ORDINANCE NO.47

AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE USE OF FIREARMS AND WEAPONS IN THE TOWN OF GRANT, WASHINGTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA

THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE TOWN OF GRANT
DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1 - Unlawful Possession of Firearms,
a. Except as hereinafter provided, no person shall have in his possession upon the land of another a firearm of any kind, bow and arrow, crossbow, or any air gun, BB gun, slingshot, or other device for the propulsion of shots or metal pellets by means of compressed air, gas or mechanical spring action, within the limits of the Town of Grant, without the express written and dated permission of the owner or lessee of such property to discharge such firearm, weapon or other device thereon.
b. Except at target ranges as defined in Section 2 hereafter no person shall have in his possession upon the land of another at any time whatsoever, a rifle, pistol, or revolver of a caliber greater than a .22, nor with a cartridge case greater than 1 1/4 inches in length.

Section 2. Public and Private Target Ranges.
a. A public target range shall be defined as an area for the discharge of weapons for sport under controlled conditions which is privately owned but open to the public, and for the use thereof a fee is charged.
b. A private target range shall be defined as an area for the discharge of weapons for sport which area and the use thereof is controlled by a club or association and, except for special events, use thereof is limited to members of the group or association.
c. The Board of Supervisors is hereby authorized to issue special use permits for the operation and maintenance of public and private target ranges in accordance with ordinances of the Town of Grant and other applicable law.  Said special use permits may be issued upon application, compliance with requirements for issuance of special use permits, and payment of an annual fee of $300.00 for public ranges and $50,00 for private ranges. Provided, however, that no special use permit may be issued until after the Board of Supervisors have visited the Site and determined that such use will not constitute a hazard to the health, safety or general welfare of the public or be or create a public nuisance.  At any time, upon ten (10) days written notice, the Board of Supervisors may cancel any such permit upon determining that such use constitutes a hazard to the health, safety, or general welfare or has created a public nuisance.
d The Board of Supervisors may prescribe rules and regulations from time to time, for the construction and operation of said target ranges including proof of public liability insurance, and may cancel or refuse to renew said permit for violation of such rules and regulations.

Section 3. Unlawful Discharge of Firearms, Air Guns or Bows and Arrows.
a. It shall be unlawful for any person within one-half (1/2) mile to discharge any rifle, pistol or revolver in the direction of any building intended for the occupancy of any human being.
b. Shot guns, bows and arrows, crossbows, air guns, sling shots or any other similar device for the propulsion of shots or metallic pellets by means of compressed air, gas or mechanical spring action, may not be discharged. within 500 feet, in the direction of any building intended for the occupancy of any human being.
c. It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any gun, pistol revolver or other firearm or air gun in any public place whatsoever in the Town of Grant.

Section 4, Definitions.
As used in this ordinance the following definitions shall apply:
a. Firearm means any weapon from which shot, bullet, or other projectile is discharged by an explosive.
b. Shotgun. means a shoulder firearm from which shot is discharged by means of an explosive. A Shotgun ceases to be classified as such for purposes of this ordinance when it discharges or is loaded with buckshot, single shot or rifled slug.
c. Air gun means any rifle, pistol, or revolver by which a projectile is discharged by means of compressed gas but does not include the so called BB guns.
d. Public places include all property owned by the State of Minnesota, the County of Washington, or the Township of Grant or other political subdivision of the State of Minnesota, public roadways and streets within the Township, cemeteries and places of public accommodation.

Section 5. Penalties
Violations of this ordinance are punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.00 or imprisonment in the County jail for a period of not more than 90 days or both, but in either case, the cost of prosecution may be added.

Section 6. Repeal
Ordinance 17 and all other ordinances or parts thereof that may be in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

Section 7. Effective date
This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication according to law.

Passed by the Board of Supervisors of the Town of Grant this 3rd day of April, 1979

Eugene J. Eastlund, Chairman

Attest
Sheila S Davis, Clerk

Published in the White Bear Press April 20, 1979