Ordinance #20

Firearms / NonFirearms
Firearm Regulations - Alma

An Ordinance Regulating Firearms and Other Weapons

1. a. No person may discharge or posses a firearm within 100 yards of any building devoted to human occupancy without the express permission of the owner or other lawful occupant of the building unless the firearm is unloaded and enclosed in a carrying case.

b. this paragraph shall not apply to any premises owned and operated by any public or private sportsman's range or club.

c. This paragraph shall not apply to uncased firearms within a building devoted to human occupancy.

2. a. No person may possess a rifle or a handgun, unless the rifle or handgun is unloaded and enclosed in a carrying case within that portion of the City of Alma which lies west of a line described as follows:

Beginning at the intersection of the east line of the southwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter, Section 12, Township 21N, Range 13W, and the centerline of County Trunk Highway E;

Thence north along the east line of the West Half of the Northwest Quarter, Section 12 to the north line of said Section 12;

Thence West to the Northwest Corner of said Section 12;

Thence North along the east line of Section 2, Township 21N, Range 13W to the intersection of the east line of the Northeast Quarter of the Northeast Quarter, said Section 2, with the bluff line;

Thence, continuing northerly along the bluff line through said Section 2 and through Section 35, Township 22N, Range 13W to the intersection of the bluff line with the north line of said Section 35;

Thence east along the north line of Section 35 to the Northeast corner thereof;

Thence north along the east line of Section 26, Township 22N, Range 13W to the intersection of such east line with the centerline of State Trunk Highway 37 and there terminating.b. this paragraph shall not apply to possession of a shotgun.

3. a. No person may discharge an airgun or a bow and arrow without a permit within the platted portions of the City of Alma located north of Laue Street and south of the south line of the North Half of the Northeast Quarter Section 2, Township 21N, Range 13W (which runs approximately through the intersection of State Trunk highway 35 (Main St.) and Riverview Drive).

b. Permits shall be issued annually without cost to the applicant by the Police Chief on approval of either the Mayor or the Chairperson of the services Committee.

c. Permits may only be issued to a natural person for use of an airgun or bow and arrow on land owned or rented by them at an approved range or site where there is a sufficient backstop and side clearance to avoid injury to others.

4. Within this Ordinance, the following definitions apply:

• "Airgun" means a weapon which expels a missile by the expansion of compressed air or other gas, including BB guns, pellet guns and air rifles.
• "Bluffline" means the top of the escarpment of the bluff.
• "Building" includes any house trailer or mobile home, but does not include any tent, truck, vehicle or similar portable unit.
• "Firearm" means a weapon that acts by force of gunpowder.
• "Handgun" means any weapon designed or redesigned, or make or remade, and intended to be fired while held in one hand and to use the energy of an explosive to expel a projectile through a smooth or rifled bore.
• "Rifle" means a firearm designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder or hip and designed or redesigned and made or remade to use the energy of a propellant in a metallic cartridge to fire through a smooth bore either a number of ball shot or a single projectile for each single pull of the trigger.

5. Any person violating a provision of this Ordinance shall be subject to a forfeiture of not less than $50.00 and not greater than $150.00, plus costs, as authorized by law.

6. Prior Ordinance #41, 41A and 41B are hereby repealed.