BY JARRAD HEDES

jmhedes@tnonline.comEast Penn Township is planning to take an ordinance it has had since 1966 off the books next month.At Monday's supervisors meeting, the board told solicitor Jim Nanovic it wants to repeal an ordinance dealing with firearm regulations due to a new Pennsylvania law that took effect at the beginning of the year.The law makes it easier for gun owners to challenge municipal firearm ordinances in court."The East Penn ordinance makes it unlawful for any person under 16 to use air pistols, air rifles, BB guns, a slingshot, rifle, firearm or similar device within the township," Nanovic said. "The exception is if you are 12-16 years old you can use those devices if accompanied by an adult."Supervisor Deanna Cunfer said state gaming laws have changed since the local ordinance was adopted and most of it "probably doesn't even apply anymore."Fellow supervisor Jacob Nothstein told Nanovic he felt the township should "do away with its ordinance."Within a week after the state law took effect, over 20 municipalities across Pennsylvania had already repealed or drastically changed local firearm ordinances.Gun owners no longer have to prove they have been harmed by the local measure to successfully challenge it."Nobody has contacted East Penn about our ordinance, most likely because it's not online and they couldn't search for it," Nanovic said.The township plans to advertise that it will vote on repealing the ordinance. That vote will take place at East Penn's April meeting.In other business, township meetings will continue to be held at 5 p.m. on the first Monday of each month.Township resident Larry Griffith asked if the meetings could be changed to 7 p.m. to allow for more people to attend."People aren't home from work yet at 5 p.m.," he said. "The woman has to make supper for the family. They won't show up."Supervisor Chairman Dean Kercsmar said he felt when people get home from work they want to stay home and not have to go back out."Some townships do it at 10 a.m.," Kercsmar said. "I've offered to do it Sunday at noon already."