Gunreference1
08-04-2010, 01:45 AM
Exeter police chief: Gun issue ‘blown out of proportion’
Published: Tuesday, August 03, 2010
By Mary Isamoyer, News Intern
During an Exeter Township Board of Supervisors meeting on July 26, the police chief addressed some misconceptions about changing the gun ordinance.
“I think this got totally blown out of proportion,” said Exeter Township Police Chief Christopher Neidert.
“Our brilliant idea was to exempt the police from some of the things in the ordinance so we aren’t violating our own ordinance,” Neidert said.
After the topic of the gun ordinance came up at the July 12 board of supervisors meeting, the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action placed a statement on its website, www.nraila.org, urging individuals to attend the July 26 meeting.
“On Monday, July 26, the Exeter Township Board of Supervisors will consider a broad and overreaching attack on our Second Amendment Freedoms,” said the NRA-ILA statement from July 20.
The NRA-ILA website stated that the proposed ordinance would outlaw the discharge of firearms, air guns and bows and arrows.
Neidert said that there is nothing in the ordinance that bans discharge.
He explained that he has been in contact with the NRA, which on July 22 placed a second statement on the its website saying that currently no action was needed in opposition to this ordinance.
Neidert plans on consulting with John Hohenwater, an NRA representative for Pennsylvania, and Township Solicitor Andrew J. Bellwoar concerning the language of the ordinance.
The proposed changes to sections 173-2 and 173- 3 of Chapter 173 Firearms and Weapons would allow the Exeter Township Police Department to have their own gun range. The ordinance dates from April 26, 1982.
Exeter Township police pay to train elsewhere.
Neidert said the police department is in discussions with Pennsylvania American Water Company to lease the land for free in order to open the range.
“I think some people read into this that the township was trying to do something behind the scenes because of the Adelphoi Village,” he said.
In other business:
• The board passed a zoning ordinance related to group institutions. The ordinance passed does not allow for group institutions in residential districts but restricts them to the light industrial district.
Adelphoi Village, a non-profit organization based out of Latrobe, Pa., would like to open an intensive residential facility. Adelphoi Village planned to open the facility at 485 Walnut Road which is located in a residential district.
“It’s obvious your position has been cast in stone,” said Mark Koch, an attorney for Adelphoi to the board at the July 26 meeting.
Koch submitted a letter that expressed Adelphoi’s displeasure that it would be restricted to the light industrial district.
“The removal of the proposed use from the RC District (Residential District) and other language changes demonstrated the board’s inability to provide for this important community need and service irrespective of Adelphoi,” he said in the letter.
In the letter, Koch expressed Adelphoi’s willingness to consider the light industrial district while keeping all avenues open to it.
He submitted a report proposing changes to the definition of group institutions. Koch summarized the proposed changes for the board. He suggested removing references to violent behavior disorders, drug treatment facilities, and sexual offenders. Koch also wanted to modify the violent offensive language.
The next supervisors meeting will be held on Aug. 9.
http://www.berksmontnews.com/articles/2010/08/03/southern_berks_news/news/doc4c5821c656f71760306612.txt
Steve
Published: Tuesday, August 03, 2010
By Mary Isamoyer, News Intern
During an Exeter Township Board of Supervisors meeting on July 26, the police chief addressed some misconceptions about changing the gun ordinance.
“I think this got totally blown out of proportion,” said Exeter Township Police Chief Christopher Neidert.
“Our brilliant idea was to exempt the police from some of the things in the ordinance so we aren’t violating our own ordinance,” Neidert said.
After the topic of the gun ordinance came up at the July 12 board of supervisors meeting, the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action placed a statement on its website, www.nraila.org, urging individuals to attend the July 26 meeting.
“On Monday, July 26, the Exeter Township Board of Supervisors will consider a broad and overreaching attack on our Second Amendment Freedoms,” said the NRA-ILA statement from July 20.
The NRA-ILA website stated that the proposed ordinance would outlaw the discharge of firearms, air guns and bows and arrows.
Neidert said that there is nothing in the ordinance that bans discharge.
He explained that he has been in contact with the NRA, which on July 22 placed a second statement on the its website saying that currently no action was needed in opposition to this ordinance.
Neidert plans on consulting with John Hohenwater, an NRA representative for Pennsylvania, and Township Solicitor Andrew J. Bellwoar concerning the language of the ordinance.
The proposed changes to sections 173-2 and 173- 3 of Chapter 173 Firearms and Weapons would allow the Exeter Township Police Department to have their own gun range. The ordinance dates from April 26, 1982.
Exeter Township police pay to train elsewhere.
Neidert said the police department is in discussions with Pennsylvania American Water Company to lease the land for free in order to open the range.
“I think some people read into this that the township was trying to do something behind the scenes because of the Adelphoi Village,” he said.
In other business:
• The board passed a zoning ordinance related to group institutions. The ordinance passed does not allow for group institutions in residential districts but restricts them to the light industrial district.
Adelphoi Village, a non-profit organization based out of Latrobe, Pa., would like to open an intensive residential facility. Adelphoi Village planned to open the facility at 485 Walnut Road which is located in a residential district.
“It’s obvious your position has been cast in stone,” said Mark Koch, an attorney for Adelphoi to the board at the July 26 meeting.
Koch submitted a letter that expressed Adelphoi’s displeasure that it would be restricted to the light industrial district.
“The removal of the proposed use from the RC District (Residential District) and other language changes demonstrated the board’s inability to provide for this important community need and service irrespective of Adelphoi,” he said in the letter.
In the letter, Koch expressed Adelphoi’s willingness to consider the light industrial district while keeping all avenues open to it.
He submitted a report proposing changes to the definition of group institutions. Koch summarized the proposed changes for the board. He suggested removing references to violent behavior disorders, drug treatment facilities, and sexual offenders. Koch also wanted to modify the violent offensive language.
The next supervisors meeting will be held on Aug. 9.
http://www.berksmontnews.com/articles/2010/08/03/southern_berks_news/news/doc4c5821c656f71760306612.txt
Steve