Springfield Township (DELCO) preemption violation

[soberbyker]

Came across this today while looking for something else. I sent an email via township website asking if they were aware of the state preemption prohibiting the township from regulating the lawful possession and/or carry of firearms within the township.

Ordinance #1466

Article 1 Firearms

48-1 Discharge, carrying, or possession of firearms restricted. No person shall, except in necessary defense of person or property, carry, possess, fire, or discharge any gun, firearm, bow and arrow, BB gun, air gun, spring gun, paintball gun, or any implement which impels with force a metal pellet or projectile of any kind, within the Township of Springfield; provided, however, nothing herein shall be interpreted to prohibit the firing or discharge of said implements at properly constructed and supervised ranges which have been approved by the Chief of Police of the Township of Springfield. Adopted this 11th day of September, 2007 by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Springfield.

http://www.springfielddelco.org/comm...public-safety/

.

[medsteele]

If I'm reading that correctly, Springfield township forbids not only the carry but the possession of firearms? Why would they think they can do that?

Reminds me I should probably read through my township laws.

[soberbyker]

If I'm reading that correctly, Springfield township forbids not only the carry but the possession of firearms? Why would they think they can do that?

Reminds me I should probably read through my township laws.

Yea, I did mention that. I'm wondering what they mean by "except in necessary defense of person or property"

[bogey1]

I think we had a discussion about this last year. i emailed (someone) at the township building about it and got no response.
Call out to viper...

[soberbyker]

I think we had a discussion about this last year. i emailed (someone) at the township building about it and got no response.
Call out to viper...

OK, admittedly I did a half-assed search and didn't scan to far in the results, , after a more thorough search I did find this was discussed before. Nonetheless it is still on their site.

http://forum.pafoa.org/general-2/197...-firearms.html

http://forum.pafoa.org/pennsylvania-...-carrying.html

[medsteele]

Yea, I did mention that. I'm wondering what they mean by "except in necessary defense of person or property"

Yeah re-reading your post I see you did. Maybe an active enemy invasion would be grounds for you to possess and carry a firearm.

[bogey1]

OK, admittedly I did a half-assed search and didn't scan to far in the results, , after a more thorough search I did find this was discussed before. Nonetheless it is still on their site.

http://forum.pafoa.org/general-2/197...-firearms.html

http://forum.pafoa.org/pennsylvania-...-carrying.html

2010? I thought it was last year.. Wow time flies..
I highly doubt they will remove it unless someone threatens them with a lawsuit or something.

[donotknowme]

Where are township laws found?

[Bill67]

If you can't carry except in necessary defense of person or property, how will you know when you should carry it to be ready for that opportunity?

[wewo]

If you can't carry except in necessary defense of person or property, how will you know when you should carry it to be ready for that opportunity?

Haha, you hit on it. You could argue that carrying all the time is necessary for my defense. Town could argue you need to show "justifiable need". Way too subjective. Of course, the ordinance is unenforceable.