Notice for Londonderr​y Township Residents

[76mark]

The township is seeking to pass an ordinance that will prohibit all shooting of any kind be it firearms, archery or air gun within the township other than legal organized hunting. Meeting is on Sept. 24th at 7:30pm

Public Mtg. Notices

NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Supervisors of Londonderry Township will hold a hearing at a regular meeting to be held on September 24, 2012, commencing at 7:30 p.m., at the Township Building, 103 Daleville Road, Londonderry Township (Cochranville), Pennsylvania, to consider and enact an ordinance amending the Code of Londonderry Township by adopting a new Chapter 114 entitled Shooting, Outdoor, a summary of which follows. The complete text of the ordinance can be examined at the offices of the Daily Local News, 250 North Bradford Avenue, West Chester, Pennsylvania, the Chester County Law Library, 201 West Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania and the Township Building at the above address during regular business hours. Copies of the complete text may be examined without charge or obtained at a charge not greater than the cost thereof at the Township Building.

AN ORDINANCE OF LONDONDERRY TOWNSHIP, CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, AMENDING THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LONDONDERRY, AS AMENDED, BY ADDING NEW CHAPTER 114 REGARDING OUTDOOR SHOOTING.

SECTION 1. Amends the Code of Londonderry Township to add new Chapter 114 entitled Shooting, Outdoor. Chapter 114 includes all of the following provisions: 1. Titles the Ordinance as the Outdoor Shooting Ordinance of Londonderry Township. 2. Provides definitions for the terms "hunt club," "shooting" and "weapon." 3. Prohibits outdoor shooting in the Township except: while lawfully hunting game in conformity with the Game Laws and other applicable laws of Pennsylvania; while lawfully hunting game with the written permission of the landowner upon a Township form, which permission must include certain terms and provisions set forth in the Ordinance. Requires the written permission form to be in the possession of the hunter at all times when hunting in Londonderry Township; or while in association with the activities of a hunt club. 4. Prohibits the careless, reckless or improper use of any weapon tending to imperil the safety of persons or engender disorderly practice. 5. Provides for fines and penalties for any violation of the Ordinance. 6. Requires the posting of legible signs giving public notice of the essential provisions of this Chapter at or near the public highways at the boundaries of Londonderry Township.
SECTION 2. Provides for the severability of unconstitutional or invalid provisions of the ordinance.
SECTION 3. Repeals ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with any provisions of this ordinance. SECTION 4. Provides that the amendment shall be effective 5 days from the date of its final passage and adoption.

If you are a person with a disability wishing to attend the aforementioned meeting and require auxiliary aid, service or other accommodation to observe or participate in the proceedings, please contact the Township secretary to discuss how your needs may be best accommodated. LONDONDERRY TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Richard Brown, Chairman GAWTHROP GREENWOOD, P.C. Stacey L. Fuller, Solicitor

[West Chester]

The NRA has picked up on this as well

http://nraila.org/legislation/state-...-township.aspx

[BimmerJon]

Preemption doesn't protect discharge laws

[pctgreg]

I attended the meeting just to see how it would turn out... and this ordinance certainly grabbed some attention they were not expecting (turnout of people). It did not pass tonight, and I guess will be pushed to the side for now? Aparently this ordinances creation stemmed from 3-4 undocumented complaints over the past 5 years. This ordinance is a solution to a problem that does not exist. This meeting was a joke. Someone recorded it on their iphone so i would not be surprised if it surfaces at some point lol.

[Mirlen]

I'm not a resident over there but I did get a notice about this from our club at the time. The meeting minutes for this are below or at the URL:

http://www.londonderrytownship.org/m...es_9-24-12.pdf

Ordinance # 04-2012_ – AN ORDINANCE OF LONDONDERRY TOWNSHIP, CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, AMENDING THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LONDONDERRY, AS AMENDED, BY ADDING NEW CHAPTER 114 REGARDING OUTDOOR SHOOTING.

