No firearm discharge zone.
A.
It is unlawful to discharge or intend to discharge a firearm in certain
areas within the Town, as set forth in § 9.4.3 of this chapter.
This area is known as the "no firearm discharge zone."
B.
If a person is found to be in possession of a loaded firearm outside
of the person's residence within the "no firearm discharge zone,"
it is considered prima facie evidence of the intent to discharge the
firearm. This section does not apply to persons holding a valid permit
to carry a concealed weapon under 25 M.R.S. § 2003.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any weapon, whether loaded or unloaded, which is designed
to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, and includes
any such weapon commonly referred to as a "pistol," "revolver," "rifle,"
"gun," "machine gun" or "shotgun." Any weapon which can be made into
a firearm by the insertion of a firing pin or other similar thing,
or by repair, is a firearm.
A weapon with the chamber containing either a live round
of ammunition or a live blank round, or a loaded magazine or clip
is inserted into the weapon. A weapon that has an empty chamber and
an empty magazine well is considered unloaded.
The "no firearms discharge zone" is defined as follows:
A.
An area within the Town beginning at the Piscataqua River Bridge
on Interstate 95 and proceeding north on I-95 to Cutts Road, then
easterly on Cutts Road to Route 1, then southerly on Route 1 to Haley
Road, then south-southeast along Haley Road to Hoyts Island Lane to
the Shore of Pepperrell Cove, then turning and proceeding along the
shore from Pepperrell Cove to the Piscataqua River, continuing along
the river bank to the starting point at the bridge on Interstate 95.
The discharge of firearms within the Town in areas outside of
the "no firearms discharge zone" is also prohibited, except that hunting
with a shotgun or muzzleloader during the Maine open hunting season,
as determined by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife,
is permitted.
Sections 9.4.1 and 9.4.3 of this chapter do not apply to the
following:
A.
The area bordered on the west by Route 1, on the south by C.M.P.
power line right-of-way east to Norton Road, north along Norton Road
to Miller Road, east to Bartlett Road, north on Bartlett Road to Payne
Road;
B.
Law enforcement officers acting in the performance of their duties;
C.
The use of blank cartridges for a show or theatrical production or
any supervised educational program;
D.
The use of blank cartridges or signal cannon for ceremonial purposes
or athletic events or by military organizations or service groups;
E.
The use of a firearm for legal self-defense or excusable homicide
situations;
F.
Testing by a professional gunsmith into a suitable container, backstop
or target as approved by the Police Chief or his/her designee; and
G.
Discharge of firearms for protection of property from wild animals
as authorized by 12 M.R.S. §§ 12401 and 12402.
The use of privately operated shooting ranges approved by the
Chief of Police is subject to the following regulations:
A.
No shooting on Sundays.
B.
Shooting may not commence before 9:00 a.m.
C.
Shooting Monday through Saturday must cease at sunset.
D.
Warning signs must be posted every 50 feet along the entire perimeter
of the range area. Signs must advise that there is a firearms shooting
range in the immediate area.
E.
Shooting ranges must be annually inspected by the Police Department.
It is the responsibility of the landowner to request reinspection
of the range at least 30 days prior to the expiration of the current
permit.
F.
As of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter,
the Police Department will no longer permit any new privately operated
shooting ranges.
Any violation of this chapter will be assessed a penalty under Title 1, Chapter 1.3.
Key to Map below:
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A
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=
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Shotgun Only
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|---|---|---|
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B
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=
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No Discharge of Firearms Allowed
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C
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=
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Any Firearm Allowed
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