Any time government alters gun laws, it gets a reaction.
There’s no doubt that many gun advocates and gun opponents in Guilford County will want to provide input on the Board of Commissioners’ next move in that regard.
On Thursday, July 15, the commissioners took the first step toward changing the county’s current gun ordinances by voting to approve a public hearing in August on changes recommended by staff.
Some of the changes that staff will bring to the Board of Commissioners are the result of gun-related events in the county in recent months. For instance, earlier this year a man was hit – likely accidentally – by a bullet from a distant unknown shooter while the victim was dining on the patio at Sedgefield Country Club. In another incident, a home was struck by bullets from someone target shooting on adjacent property. The public hearing will be a time when the commissioners can hear other concerns about gun use in the county as well as hear responses from gun rights advocates.
Guilford County Attorney Mark Payne told the board that several recent events led staff to recommend changes to existing gun laws. Payne said the effort wasn’t meant to restrict gun use but, instead, to promote responsible gun use.
The county’s gun ordinances haven’t changed since the mid-1980s.
Payne and Guilford County Sherriff’s Department Attorney Jim Secor have been drafting new ordinances.
No document with the proposed changes has been released by the county yet, however, there seems to be a focus on making target shooting safer. Payne told the board that one change would call for an increase in the required safe distance zone between a target shooter and an adjoining property. There could also be a change, Payne said, that requires a berm or other barrier behind the targets to prevent bullets from reaching unintended targets.
Guilford County Commissioner Justin Conrad said after the meeting that, based on what he’s heard so far, he doesn’t believe the changes are necessary. He said there are already state laws that make it illegal to shoot a gun in a manner that will allow bullets to hit someone’s house or jeopardize distant bystanders.
Conrad said he never likes “feel-good” legislation that doesn’t truly address any needs. He said all the concerns he’s heard from county staff at this point could be addressed by simply enforcing existing laws and, therefore, he sees no reason to alter the current set of ordinances.
Here we go with Skip and Co. making another desperate push to look like they care. GTFOH Skip.
Just like having to wear a mask. It doesn’t do anything. Enforce the laws.
Leave it up to the DEMOCRATS in Guilford County to try and follow the DEMOCRATS in Washington. As Justin Conrad stated, there are already laws on the books that are not being enforced. I have a small range using a double row of railroad ties with sand in between and there is a 20′ + hill behind the ties. I received permission from my neighbors even though the distance is greater than the distance that is already required. I very seldom shoot anything larger than .22. (For those on the board that don’t know the difference between a 22 and a 9mm the 22 bullet is about 1/3 the size of a 9mm. The 9mm is the preferred round used by most criminals/gang bangers) I have lived in Guilford County all my life and I have never seen a board so WOKE, and if they CONTINUE ALL THIS CRAP TO TRY AND APPEASE A FEW, THEY WILL BECOME VERY “WOKE” IN 2022/24. CAN’T WAIT FOR THE MIDTERMS IN 2022. Maybe this crap will stop then.
Guilford County Code Section 11-1 Discharge of Firearms. (This covers the very issues that they say needs to be addressed.)
Sec. 11-1. – Discharge of firearms.
(a)Restrictions. No person shall, without the consent of the owner or lawful occupier, discharge a firearm within 150 yards of a dwelling or other building or structure, which is designed to be occupied by human beings, if such person knows or reasonably should know that injury to persons or damage to property may result.
(b)Exceptions. This section shall not be construed as prohibiting discharge of a firearm:
(1)In defense of life or property;
(2)By law enforcement officers in the performance of their duty;
(3)By persons lawfully engaged in pest control; or
(4)At public or private shooting ranges or galleries.
(c)Definitions. As used in this section:
Firearm means a weapon which will expel a projectile by the action of an explosive.
Shooting range or gallery means an area, either enclosed or out-of-doors, at which firearms are discharged at targets and which is designed so that projectiles fired from firearms at targets are prevented, by means of backstops or other barriers, from going beyond the boundaries of the area.
(Ord. of 8-5-85, § 12A)
Maybe they just need to rewrite in a more “WOKE” language.
Recommended by STAFF?
Who? What staff?
Omg. Haven’t read the article but can’t wait to read the comments.
