The following local ordinances apply in Ashland City:
- Sec 12-5 Pneumatic Guns (reference)
(a) As used in this section, pneumatic gun means any implement, designed as a gun, that will expel a BB or a pellet by action of pneumatic pressure. Pneumatic gun includes a paintball gun that expels by action of pneumatic pressure plastic balls filled with paint for the purpose of marking the point of impact.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to shoot a pneumatic gun in the town, except at facilities approved for shooting ranges or, on other property where firearms may be lawfully discharged, or on or within private property with permission of the owner or legal possessor thereof when conducted with reasonable care to prevent a projectile from crossing the bounds of the property.
(c) Training of minors in the use of pneumatic guns shall be done only under direct supervision of a parent, guardian, Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps instructor, or a certified instructor. Training of minors above the age of 16 may also be done without direct supervision if approved by the minor's instructor, with the permission of and under the responsibility of a parent or guardian, and in compliance with all requirements of this section. Ranges and instructors may be certified by the National Rifle Association, a state or federal agency that has developed a certification program, any service of the Department of Defense, or any person authorized by these authorities to certify ranges and instructors.
(d) Commercial or private areas designated for use of pneumatic paintball guns may be established and operated for recreational use. Equipment designed to protect the face and ears shall be provided to participants at such recreational areas, and signs must be posted to warn against entry into the paintball area by persons who are unprotected or unaware that paintball guns are in use.
(e) There shall be supervision by a parent, guardian, or other adult supervisor approved by a parent or guardian of any minor below the age of 16 in all uses of pneumatic guns on private or public property. Minors above the age of 16 may, with the written consent of a parent or guardian, use a pneumatic gun at any place designated for such use by the Ashland Town Council or on private property with the consent of the owner. Any minor, whether permitted by a parent or guardian to use a pneumatic gun or not, shall be responsible for obeying all laws, regulations and restrictions governing such use.
(f) Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
- Sec 12-27 Weapons - Discharging Firearms (reference)
Except as provided for in ATC section 12-11.1, any person who willfully discharges or causes to be discharged any gun, pistol, rifle or firearm of any type of description in the town, shall be guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor, provided that this section shall not apply to any law enforcement officer in the performance of his official duties nor to any other person whose said willful act is otherwise justifiable or excusable at law in the protection of his life or property, or is otherwise specifically authorized by law. Any firearms used in violation of this section may, upon conviction of such person or persons so using the same, be forfeited to the commonwealth by order of the court trying the case, which shall make such disbursement of such firearm as it deems proper.
- Sec 12-28 Permit For Hunting With Shotguns In Certain Areas (reference)
(a) Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
(1) Parcel means any lot or lots, or other contiguous areas of land in one ownership, or for which all of the owners of the land have joined in written acknowledgment of the rights of all of them to hunt on all of such land, and which land, in either event, totals in area not less than fifty (50) acres.
(2) Shotgun means a weapon designed, made and intended to be fired from the shoulder and designed and made to use the energy of an explosive in a shotgun shell to fire through a smooth bore one or a number of ball shot for each pull of the trigger.(b) Activities authorized by permit. It shall be lawful for any person to hunt or attempt to hunt any game animal or game bird with a shotgun, when such shotgun is loaded with ammunition consisting of multiple ball shot, on land for which there has been issued to the fee owner or tenant thereof a permit pursuant to this section and when such hunting is carried out in accordance with the terms and conditions of such permit.
(c) Issuance of permit.
(1) Upon application from the fee owner (or tenant) of any parcel of land as defined by this section and upon compliance with the provisions of this section, the chief of police or his designee shall issue a permit to allow hunting on such parcel.
(2) Prior to issuing such a permit, the chief of police or his designee shall receive a report from the state game warden. No permit shall be issued unless, in the judgment of the chief of police or his designee, the discharge of a shotgun on any such parcel will not endanger the safety of any person, property or livestock on adjoining land. The permit issued shall describe any provisions deemed necessary by the chief of police or his designee to insure such conditions.(d) Revocation of permit. Any such permit shall be revocable by the chief of police or his designee upon a finding by him or the state game warden that a shooting in any manner other than in accordance with such permit or other provisions of this Code has occurred, or upon finding that changed circumstances in the area necessitate revocation for the interest of the safety of persons or property in the area.
(e) Posted with signs giving notice. Any parcel upon which a permit to hunt has been issued shall be posted with signs giving reasonable notice that guns are in use on that parcel of land and that no trespassing is allowed. Such signs shall be placed where they can reasonably be seen. Such signs shall be at least eleven inches by seventeen inches (11" x 17") in size, and contain the language "HUNTING IN PROGRESS—NO TRESPASSING". These signs shall be placed approximately every one hundred (100) yards around the perimeter of the parcel being hunted.
(f) Written permission from owner or tenant required. Any person hunting on such parcel shall have written permission from the fee simple owner or tenant of such parcel.
(g) Hunting or discharge of weapon near public road or adjacent land. No permit shall allow hunting or discharging of a shotgun within two hundred (200) yards of any structure or public school grounds, public park, public roadway or private road serving two (2) or more residences.
(h) Appeals. Any action taken under this section by the chief of police or his designee in granting, refusing to grant or revoking a permit may be appealed to the town council by the applicant or by any persons owning property immediately adjacent to the property subject to the permit by the filing of a written notice with the chief of police within fifteen (15) days of the action appealed from. The filing of the appeal shall stay all proceedings in furtherance of the action appealed from. Unless the person filing the appeal agrees to an extension of time, the council shall render its decision on the appeal within forty-five (45) days of the appeal. In considering the appeal, the council may base its decision on the record or on any new evidence which may be presented to the council.