Firearms NEAR school property

[gnbrotz]

The tile of the PA law says school property.......and in the explanation of the offense includes buildings and grounds. If you think you can win a legal battle by saying your on school grounds and not school property or vice versa.....good luck to you! My advise, dont try going onto the property.

So...an admin building and lot, owned by the school district, but not adjoining any property containing a "school"....covered by 912 or not?

Also, the Gun Free School Zone Act.......says school zone......in essence, a giant bubble 1000’ around the school property. Now, if you are on private property within that bubble, you don’t have to worry about it.

Or if you're licensed by the state that the school is in, you're exempt from the federal prohibition - even INSIDE the buildings themselves.

[Statkowski]

The title of the PA law says school property.......and in the explanation of the offense includes buildings and grounds. If you think you can win a legal battle by saying your on school grounds and not school property or vice versa.....good luck to you! My advise, dont try going onto the property.

And as the courts have stated, the law's title means nothing, it's the contents that count.

The offense is committed in the buildings or grounds of the school, not just any real estate the school may own.

§ 912. Possession of weapon on school property.

(b) Offense defined.--A person commits a misdemeanor of the first degree if he possesses a weapon in the buildings of, on the grounds of, or in any conveyance providing transportation to or from any elementary or secondary publicly-funded educational institution, any elementary or secondary private school licensed by the Department of Education or any elementary or secondary parochial school.

[Royinmontco]

I believe that that would depend on where the shootin's happening at. I called my twp office and they told me that they go by the hunting regulations.

Is it codified? If not, dont matter what they say, right?

[Walleye Hunter]

Is it codified? If not, dont matter what they say, right?

I would say that you are correct and I do not believe it is codified.

[Steve in PA]

Yes, I should have clarified my answer by saying the grounds of the school, not some property owned by the school, separated from the grounds.

[Statkowski]

Went back and looked at the aerial shot of the property. Looks like all of the school property is school grounds since there's no public roadway or water course separating anything from anything. Tree lines don't count.

[fallenleader]

skip the house and shoot on your property a few times. i think it won't be long before the township either forcifully removes your property from you, enacts regulations to prohibit shooting [despite preemeption] or buys you out [hopefully for more than you paid]

take the win or loss and find something better.
then again, things are different over here in little NYC than they probably are in freer lands.

all the urbanites here get their panties in a twist when they hear a gunshot or fireworks.
the best part is when it's coming from the nearby hunting club and they can't really do much about it.

[gnbrotz]

Went back and looked at the aerial shot of the property. Looks like all of the school property is school grounds since there's no public roadway or water course separating anything from anything. Tree lines don't count.

Are you sure it's all one parcel?

[Royinmontco]

enacts regulations to prohibit shooting [despite preemeption]

Preemtion only covers ownership and carry, no? There are plenty of legal local laws prohibiting discharge of firearms, i think.

[fallenleader]

Preemtion only covers ownership and carry, no? There are plenty of legal local laws prohibiting discharge of firearms, i think.

i'm not 100% certain. gunlawyer might have better info on the topic.