RenegadePhoenix
Regular Member
imported post
Here's what is happening after i contacted the County Commisioners in Feb.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/westmoreland/s_676547.html
Westmoreland County commissioners are considering an ordinance that would legalize guns in county parks.
Officials said Wednesday the proposal would update a 1974 code that generally outlawed firearms at the parks but allowed guns in specific areas for hunting. Solicitor R. Mark Gesalman said that ordinance, amended in 1995, conflicts with a state law that permits guns in public places.
"In Pennsylvania, you cannot restrict somebody's right to carry a firearm, except in restricted areas like courthouses," Gesalman said.
The proposal strips existing language from the code that specifically bans guns from the parks. The revised ordinance would allow guns in all areas of county parks, but permits the discharge of firearms only in designated hunting areas.
The county allows hunting in six parks: Mammoth, Twin Lakes, Cedar Creek, Northmoreland, Bridgeport Dam and Chestnut Ridge.
Under the new ordinance, deer hunting in designated areas would be permitted with rifled slugs, muzzle-loaded rifles or bow and arrow. Small game and fur-bearing animals can be hunted only with shotguns or bow and arrow.
Nick Caesar, chief of the county's park police, said no citations for violating the firearms ordinance in the parks have been issued in decades.
"It's never really been an issue for us," Caesar said.
Violation of the ordinance carries a fine ranging from $25 to $600.
The impetus to change the ordinance came from gun advocates who have spent several months lobbying the commissioners for a revision.
Christopher Smith of Penn Township said he discovered Westmoreland's existing ordinance was out of compliance with state law while researching legalities for a meeting of Second Amendment advocates to be held April 24 at Twin Lakes Park.
"I don't want to see any citizen brought up on any charges because of that law," Smith said.
Kim Stolfer, chairman of the Firearms Owners Against Crimes, said the existing ordinance violates state law.
"It was a crime, and the people who enacted it committed a crime," he said.
The proposed ordinance is on display at the courthouse. The commissioners are slated to vote on it April 22 at their next meeting.
Here's what is happening after i contacted the County Commisioners in Feb.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/westmoreland/s_676547.html
Westmoreland County commissioners are considering an ordinance that would legalize guns in county parks.
Officials said Wednesday the proposal would update a 1974 code that generally outlawed firearms at the parks but allowed guns in specific areas for hunting. Solicitor R. Mark Gesalman said that ordinance, amended in 1995, conflicts with a state law that permits guns in public places.
"In Pennsylvania, you cannot restrict somebody's right to carry a firearm, except in restricted areas like courthouses," Gesalman said.
The proposal strips existing language from the code that specifically bans guns from the parks. The revised ordinance would allow guns in all areas of county parks, but permits the discharge of firearms only in designated hunting areas.
The county allows hunting in six parks: Mammoth, Twin Lakes, Cedar Creek, Northmoreland, Bridgeport Dam and Chestnut Ridge.
Under the new ordinance, deer hunting in designated areas would be permitted with rifled slugs, muzzle-loaded rifles or bow and arrow. Small game and fur-bearing animals can be hunted only with shotguns or bow and arrow.
Nick Caesar, chief of the county's park police, said no citations for violating the firearms ordinance in the parks have been issued in decades.
"It's never really been an issue for us," Caesar said.
Violation of the ordinance carries a fine ranging from $25 to $600.
The impetus to change the ordinance came from gun advocates who have spent several months lobbying the commissioners for a revision.
Christopher Smith of Penn Township said he discovered Westmoreland's existing ordinance was out of compliance with state law while researching legalities for a meeting of Second Amendment advocates to be held April 24 at Twin Lakes Park.
"I don't want to see any citizen brought up on any charges because of that law," Smith said.
Kim Stolfer, chairman of the Firearms Owners Against Crimes, said the existing ordinance violates state law.
"It was a crime, and the people who enacted it committed a crime," he said.
The proposed ordinance is on display at the courthouse. The commissioners are slated to vote on it April 22 at their next meeting.