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Blair Township supervisors table proposed firearms discharge ordinance after legal concerns raised
Summary
The Blair Township Board of Supervisors on July 29, 2025, voted unanimously to table a proposed firearms discharge ordinance after residents and the township auditor questioned its legality under Pennsylvania preemption and urged use of existing state laws; the solicitor said he believes the ordinance is legally defensible and the board will form a safety committee to seek alternatives.
Chairman Paul Amigh said the board would not take immediate action on a proposed firearms discharge ordinance and moved the item forward for public comment at the start of the July 29 meeting, then returned it to the agenda for a formal motion to table.
Bonita Shreve, president of the Blair County Second Amendment Coalition, urged the board to strike the ordinance outright, saying she believes it would be “unconstitutional and illegal based on Pennsylvania preemption laws.” Solicitor Patrick Fanelli responded that he is “comfortable with the ordinance” as presented, saying it is similar to ordinances the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has reviewed and that, from a statutory and constitutional standpoint, adoption would be legal; he added the policy decision remains with the board.
Blair Township auditor Jacob Wible told the supervisors he supports the Second Amendment but urged officials to exhaust existing state and federal enforcement options and local criminal-code provisions before enacting a new ordinance, and cautioned that locally defining distances from structures could unintentionally affect hunting regulations.
After the public comments and discussion, Supervisor Brad Germaux moved — and Supervisor Lou Lusk seconded — a motion to table the firearms discharge ordinance “with the intention of letting the ordinance die.” The motion passed unanimously.
Chairman Amigh said the board will form a safety committee and contact residents who signed up to serve, and that no action will be taken on the firearms ordinance at this time. The record shows the solicitor advised the board on potential legal risks referenced by attendees, including the possibility of litigation noted by members of the public relying on outside organizations’ counsel. The township did not adopt new restrictions at the July 29 meeting; next steps are formation of the committee and further work on safety solutions.
