to injure a person (N.J.S.A.
2C:39-1).
No person shall at any time discharge a firearm within the Township
except for the lawful protection of life, limb or property.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following shall be exempt
from the prohibitions set forth herein:
A.
The use and discharge of any firearm by any sworn law enforcement
officer.
B.
The use or discharge of a firearm used in connection with an animal
culling program organized and controlled by the State of New Jersey,
the County of Essex or the Township of Maplewood.
C.
The use or discharge of a firearm at a licensed firing range located
in a nonresidential area.
D.
The use or discharge of a firearm in a basement in connection with
the instruction and/or training in firearm use, handling and/or safety
if provided by an instructor certified by a recognized organization
that certifies firearms instructors, provided that such activities
shall utilize a nonlethal training or practice ammunition system which
does not penetrate standard home building materials.
E.
The use or discharge of a firearm in connection with the testing
of a product by a licensed manufacturer or retail dealer of firearms
using a self-contained enclosed bullet trap system which meets the
standards of the relevant product rating organization, if any.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall,
upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not exceeding $1,000
or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days, or both.
