OR 95-724 To regulate the carrying of weapons AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS
ORDINANCE NO. 95724
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS,
AMENDING ARTICLE 9-3 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES
REDESIGNATING SECTIONS 9-3-1, 9-3-2 AND 9-3-3 AS SECTION 9-3-1,
SUBSECTIONS A, B AND C; AND BY ADDING NEW SECTION 9-3-2 TO
REGULATE THE CARRYING OFWEAPONS; PROVIDING DEFINITIONS;
PROVIDING EXCEPTIONS; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE;
PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SAVINGS
CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY OF FINE NOT TO EXCEED THE
SUM OF FIVE HUNDRED ($500.00) DOLLARS FOR EACH OFFENSE;
AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Texas Concealed Handgun Act of 1995 authorizes the City to
regulate the carrying of a concealed weapon on certain premises of the City; and
WHEREAS, the City of Coppell has authority as a home rule city to regulate the
possession and carrying of firearms or other deadly weapons generally;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF COPPELL, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. That Article 9-3, of the Code of Ordinances, City of Coppell, Texas, is
hereby amended, in part, to read as follows:
"ARTICLE 9-3 FIREARMS
Sec. 9-3-1
A. DISCHARGING FIREARMS UNLAWFUL
It shall be unlawful for any person to fire or shoot or cause to be fired
or shot any firearm, rifle, shotgun, automatic rifle, revolver, pistol or
any other weapon designed for the purpose of firing or discharging a
shell or cartridge, whether such shell or cartridge is blank or live
ammunition, within the Corporate Limits of the City.
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B. EXEMPTING PEACE OFFICERS
Provided, however, that this Article shall not apply to Peace Officers
while in the performance of their official duties.
C. SPECIAL PERMIT
Provided, however, this Article shall not apply where a special permit
has been obtained from the City. To secure such Special Permit,
Application must be made to the Chief of Police, describing in detail
the request of the Applicant. Upon receipt of such request, the Chief
of Police shall investigate said Application and may issue such Special
Permit setting forth any requirements or restrictions as he may impose.
Sec. 9-3-2 POSSESSING OR CARRYING WEAPONS
A. In this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) "Premises" means a building or a portion of a building.
The term does not include any public or private
driveway, street, sidewalk or walkway, parking lot,
parking garage, or other parking area.
(2) "License Holder" means a person licensed to carry a
handgun under Article 4413 (29ee), Texas Revised
Statutes, as amended.
B. It shall be unlawful for any non-license holder to carry a firearm in a:
(i) Public park;
(2) Political rally, parade, or official political meeting; or
(3) Nonfirearms-related school, college or professional
athletic event.
C. No person, including a license holder, may carry a handgun on or
about his person:
(1) On the premises of the City of Coppell; or
(2) On the premises of a private employer who has given notice in
the manner required by law that it is unlawful to carry a
handgun on the premises.
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D. The City Manager shall cause appropriate signs to be erected at the
entrances to municipal premises and shall require that all agendas for
city council, boards and commissions meetings shall contain a notice,
in both English and Spanish, that it is unlawful to carry a handgun on
the premises. The sign posted at entrances shall be in contrasting
colors with block letters at least one inch in height and shall be
displayed in a conspicuous manner clearly visible to the public and in
English and Spanish.
E. That the regulations contained in this section shall not apply if the
firearm is in or is carried to or from an area designated for use in a
lawful hunting, fishing or other sporting event and the firearm is of the
type commonly used in the activity."
SECTION 2. That all provisions of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Coppell,
Texas, in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance be, and the same are hereby,
repealed, and all other provisions not in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance shall
remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 3. That should any word, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, clause, phrase
or section of this ordinance, or of the Code of Ordinances, as amended hereby, be adjudged
or held to be void or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the remaining
portions of said ordinance or the Code of Ordinances, as amended hereby, which shall
remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 4. An offense committed before the effective date of this ordinance is
governed by the prior law and the provisions of the Code of Ordinances, as amended, in
effect when the offense was committed and the former law is continued in effect for this
purpose.
SECTION 5. That any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions or
terms of this ordinance, or of the Code of Ordinances, as amended hereby, shall be guilty
of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction in the Municipal Court of the City of Coppell,
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Texas, shall be subject to a fine not to exceed the sum of Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars
for each offense; and each and every day such offense shall continue shall constitute a
separate offense.
SECTION 6. That this ordinance shall take effect immediately from and after its
passage and the publication of the caption as the law and charter in such cases provide.
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DULY PASSED by the City Council of the City of Coppell, Texas, this / y
APPROVED:
~OM~MORTON, MAYOR
ATTEST:
\ /
LIB/12fX GRAU, CITY SECRETARY
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
E(~~RG. SM~II~I~ATFORNEy
(PGS/ct 10-27-95)
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