ORDINANCE NO.

12-O-70 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 549 (WEAPONS AND EXPLOSIVES) OF THE MENTOR MUNICIPAL CODE PROVIDING AN EXCEPTION TO THE DISCHARGE OF WEAPONS WITHIN THE CITY, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY WHEREAS, the City of Mentor desires to allow for the establishment of commercial indoor firing ranges where conditionally permitted as a use by providing an exception to the prohibition against the discharge of weapons within city limits; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MENTOR, COUNTY OF LAKE, STATE OF OHIO: SECTION 1. Section 549.08 is hereby amended as follows: 549.08 DISCHARGING FIREARMS. (a) No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged within the City, any air gun, rifle, shotgun, revolver, pistol, firearm, or any other device that causes an audible explosion by the ignition and detonation of propane, acetylene or carbide gas, gun powder, cap, cartridge, cane, torpedo or any other article consisting of explosives, except for ceremonial purposes or other such events when prior approval has been authorized by the Safety Director. This prohibition does not apply where the discharge of firearms is conducted within an enclosed structure dedicated for commercial purpose as a firing range and where the owner and business principals at the location where the discharge of firearms takes place have applied for and been granted a permit for such activity by the Director of Public Safety. The Director of Public Safety is hereby authorized to incorporate any and all requirements into such permits necessary to ensure public health and safety. (b) This section does not apply to instances in which firearms are used in self-defense or by police officers in the line of duty. (c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. SECTION 2. That it is found and determined that all formal actions of this Council concerning and relating to the passage of this ordinance were adopted in an open meeting of this Council and that, except as otherwise provided by Section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code, all deliberations of this Council and of any of its committees that resulted in such formal action were in meetings open to the public in compliance with all legal requirements.

SECTION 3. That this Ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, welfare and safety of the inhabitants of this city, and for the further reason to meet application deadlines; WHEREFORE, this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and immediately upon its passage.

President of Council PASSED: ___________________________ ATTEST:___________________________ Clerk of Council