I totally agree with Justin Conrad. This is nothing more than a ‘knee jerk’ reaction to a couple of incidents created by knuckleheads. Sounds like a thinly disguised attempt by some Democrats to slip in some gun restrictions. There is no way to legislate everyone to be responsible citizens. Enforce the current laws and everything will be fine.
Most of these issues are stemming from a couple of nosy, controlling, stalking neighbors that we have.These people do not like guns and instead of moving into the city limits, they want to change the laws to suit them personally. We live in the county so that we can safely express our second amendment rights and have been nothing but harassed since March of this year. We have had many Guilford county officers at our home an do have an approved backstop. The neighbor in question that began all of this has pending cyberstalking charges against him and has even reported us and the sheriffs office to Homeland security and still no wrongs were found . We have had to hire an attorney, go to court for a protective order where these particular neighbors were told that they were harassing us and they still won’t stop. They are determined that we and now all of Guilford county’s residents will have to get their permission if we want to shoot or even be up past 7pm in our case. I just pray that they finally leave my children out of it now that they are making the whole county suffer with us. I am all for our gun rights as Americans but I would really love to be able to walk outside and play in the yard with my kids without being bullied and stalked because these people don’t like our guns that we hardly ever shoot.
Don’t need to open that can of worms.
State law says the State has sole authority to promulgate firearms related laws, not cities or counties. That issue was litigated maybe in 2014 or 2014. Sorry Guilford Commissioners!
Can you site the state regulations that you are referring to? I’d like to read them.
You’re likely referencing NCGS § 14-415.23.
You’re a bit mistaken in your application of the law to this situation though. Municipalities may still regulate safety provisions for firearms. Have a look at Guilford County Code 11-1 for reference.
I agree with Payne, there are other changes that can be made to help control gun violence.
I never hear anyone speak on.I would love to be heard that’s my opinion it might help and it might not.
I’ve never seen a violent gun, and we don’t need to control them. What we need is criminal control, and we already have plenty of laws that don’t work unless we use them.
By that logic I assume you are also advocating to make all drugs legal – because I’ve never seen a pill jump into the mouth of a person and kill them – and abortions recommended for even mildly risky pregnancies – in fact, more women die giving birth (those murderous fetuses) than die because a gun jumped off a table on its own and shot them. We should hold those babies accountable for their crimes.
Good logic, Wayne.
I have a solution build a public range with all the safety requirements and a range officer. Currently there is not a public range within an hour of my house that does not require you to be a member at high membership fees and go on a waiting list.
Erik,
Guilford County already has 800 acres and a shooting range. It’s called the County Farm.
Why not put a pay as you go shooting range out there ,I bet it would be a money maker.
New laws, I Don’t Think So. Here’s an idea, start arresting the ones causing the problems.
We at Shane’s Sporting Clays currently offer a public shooting range for shotguns. We are the only public shooting range we are aware of at the time.
We offer safety briefings and lessons to anyone who needs it. We would be happy to open our range to more shooting options foe the public if available in the near future.
I have a farm on the edge of the county. There are several places on our land that is very safe to skeet and target shoot. Gun owning friends, bring their friends, relatives and co-workers out frequently. Do not ever think that liberals don’t like to shoot guns. Get them and their bumper-stickered Prius out of the city and they turn into Quick Draw McGraw. A real rush for them. I compare it to 12 year old’s being really, really bad smoking and drinking behind the church. Not just the guys either. (I hesitate calling them “men”) Liberal women are right up there. I personally don’t get the gun thing and don’t shoot at all. Liberals and human nature fascinate me so I study them a bit and notice the more liberal, the more they love that pow-powpow.
Wake up! This is one more glaring reason why we need more right leaning libertarians, less government & more individual freedoms. I’m done with the status quo. Tired of socialist democrats and half assed republicans. Time for some real change.
Ignutz said it first, but I’ll say it again: Staff recommended these changes? Whose staff? What are the names of said staff? The answers to these questions better be revealed at Thursday’s meeting so we know who is behind this insanity.
This is a waste of our tax dollars. Enforce the current laws. The current laws are more than sufficient.
How many properties have been broken into? How many lives have been lost to criminal activity. You are spending time on low hanging fruit.
Investigate criminal activity
prosecute criminal activity
TAKE THE FUNDS YOU ARE SPENDING ON THIS AND SPEND ON ENFORCEMENT OF CURRENT LAWS!