Question About Air Guns in Altoona, PA

[Nace1996]

A few months ago, I was at my grandma's house, playing with an air rifle I bought at Walmart. I was out front, and someone called the cops, complaining that they saw someone playing with a gun at my grandma's address. The cops came, called my parents, and they took the air gun home with them. The cop told me that if we were in our backyard, shooting targets, he wouldn't care, but I can't be out front messing with the gun. So, a few months after that, I did exactly what the cop said I could do. I was in my own backyard, shooting targets. The cops were called, and they said an anonymous neighbor called them complaining that they saw someone in my backyard with a gun. Now, don't get me wrong, the gun I was using was a pellet gun, and it did look real. The cops searched the house, said "Sorry about that, but we had to check to make sure." Then, the one cop told me that technically, we aren't supposed to be shooting air guns in the city. What the Hell? It was on my own property, LIKE THEY SAID I COULD DO! So, my question is: will I get fined or arrested if I shoot my air guns out in my backyard?

[steve_010]

Well? The cops were there. Did they fine or arrest you?

[streaker69]

Some areas have ordinances against shooting air/pellet guns. You'd have to check your local code to see if you're allowed to or not.

[Emptymag]

The first cop wasn't quoting you "law" he was giving common sense advice. Maybe HE wouldn't have a problem with it, but there may actually be an ordinance prohibiting the use of them there.


There are a LOT of factors that can come into play here. Your age, appearance, location, blah, blah, blah.

[ronbo1012]

They searched the house?

[ungawa]

How is that common sense? That doesn't happen around here.

Can't shoot a BB gun in your backyard without the cops searching your house?

More west-coast PA nonsense.

[donm]

In my township, mere possession of an air (pellet or BB) gun is illegal. It's not a firearm under the UFA, so preemption doesn't apply. Curiously my old Crosman air rifle is legal here only because it has a rifled barrel -- which apparently makes it a legitimate target gun rather than a notorious implement of vandalism.

[Curmudgeon]

How is that common sense? That doesn't happen around here.

Can't shoot a BB gun in your backyard without the cops searching your house?

More west-coast PA nonsense.

.

[tl_3237]

I'm unable to find any Altoona prohibition on possession or use of pellet or BB guns except in parks.

http://www.ecode360.com/AL2257

[Klyde]

The answer to the questions are largely age dependent.
There is state law regulating the use of air rifles.
Pa law Title 18§6304 pertains mostly to minors under 18, prohibiting the use of air rifles in public places and in areas without a properly constructed range or means to prevent projectiles from leaving the area.

§ 6304. Sale and use of air rifles. (a) Sale or transfer of air rifles.-- (1) It shall be unlawful for any dealer to sell, lend, rent, give, or otherwise transfer an air rifle to any person under the age of 18 years, where the dealer knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, the person to be under 18 years of age, or where such dealer has failed to make reasonable inquiry relative to the age of such person, and such person is under 18 years of age. (2) It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, give, lend, or otherwise transfer any air rifle to any person under 18 years of age, except where the relationship of parent and child, guardian and ward or adult instructor and pupil exists between such person and the person under 18 years of age. (b) Carrying or discharging air rifles.-- (1) It shall be unlawful for any person under 18 years of age to carry any air rifle on the highways or public lands unless accompanied by an adult, except that a person under 18 years of age may carry such rifle unloaded in a suitable case or securely wrapped. (2) It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any air rifle from or across any highway or public land or any public place, except on a properly constructed target range. (c) Exceptions.-- (1) Nothing in this section shall make it unlawful for any person under 18 years of age to have in his possession any air rifle, if it is: (i) kept within his domicile; (ii) used by the person under 18 years of age and he is a duly enrolled member of any club, team or society organized for educational purposes and maintaining as part of its facilities or having written permission to use an indoor or outdoor rifle range under the supervision, guidance and instruction of a responsible adult, and then only, if said air rifle is actually being used in connection with the activities of said club, team or society under the supervision of a responsible adult; or (iii) used in or on any private grounds or residence under circumstances when such air rifle can be fired, discharged or operated in such a manner as not to endanger persons or property, and then only, if it is used in such manner as to prevent the projectile from transversing any grounds or space outside the limits of such grounds or residence. (2) Nothing in this section shall prohibit sales of air rifles: (i) By wholesale dealers or jobbers. (ii) To be shipped out of this Commonwealth. (iii) To be used at a target range operated in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection or by members of the armed services of the United States or veterans' organizations. (d) Seizure.--Any law enforcement officer may seize, take, remove or cause to be removed, at the expense of the owner, all air rifles used or offered for sale in violation of this section. (e) No preemption.--The provisions of any ordinance enacted by any political subdivision which impose greater restrictions or limitations in respect to the sale and purchase, use or possession of air rifles, than is imposed by this section, shall not be invalidated or affected by this section. (f) Grading.--Any dealer violating the provisions of paragraph (a)(1) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. Any person violating any other provision of this section shall be guilty of a summary offense. (g) Definitions.--As used in this section the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection: "Air rifle." Any air gun, air pistol, spring gun, spring pistol, B-B gun, or any implement that is not a firearm, which impels a pellet of any kind with a force that can reasonably be expected to cause bodily harm. The term does not include a paintball gun or paintball marker as defined in section 2707.2 (relating to paintball guns and paintball markers). "Dealer." Any person engaged in the business of selling at retail or renting any air rifles. (Dec. 22, 2005, P.L.449, No.85, eff. 60 days) 2005 Amendment. Act 85 amended subsec. (g). Cross References. Section 6304 is referred to in section 6120 of this title. - See more at: http://statutes.laws.com/pennsylvani....NkH7OFKL.dpuf