Proposed Strattanville Borough Firearms Ordinance Could Restrict Gun Owners

Scott Shindledecker

Scott Shindledecker

Published July 28, 2017 2:00 am
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STRATTANVILLE, Pa. (EYT) — Strattanville Borough is considering a controversial new ordinance that could restrict the use of firearms within the borough.

Whether the ordinance will have any teeth or not is another matter.

Borough Solicitor Ralph L.S. Montana said he was asked by council recently to craft the ordinance after one its members heard gunfire in the borough in early July.

Montana said he had his work cut out for him.

“There aren’t too many places in Pennsylvania that have firearms ordinances,” Montana said.

He found one in the southeastern part of the state — Rose Valley Borough — that he based the Strattanville Borough proposal on.

The Delaware County town with a population of 946 crafted an “ordinance prohibiting the discharge of firearms within the borough, except for law enforcement or as permitted by the regulations of the state game commission; and limiting hunting on borough owned lands.”

The ordinance goes on to state, “No one shall discharge a firearm within the Borough of Rose Valley, except as permitted by the Pennsylvania State Game Laws and the Pennsylvania Game Commission. This prohibition shall not apply to the lawful performance of official duties by a Sheriff, Constable, State Trooper, Game Warden, or an officer, agent or employee of the United States, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or a political subdivision thereof, who is authorized by law to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of any violation of law.”

Fines for those found guilty of violating the Rose Valley Borough ordinance are required to “pay a fine of not less than $10.00, nor more than $300.00 dollars, plus the costs of prosecution and/ or imprisonment for up to thirty (30) days.”

The full text of the Rose Valley Borough firearms ordinance follows.

firearms-ordinance-rose-valley

Montana wouldn’t share further specific details of the proposed ordinance in Strattanville Borough or provide a copy because he didn’t feel it was fair to Council to have it “floating around out there” until they had a chance to read it.

Montana did say that the ordinance will be available at the Wednesday, August 9 borough meeting, but wasn’t sure if it would be voted on.

“(Discharge of firearms in the borough) hasn’t been much of a problem, but hopefully it would act as a protective measure for the safety of the residents,” Montana said.

“It has to pass the muster of the rights of gun owners, borough codes and Pa. Game Commission.”

If it is enacted in the future, Montana had concerns about enforcement.

“There isn’t a police force in the borough, so that would be an issue.”

The next borough meeting will be at 7 p.m., Wednesday, August 9.

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