The second amendment may give you the right to bear arms, but state and municipal regulations govern where a weapon can be fired. Contrary to what some might expect in a densely populated area such as central New Jersey, the reported armed hunters close to schools in the area may have been totally within their rights.
The state has established the concept of a safety zone, which defines how far a hunter must be from residential property and buildings. For firearms, the safety zone is 450 feet around a structure, whether occupied or not. For bow hunters, the safety zone is generally 150 feet, but remains at 450 feet in the case of a school playground. Any portion of the school grounds (including fields used for sports), that could be used for play or recreation, is considered a playground.
In addition, owners and residents of farms of at least five acres, which have a gross farm income of at least $500, and is tax assessed as farmland, may hunt on their own farms without needing approval from the state.
Plainsboro follows the state law and does not have its own municipal hunting ordinance.
West Windsor has a municipal hunting ordinance, which is somewhat more stringent than the state law. In West Windsor, it is illegal to discharge a firearm, or even carry a loaded weapon, including a bow or a sling shot, within 450 feet of any occupied building, including homes and businesses, regardless of whether anyone is actually in the building; or religious institutions. In addition, carrying or discharging any loaded weapon within 1,000 feet of any school building, playground, or grounds; daycare centers; or any publicly owned park or open space is prohibited.
Council President George Borek said that “this ordinance is now 20 years old, and areas of town that were once woods now have homes on them. There have been complaints from residents about gun shots close to their homes. I intend to look into this issue and bring our ordinance up to par with the developments that have occurred over the past 20 years.”
