1979-004THAT 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:
I
That Chapter 14 "Offenses and Miscellaneous Provlsmons",
Article I of the Code of Ordinances for the C~ty of Denton ~s
hereby amended by amending Section 14-4 "D~scharg~ng F~rearms"
which shall hereafter read as follows.
"Section 14-4 Dlseharglng F~rearm~
A D~schar~ln~ Firearms Prohibited It shall be unlaw-
ful fo~ any person to f~re or discharge a f~rearm, r~fle, shot-
gun, automatic r~fle, revolver, plstol, or other weapon designed
for the purpose of f~r~ng or d~scharg~ng a shell or cartridge,
whether the shell or cartrldge ls blank or live ammunition,
w~th~n the corporate limits of the City
B Exceptions
(1) When the firing ~s done by a law enforcement
peace officer acting ~n the performance of h~s official dutles
(2) When the firlng ~s done at a shootlnq or flrlng
range operated by an agency of the United States Government,
State of Texas, the County of Denton or Clty of Denton, or whlch
· s prlvately operated ~f approved by the Chief of Police
(3) When the f~r~ng ls done using blank cartrldqes
for a show or theatrical productlon, or for signal or ceremonial
purposes ~n athletics or sports, or by a m~lltary organization
(4) When the f~rlng is done in a shootlng gallery or
gunsmlth's establishment and when such shooting ~allery or gun-
smith's establlshment ~s properly f~tted and arranged for the
purpose so that no danger arises therefrom, provided, however,
that no shotgun of any character, nor any pistol or r~fle 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
establis~ent 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, praises or property, or a justifiable or
excusable hom±clde situation
PART II
Any person who violates any provlslon 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 contlnue or be permitted, shall
be treated as a separate offense
PART III
That if any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause,
p~ase or word in this ordinance, or application thereof to any
person or clrc~stances is held invalid by any court of competent
jurisdiction, such holding shall not affect the valldlty of the
remaining portions of this ordinance, and the C~ty Council of the
C~ty of Denton, Texas, hereby declares it would have enacted such
remaining portions despite any such ~nvalldlty
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
ATTESTS? ? ~~--
~R~KS HOLT, CITY SEC~TARY
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FO~:
PAUL~. ISHAM, CITY ATTO~EY