[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of West
Milford as Sec. 6-5 of the 1976 Revised General Ordinances. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Any place designed, used or intended to be used for the discharge
of a rifle, pistol, shotgun or other firearm defined in N.J.S.A. 2C:39-1f.
[Amended 10-20-1982 by Ord. No. 1982-29]
It shall be unlawful for any person to open, operate, or maintain, or
cause to be opened, operated or maintained any rifle range, as herein defined,
within the limits of the Township without first having obtained a permit to
do so and without first complying with the standards and regulations herein
stated.
In addition to the provisions of § 203-2, the following shall apply:
A.
The name and address of the record owner of the real
estate upon which such range is located.
B.
The name and address of the person in charge of and responsible
for the maintenance of the range.
C.
A description by way of map or sketch of the range, including
the lot and block numbers, as shown on the tax assessment map, upon which
the range is located. The location upon the lot of the range, stating the
distance in feet between the firing points and the furthest targets, between
the targets and the nearest property line, and between the firing points and
the nearest property line and direction of firing; and a full and complete
description of the plan for construction of the place for stopping and controlling
bullets. The sketch or description shall also show all houses, barns or other
buildings and all streets or highways within 2,000 feet and in direction of
fire of any part of the range and 1,000 feet on either side of the direction
of fire.
[Amended 3-17-1982 by Ord. No. 1982-7; 4-16-1986
by Ord. No. 1986-6; 6-6-1990 by Ord.
No. 1990-19; 5-2-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-013[1]]
Upon receipt of the application from the Chief of Police with his endorsement thereon approving the same, and the resolution of the Township Council authorizing the issuance of the permit, the Township Clerk shall issue the permit upon the payment of a fee by the applicant for the range to be licensed. The amount of the permit fee is set forth in Chapter 135, Fees and Costs. The permit shall be conspicuously exhibited upon the premises licensed thereunder.
A.
The following shall apply:
(1)
No permit shall be issued for any range, unless, in addition
to any other requirements and specifications provided in this chapter, such
range is so constructed and maintained so as to prevent any shot, bullet or
missile going beyond the property line on which the range is located.
[Amended 10-20-1982 by Ord. No. 1982-29]
(2)
The applicant shall provide proper bullet stops, which
may be natural slopes, or of such artificial construction so as to insure
that no shot, bullet or missile will go beyond such stops.
(3)
No bullet stops shall consist of brick, stone or concrete
walls.
(4)
Proper stops and wings shall be provided so as to prevent
the ricochet of bullets, shots and missiles.
(5)
The applicant shall comply with the specifications of
the National Rifle Association of America, or equivalent, in the construction
of bullet stops, ranges, and adopt its recommendations for safety.
[Amended 10-20-1982 by Ord. No. 1982-29]
B.
The failure of the applicant to maintain such bullet
stops, or to take the above precautions, shall subject the applicant to a
revocation of the range permit after due hearing on notice has been held.
Each range shall be under the supervision of qualified persons. The Chief
of Police is authorized to qualify the type of rifle or weapon to be used
on a range, his qualifications to be based on the proper bullet stops and
wings installed, and the safety precautions provided and taken.
[Amended 10-20-1982 by Ord. No. 1982-29]
The Chief of Police is empowered to make regular inspections of at least
three-month intervals in order to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
Where in his opinion a range is being conducted contrary to the provisions
of this chapter, is not under qualified supervision, and is not conducted
in accordance with the rules and regulations hereof, and such a violation
constitutes a danger to the safety of the public and adjacent property owners,
he shall have the right to direct the discontinuance temporarily of the use
of the range, in which case he shall submit his report in writing to the Township
Council for appropriate action under this chapter. The Township Council after
hearing on due notice to the applicant may revoke or suspend the permit granted
for failure to comply with the terms of the above section, or any of the rules
or regulations relating to the use of the rifle range.
[Amended 10-20-1982 by Ord. No. 1982-29; 1-3-2001
by Ord. No. 2001-2]
No person shall open or operate under this chapter before 9:00 a.m.
prevailing time, on any weekday, or before 10:00 a.m. prevailing time on Sunday,
and not later than 4:00 p.m. during the months of November, December, January
and February, not later than 6:00 p.m. during the months of March, April,
May, September, and October, and not later than 7:00 p.m. during the months
of June, July and August. No person shall open or operate under this chapter
on the following holidays: Easter, New Year's Day and Christmas. During the
prohibited hours above listed, no range or any premises for which a permit
has been issued pursuant to the provisions hereof shall be used for any event
wherein shotguns, pistols, revolvers or other firearms are used; the discharge
of any type of weapon on a range during the prohibited hours shall constitute
a violation under this chapter.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the members of the
Police Department of the Township, the members of any municipal, county or
State of New Jersey Police Department, detectives of the office of the Prosecutor
of the Police of Passaic County, conservation officers of the State of New
Jersey, or any other person authorized by the statutes of New Jersey to carry
firearms, when firearms shall be used in the performance of their duties.
Any ranges set up by them in the Township shall comply with the safety regulations
as provided for in this chapter.
