Commonwealth Court has struck down Lower Merion Township’s attempt to use zoning ordinances to dictate where gun shops can operate, writes Katie Bernard and Abraham Gutman for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The ordinance, passed in 2023 after the opening of Shot Tec in Bala Cynwyd drew community backlash, sought to confine federally licensed dealers to strip malls and industrial areas. It also imposed conditions like reinforced windows, alarm systems, and surveillance. While Montgomery County Court initially upheld some provisions, Commonwealth Court rejected them all, with Judge Matthew Wolf writing the rules were “a gun regulation, not a zoning regulation.”
Township officials argued the ordinance was a land-use decision comparable to restrictions applied to businesses like medical marijuana dispensaries or animal hospitals. But the court ruled it overstepped by dictating how firearms businesses operate.
The decision has broader implications across Pennsylvania. Similar ordinances in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have been struck down.
Board of Commissioners President Todd Sinai called the ruling “disappointing” and said the township is considering its next steps. Shot Tec owner Grant Schmidt, who sued over the rules, celebrated the outcome, saying it allows him to “grow and invest in my staff.”
To learn more about the ruling, visit Philadelphia Inquirer.
