OR 2019-1508 Firearms
ORDINANCE NO. 2019-1508
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS, AMENDING THE
CODE OF ORDINANCES BY REPEALING CHAPTER 9, ‘GENERAL
REGULATIONS’, ARTICLE 9-3 ‘FIREARMS’ IN ITS ENTIRETY AND
REPLACING IT WITH A NEW CHAPTER 9, ‘GENERAL REGULATIONS’,
ARTICLE 9-3 ‘FIREARMS’; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE;
PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR A SAVINGS
CLAUSE; PROVIDING A PENALTY OF FINE NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM
OF FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($500.00) FOR EACH OFFENSE; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Coppell finds it will benefit to amend and update the City’s Code
of Ordinances; and
WHEREAS, the City of Coppell believes that additional regulations are needed and is in
the best interests of the citizens and; and
WHEREAS, the City staff have made a comprehensive review and recommended changes
which have been reviewed by City Council; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The City of Coppell Code of Ordinances, to repeal Chapter 9 “General
Regulations”, Article 9-3 “Firearms”, in its entirety and replace with a new Chapter 9, “General
Regulations” Article 9-3 “Firearms” to hereinafter read as follows:
“CHAPTER 9 – GENERAL REGULATIONS
…..
ARTICLE 9-3 – FIREARMS/WEAPONS
Sec. 9-3-1. – Definitions
Bow means a weapon for shooting arrows and/or projectiles, typically made of a curved
piece of wood, fiberglass or carbon fiber whose ends are joined by a taut string, and
shall include any cross-bow, longbow or other such device.
Cross bow means fixed across a wooden, fiberglass, carbon fiber, or combination
thereof, support and has a groove for the bolt and a mechanism for drawing and
releasing the string.
Handgun means any firearm that is designed, made, or adapted to be fired with one
hand.
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Firearm means any device designed, made, or adapted to expel a projectile through a
barrel by using the energy generated by an explosion or burning substance or any
device readily convertible to that use. Firearm does not include a firearm that may
have, as an integral part, a folding knife blade or other characteristics of weapons made
illegal by this chapter and that is:
(A) an antique or curio firearm manufactured before 1899; or
(B) a replica of an antique or curio firearm manufactured before 1899, but
only if the replica does not use rim fire or center fire ammunition.
Improvised explosive device means a completed and operational bomb designed to
cause serious bodily injury, death, or substantial property damage that is fabricated in
an improvised manner using nonmilitary components. The term does not include:
(A) unassembled components that can be legally purchased and possessed
without a license, permit, or other governmental approval; or
(B) an exploding target that is used for firearms practice, sold in kit form,
and contains the components of a binary explosive.
Knife means any exposed bladed edge over six (6) inches in length instrument that is
capable of inflicting serious bodily injury or death by cutting or stabbing a person with
the instrument.
License holder means a person licensed to carry a handgun under Chapter 411 of the
Texas Govt Code, as amended.
Long bow means a large bow.
Premises means a building or a portion of a building. The term does include any public
street, sidewalk or walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area.
Zip gun means a device or combination of devices that was not originally a firearm and
is adapted to expel a projectile through a smooth-bore or rifled-bore barrel by using the
energy generated by an explosion, burning or mechanical device.
Sec. 9-3-2. - Regulation of firearms.
A. Discharging firearms unlawful. It shall be unlawful for any person to fire,
discharge or shoot, or cause to be fired or discharge any handgun, BB gun, air
rifle, air gun, pellet gun, zipgun, firearm or handgun, within the corporate limits
of the city; provided however, this section shall not apply to persons who
discharge, shoot or fire a pistol, rifle or any other device capable of discharging
a solid projectile by mechanical springs as long as the person is within the legal
boundaries of their own property and the projectile does not exit outside the
boundaries of said property.
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B. Exempting peace officers. Provided, however, that this article shall not apply
to licensed peace officers while in the performance of their official duties.
C. It shall be unlawful for any person to cause, discharge or shoot any bow or
projectile from any bow within the corporate limits of the City.
Sec. 9-3-3. - Possessing or carrying weapons.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to carry any firearm except by a person
who is a license holder under State law to carry a handgun or carry or display
any knife on any public property, including but not limited to the following
municipal owned property
1. Public park(s);
2. Special events;
3. Community Center;
4. Within any portion of Old Town Commons;
5. City Annex Building;
6. City Service Center; or
7. CORE Center
8. Town Center
B. Nothing withstanding the provisions in Subsection (A) of this section, no person
may carry any firearm or bow into or on the premises of a building or structure
where there is a meeting room of the governing body of the City or Independent
School District is being held or into any building wherein a court resides.
C. The city manager shall cause appropriate signs to be erected at the entrances to
municipal buildings and premises required by State law; 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 any firearm on
the premises and is in violation of State law and/or this ordinance. The sign
posted at entrances shall be in compliance with State law.
D. That the regulations contained in this section shall not apply if the firearm or
bow is in case or enclosure and is carried to or from an area designated for use
in a lawful hunting, fishing or other sporting event.”
SECTION 2. That all provisions of the ordinances of the City of Coppell in conflict with
the provisions of this ordinance be, and the same are hereby, repealed, and all other provisions of
the ordinances of the City of Coppell not in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance shall
remain in full force and effect.
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SECTION 3. That should any sentence, paragraph, subdivision, clause, phrase or section
of this ordinance be adjudged or held to be unconstitutional, illegal or invalid, the same shall not
affect the validity of this ordinance as a whole, or any part or provision thereof other than the
part so decided to be invalid, illegal or unconstitutional, and shall not affect the validity of the
Code of Ordinances as a whole.
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 shall be subject to the same penalty as provided for in the Code of
Ordinances of the City of Coppell, as heretofore amended, and upon conviction shall be punished
by a fine not to exceed the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each offense.
SECTION 6. 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."
DU PASSED by the City Council of the City of Coppell, Texas, on the 22
day of , 201 .
CITY OF C I 'PELL, TE • `/
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. ,' N S LBO HUN. ,MAYOR
A EST:
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RISTEL P INOS, C T SECRETARY
A' 'ROVED AS TO FORM:
g 111°111 A nY
RO r ,RT E. HA if R, CITY ATTORNEY
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