Police Panel Recommends Restrictions On Target Shooting

By Andrew Gorosko

In view of continuing complaints to police about the potential public hazards and noise nuisances posed by people who do recreational target shooting at their properties, the Police Commission is recommending to the Legislative Council that the town’s firearms ordinance be updated to place certain restrictions on target  shooting.

Police Commission members on June 5 unanimously endorsed a proposed amendment to the town’s 1991 firearms ordinance that would cover the local use of cannons, pistols, revolvers, rifles, and shotguns.

The Borough of Newtown has a 1985 ordinance that prohibits the recreational discharge of firearms within the borough.

In a May 5 letter to Jeffrey Capeci, who is the Legislative Council’s chairman, and Mary Ann Jacob, who is the council’s ordinance committee chairman, Police Commission Chairman Paul Mangiafico wrote, in part, “Our police department has received numerous complaints over the years pertaining to gunfire from various locations in town.”

“We feel that the town’s [firearms] ordinance is loose in that it appears to allow discharge of any firearm at any time as long as the person discharging such firearm is on property he owns or leases…The [police] commission is very concerned about noise levels, but even more concerned about the safety of its citizens,” Mr Mangiafico wrote.

“It is our opinion that our ordinance needs to be reviewed and updated in light of the apparent unintentional allowance of a dangerous situation being allowed,” he added.

Mr Mangiafico wrote that the Town of Wilton’s firearms ordinance could provide a model for updating Newtown’s firearms ordinance.

Such an updated Newtown ordinance could include requirements that shooting ranges receive approvals from the police chief and from land use officials, he wrote. Also, an updated ordinance could prohibit gunfire during certain times of the day, he added.

Mr Mangiafico and Police Chief Michael Kehoe met with Legislative Council members on May 16 to discuss the firearms issues, explaining that there is an need for an updated firearms ordinance in view of increased complaints about firearms discharges.

At the June 5 Police Commission session, commission members decided to recommend to the council’s ordinance committee that a fine be imposed for violations of an updated ordinance.

Proposal

Among the many provisions of the Police Commission’s proposed amendment to the town firearms ordinance:

*Target shooting would be allowed on an outdoor target range that is approved by the police chief or by his/her designee, provided that the target range is deemed safe and suitable for target shooting when considering its location, the time of its use, its geographical layout, and the firearms that would be used on the range. Also, the range would need to comply with applicable town land use rules and regulations.

The discharge of firearms would be allowed only between 9 am and 8 pm, or dusk, whichever occurs first.

*Violators of the ordinance would be subject to a $100 fine.

The council’s ordinance committee is expected to review the Police Commission’s recommended changes to the town’s firearms ordinance.