Ordinance - Firearms

WHEREAS, it has been determined that the City of Bronte, Texas, is in need of an Ordinance prohibiting the firing or discharging of any rifle, pistol or weapon discharged by the ignition of gun powder or any other explosive within its firing chamber, declaring same constitutes a danger to the citizens of Bronte, Texas, and constitutes a nuisance. Now therefore:

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BRONTE, TEXAS:

Section 1: This ordinance shall not apply to:

(a) Law enforcement officials engaged in activities pursuant to their office or persons directed by them or under their supervision in connection with activities pursuant to their office.

(b) The use of a shotgun or shell shot used to repel or eliminate snakes, possums, skunks, rats, raccoon's, armadillos and other wildlife that may pose a threat to property or humans.

Section 2: That no person or firm shall fire or discharge any rifle, pistol, or weapon discharges by the ignition of gun powder or other explosive within its firing chamber, within the corporate limits of the City of Bronte, Texas, or in an area within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City where said area is within one hundred (100) feet of the City limits.

Section 3: The firing or discharging of any rifle, pistol or any other weapon discharged by the ignition of gun powder or any other explosive within its firing chamber within the corporate limits of Bronte, Texas, or within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City within one hundred (100) feet of the city limits constitutes a danger to the public and is declared a nuisance.

Section 4: That any person or firm violating any of the provisions of this Ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars. Each such violation shall continue, or be permitted to continue, shall be deems a separate offense.

Section 5: It shall be unlawful and an offense for any person to discharge a projectile from an air rifle, pellet gun or other instrument in which the projectile is propelled by compressed air in, upon, across or into a public street, alley or other public thoroughfare or across a property line within the City.

Section 6: That if any provision of this Ordinance, of the application thereof, to any person or circumstance shall be held, such invalidity shall not affect the provisions or application of this Ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application and to this and the provisions of this Ordinance are declared to be severable.

Section 7: The Ordinance will supersede any and all previous Ordinances of the City of Bronte regarding prohibiting the discharge of firearms within the city limits of the City of Bronte or in an area within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City where said area is within one hundred (100) feet of the city limits.