My municipality's general code

[Nathan Hale]

Hi guys , the municipality i live in has a general code on firearms that says ......"No person, other than a duly appointed police officer while in the performance of his official duties, shall fire or discharge any gun or other firearm within the Municipality of ________ "

Does that mean a normal guy who lives in this municipality cant fire a gun in a case of self defense???

[Curmudgeon]

That's a beautiful story. (*you added the last sentence while I was typing)

Seriously though, I think you'll find most, is not all, have the same or similar ordinances. Basically they don't want folks setting up a 300-yard target range in the town square.

That particular ordinance sounds like it is in compliance with Pennsylvania's preemption statute 6120. Should you find yourself in a self-defense situation, you will have to determine whether discharging your weapon and saving your life is worth violating the local ordinance.

While we're on the subject, you do realize it is also against the law to shoot people, right?
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[HiredGoon]

If you have to shoot someone in self defense, violating the local ordinance will be the least of your worries.

[Curmudgeon]

If you have to shoot someone in self defense, violating the local ordinance will be the least of your worries.

^That. That's what I meant to say.

This is why it is so common for self-defense shootings to go to a trail, where a judge/jury will be expected to determine whether your violation of our laws was justifiable under the circumstances.

[ray h]

It also follws that if you shoot someone, you have now used a firearm in the commision of a crime.

[Nathan Hale]

It also follws that if you shoot someone, you have now used a firearm in the commision of a crime.

if used in self defense???

[bogey1]

Theres a no gunning sign in willistown twp, but we gun there every year. Mostly hunting and some sighting in (shotguns). I dont know

[Curmudgeon]

if used in self defense???

You really need to find a way to attend Gunlawyer001's Session 2 workshop in Feasterville...

http://forum.pafoa.org/training-cour...-workshop.html

This is Session 2, Pennsylvania law 2 - Self defense & related issues

* The use of force, and the use of deadly force under the new Stand Your Ground laws.

* Self-defense, necessity, and justification

* Aftermath of a good or bad shooting, civil and criminal

* Duty to retreat, the Castle Doctrine, and "Stand your ground" laws

Seriously. A few hours with Phil will open your eyes in ways your can't imagine. Anyone keeping and bearing arms for defense needs to know the laws and more importantly, understand the real-life application of those laws.

Look up Gerald Ung. He used a firearm to defend himself recently, in Philadelphia. He survived, as did his attackers, but his self-defense arguably ruined the rest of his life. The "word on the street" is that his legal expenses ran well up into 6 figures, and that he has agreed to work for his defense attorney for 10 years, for free, upon graduating law school, to help pay the costs. Again, this is just what I have heard as I dug around for information.

This isn't some some made-up remote possibility, it really happened, and recently, under the same laws that govern you. "Self-defense" isn't the limo ride home some people make it out to be.
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[ungawa]

That's a beautiful story. (*you added the last sentence while I was typing)

Seriously though, I think you'll find most, is not all, have the same or similar ordinances. .

It aint all, and I doubt it is most. It aint in mine.

This has been discussed more than once on this forum. It seems to be almost certain in a city, possible in a borough, and rarely seen in townships. Tens of thousands of people have improvised ranges on their properties in complete compliance with the ordinances of their municipalities (which are silent on discharge of firearms).

[Curmudgeon]

It aint all, and I doubt it is most. It aint in mine.

This has been discussed more than once on this forum. It seems to be almost certain in a city, possible in a borough, and rarely seen in townships. Tens of thousands of people have improvised ranges on their properties in complete compliance with the ordinances of their municipalities (which are silent on discharge of firearms).

Now that you mention it, it isn't in mine either. It should be a prudent assumption until each of us finds out for certain. Perhaps I should have said "it isn't all that unheard of".

I could set up a range in my own back yard, I have the room. I never would though, I am surrounded by people and homes well within ricochet range. But it would be legal.