HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-004NO 7 __
THAT THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, IS
HEREBY AMENDED BY AMENDING CHAPTER 14, ARTICLE I, SECTION 14-4
"DISCHARGING FIREARMS" TO ALLOW THE DISCHARGE WITHIN THE COR-
PORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY UNDER CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS; PROVIDING
A PENALTY, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND DECLARING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, HEREBY ORDAINS:
PART I
That Chapter 14 "Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions",
Article I of the Code of Ordinances for the City of Denton is
hereby amended by amending Section 14-4 "Discharging Firearms"
which shall hereafter read as follows.
"Section 14-4 Discharging Firearms
A Discharging Firearms Prohibited It shall be unlaw-
ful for any person to fire or discharge a firearm, rifle, shot-
gun, automatic rifle, revolver, pistol, or other weapon designed
for the purpose of firing or discharging a shell or cartridge,
whether the shell or cartridge is blank or live ammunition,
within the corporate limits of the City
B Exceptions
(1) When the firing is done by a law enforcement
peace officer acting in the performance of his official duties
(2) When the firing is done at a shooting or firing
range operated by an agency of the United States Government,
State of Texas, the County of Denton or City of Denton, or which
is privately operated if approved by the Chief of Police
(3) When the firing is done using blank cartridges
for a show or theatrical production, or for signal or ceremonial
purposes in athletics or sports, or by a military organization
(4) When the firing is done in a shooting gallery or
gunsmith's establishment and when such shooting gallery or gun-
smith's establishment is properly fitted and arranged for the
purpose so that no danger arises therefrom, provided, however,
that no shotgun of any character, nor any pistol or rifle larger
than twenty two ( 22) caliber shall be used in a shooting gallery,
and that no shooting gallery shall be lawful in a gunsmith's
establishment except in connection with the necessary repair of
the firearm used
(5) When the firing is done in the necessary and lawful
protection of person, premises or property, or a justifiable or
excusable homicide situation
PART II
Any person who violates any provision of this ordinance shall
be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall be
punished by a fine not to exceed Two Hundred Dollars ($200 00)
Each day such a violation shall continue or be permitted, shall
be treated as a separate offense
PART III
That if any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause,
phrase or word in this ordinance, or application thereof to any
person or circumstances is held invalid by any court of competent
jurisdiction, such holding shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions of this ordinance, and the City Council of the
City of Denton, Texas, hereby declares it would have enacted such
remaining portions despite any such invalidity
PART IV.
That this ordinance shall become effective fourteen days
from the date of its passage, and the City Secretary is hereby
directed to cause the caption of this ordinance to be published
twice in the Denton Record -Chronicle, the official newspaper of
the City of Denton, Texas, within ten (10) days of the date of
its passage
PASSED AND APPROVED This the 16t y of January, A D 1979
J2"ITCHELL, MAYOR
ATTEST147 >
)31ZOMS HOLT, CITY SECRETARY
APPROVED AS�TOOLEGAL FORM:
-fA LLl��'C HAM CITY