Richard Brown began the Public Hearing by saying that in the past there have been numerous attempts to address the issue of firearms within the Township. The current discussion began last year when the Task Force consisting of David Sweet, members of the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors attempted to respond to complaints regarding the discharge of firearms in LDT. The Ordinance as it currently appears is the result of many revisions. An ordinance is necessary for enforcement when complaints are received by the Township. In the past Township officials have spoken with the individual using the firearm and for the most part that has been sufficient. The Board of Supervisors is charged with the health, safety and welfare of its citizens. As demographics change and the Township grows in population previous approaches may not be as effective as in the past. The Board has no agenda other than the safety of its residents. Richard Brown then asked that all residents please keep their concerns and comments concise and brief as it was the Board’s intent for everyone who would like to speak would have the opportunity to speak. It was the intent of the Board that there would likely be a continuance of the Public Hearing until the next BOS Meeting in October. Therefore there would be no vote at this meeting.

The following citizens were in attendance and were recognized by Richard Brown to share their opinions and concerns:

• Derrick Strine – West Marlboro Twp.
• Jerry LaMastra – London Grove Twp.
• Jeff Whelan – Mindy Acres
• Robin Marcello – Penn Twp.
• Chris Dehaas – Birchwood Lane
• Dennis Cummings – Colton Dr.
• David Heinzman – Fernwood Rd.
• Jim Paul (Constable) – White Horse Rd.
• Joel Tea – White Horse Rd.
• Joe Luscavage – Hemlock Dr.
• Frank Danby – Gibble Rd.
• Larry Denver – White Horse Rd.
• Dan Tracy – Street Rd.
• Jennifer Harris – Lancaster County
• Valentine Walls – Faggs Manor Rd.
• John Skrabak – Keller Rd.
• Pam Maxwell – Faggs Manor Rd.
• Scott Danby – Gibble Rd.
• Rob Holod – Gap Newport Pike
• Anthony George – Daleville Rd.
• Joe Giacchino – Funk Rd.
• Greg Cellini – Gap Newport Pike
• Grant DeCosta
• Bootsie Pannell – White Horse Rd.
• Jerri-Lynn Wier – Light Farm Dr.
• David Page – Daleville Rd.
• Brenda Cellini – Gap Newport Pike
• Darcey Miller – White Horse Rd.
• Frank Dangelo – Faggs Manor Rd.
• William Bond – Towhee Lane
• Maureen Polhemus – Birmingham Twp.
• Mike Sagin

One at a time the above citizens expressed their concerns and opinions. The main CONCERNS were the following:

1. The Ordinance, as written, was too broad.
2. The Ordinance was not specific.
3. The number of complaints to the Township appeared to be a relatively small number of from 3 to 4 complaints in a time frame of 4 to 5 years.
4. Does the Ordinance exempt hunting? (Richard Brown answered – “Yes”)
5. Does the Ordinance prevent target shooting? (Richard Brown answered – “Yes”)
6. The Ordinance scope is too large.
7. The Cost of Enforcement would be significant.
8. Who would enforce the Ordinance?
9. Would the Ordinance preclude the ability to lawfully shoot vermin as well as sick and wounded animals (wounded deer, rabid raccoons for example). Richard Brown responded this would be an exemption.
10. Protect property from nuisance animals (i.e. ground hogs, rats, and others)
11. Residents want to teach their young people gun safety and proficiency.
12. Want to preserve a rural way of life.
13. Are the Supervisors concerned with the issue of noise? Safety? Welfare of kids?

Richard Brown responded the Supervisors were always concerned with the safety, health and welfare of all its citizens.

OPINIONS AND SUGGESTIONS from the audience:

1. Rescind this Ordinance and rewrite an Ordinance which would use other Township ordinances as a guide.
2. Rescind this Ordinance entirely.
3. Establish a committee to research and write another Ordinance – Steven Brumfield volunteered to Chair such a committee.
4. Need for statistical data regarding the number of complaints as well as the danger to the population.
5. Suggested an email database be created for communications with residents. (An email database exists, but the Township has found that residents are reluctant to provide email addresses and prefer to keep emails from the Township at a minimum.)

Richard Brown said the Board had heard from every resident present who wished to express their thoughts on this Ordinance and thanked everyone for their input. He closed the Hearing at 9:07 PM.

The regular BOS II Meeting was reopened at 9:07 PM. Richard Brown called for a MOTION to approve the Ordinance. There was NO MOTION. Therefore the Ordinance was NOT APPROVED and was considered dead.

There was a short intermission while residents cleared the meeting room and the regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors II continued at 9:17 PM.