State Law on Target Shooting

[rayh059]

Safety zones only apply to hunting situations.

Interesting. So there are three situations. 1= self defense, 2=hunting and 3=target shooting.

1, ok, discharge as necessary Enforced by PSP (?)
2. 150 yard safety zone applies. Enforced by Fish & Game
3. Local ordinances apply, enforced by the township not the PSP.

So if there isn't a local ordinance against it, it is Ok to target practice with the approval of the owner. No safety zone consideration. Obviously, the shooter is responsible for the bullet from start to finish.

Is that right?

[knight0334]

Interesting. So there are three situations. 1= self defense, 2=hunting and 3=target shooting.

1, ok, discharge as necessary Enforced by PSP (?)
2. 150 yard safety zone applies. Enforced by Fish & Game
3. Local ordinances apply, enforced by the township not the PSP.

So if there isn't a local ordinance against it, it is Ok to target practice with the approval of the owner. No safety zone consideration. Obviously, the shooter is responsible for the bullet from start to finish.

Is that right?

The part in bold above is true.

If the municipality doesn't have an ordinance against it, and if the property owner(s) are ok with it - you can shoot. However you are responsible for that bullet from start to finish, so you should make sure you have a proper backstop, and dont allow bullet to trespass over lands you do not have permission to be shooting across.

[tl_3237]

Interesting. So there are three situations. 1= self defense, 2=hunting and 3=target shooting.

1, ok, discharge as necessary Enforced by PSP (?)
2. 150 yard safety zone applies. Enforced by Fish & Game
3. Local ordinances apply, enforced by the township not the PSP.

So if there isn't a local ordinance against it, it is Ok to target practice with the approval of the owner. No safety zone consideration. Obviously, the shooter is responsible for the bullet from start to finish.

Is that right?

A point of clarification...


For self-defense, there is a justification under Commonwealth statute that would be a DEFENSE to any other charges such as illegal discharge. This has nothing to do with PSP.

18 Pa CSA § 502. Justification a defense

In any prosecution based on conduct which is justifiable under this chapter, justification is a defense.

18 Pa CSA § 503. Justification generally

(a) General rule.--Conduct which the actor believes to be necessary to avoid a harm or evil to himself or to another is justifiable if:

(1) the harm or evil sought to be avoided by such conduct is greater than that sought to be prevented by the law defining the offense charged;

(2) neither this title nor other law defining the offense provides exceptions or defenses dealing with the specific situation involved; and

(3) a legislative purpose to exclude the justification claimed does not otherwise plainly appear.

[mmcallister]

i would want to look at the municiple codes, not just trust someones word over it.

if they said your not allowed to shoot, id dig deeper to see if it was true....and see if the fines are worth the training

[JustPlinking]

Bump for anyone having some new intel on this subject.

Thanks

[twency]

Bump for anyone having some new intel on this subject.

Thanks

What kind of "intel" are you looking for? The subject seems to have been pretty well covered already.

[badey]

What kind of "intel" are you looking for? The subject seems to have been pretty well covered already.

This may qualify as new intel, or at least a perspective on firing a gun in defense of property in an area that has an ordinance against the discharge of firearms withing 150 ft. of a home.

http://forum.pafoa.org/pennsylvania-...inst-dogs.html

[knight0334]

No change in state law on target shooting. Its really dependent on the municipality in question.

[JustPlinking]

No change in state law on target shooting. Its really dependent on the municipality in question.

Thanks , that was more my wonder. Got a call today from a friend who recently purchased 14 ac here is Bucks Co. In our township if your line of fire is safe and have a proper back stop you are good to go.

Happy almost forth everyone!

JustPlinking/Patrick