The Guilford County Board of Commissioners knew that there would be a lot of response from the public when they decided to propose a few changes in the county’s gun laws – and they were certainly right about that.
This week, Guilford County Commissioner Mary Beth Murphy and Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Skip Alston are holding a private meeting with community members on both sides of the debate in order to clear up some misunderstandings and address apprehensions that have been aired in response to proposed changes.
On Wednesday, Aug. 4, the two, along with county staff, will meet with a select group of gun rights advocates as well as those who favor more restrictions on guns. That will take place one day before an official public hearing on the matter is held on Thursday, Aug. 5.
Alston said that Murphy, who’s the commissioner representing of the largely rural District 4, had received much of the public’s feedback after news got out that the Board of Commissioners was considering changes in the gun ordinances.
“I admire her leadership on this,” Alston said this week of Murphy, adding that he and Murphy both thought it was a good idea to address the issue head on in a small group setting before the public hearing takes place.
Alston said proposed tweaks in the county’s gun ordinances now under discussion would do nothing to limit gun rights, but instead would make gun use in the county safer by, for instance, requiring target practice sites to have berms behind them or take other protective measures to assure that no one is hit by a stray bullet.
Alston said he agreed with Murphy that it was a good idea to hold a preliminary non-public meeting with interested parties before the full-blown public hearing on the issue at the Guilford County Commissioners meeting on Thursday, Aug. 5, where many speakers from the public are expected to weigh in on the issue.
Alston said that some in the community – like former District 4 County Commissioner Alan Branson – had been trying to work local residents up over changes in the gun ordinance.
However, he added that, once people understand the proposed changes, they’ll realize that these are just tweaks in the law to assure safety.
No one, the chairman said, is trying to limit the rights of gun users in Guilford County.
“I’m a gun owner myself,” Alston said. “I don’t want anyone infringing on my gun rights.”
Nope. Give them an inch and they’ll come back later wanting to limit you more & more. If people were dying every week from stray bullets out in the county don’t you think we would know about it with today’s instant news culture? The one poor fella that got beaned in the noggin at the country club doesn’t justify restrictions and regulations on everyone else. Next thing you know you’ll be required to take a racial equity & sensitivity class or some other CRT nonsense in order to apply for a pistol permit. After all, don’t bullets in Greensboro & High Point disproportionately target certain groups?
You gotta love such nonsense. A properly maintained fully functional firearm has never killed anyone anywhere throughout all of recorded history.
They once said they only wanted smoking sections in resteraunts. Now look at the smoking ordinances. Not that I’m a smoking advocate, I’m not. I hate smoke. But the old give an inch take a mile is begining on this issue and I am an enormous 2A supporter. Don’t be a fool. Any government whether small or large, local or federal is never in your best intrest.
Not all corrupt politicians are anti-gun but all anti-gun politicians are corrupt.
Skippy is a prime, grade A example.
Skippy did you ever give an accountability to any audit to account for all the money you were gifted by the city of Greensboro.
Skip is full of bovine fecal matter. A typical politician who’ll say whatever it takes to accomplish his self serving agenda. Wish he would stick with selling hot dogs over near A&T.
People are dying every day from thugs killing someone, and you dumb a$$es are trying to put restrictions on target shooting. That is the dumbest trick I have ever heard of. These deaths will continue until you idiots understand that it’s the thug behind the gun that needs to be fixed. You need to stop trying to handcuff the cops and let them do the job that has to be done.
“Just TRUST ME! I know best. I have even decided that County Law should duplicate and supersede State law.”
I can hear him in my nightmares.
Give Skip Alston an inch and he’ll take a mile.
He may own a gun but any new law will exclude him.
Not just NO, HELL NO!
Today the thugs are the ones making the decisions for all of us. After all they are afraid of statues and want them taken down. Don’t be afraid cause the statues are NOT going to come after you. Lean to live in peace and harmony. That will help YOU too. The statues are works of art, that is all they are and they are beautiful.
The results of the 8/4 meeting were mentioned at the 8/5 hearing but were not available in detail. Any change by the Co. Commission will be suspect and need close scrutiny. A Deputy representing Sheriff Rogers spoke in favor of the proposal at the hearing. That in and of itself is disturbing to me. The issue of greatly increased “calls for service” in response to gunfire was a main talking point.
Not only are there laws in the books about property damage, stray bullets have caused damage, but there are laws about assault with a deadly weapon that would apply to this stray bullet issue. Enforce them!
Public education is woefully lacking as well. Not only as to a proper backstop; which was often mentioned at the hearing, but just calling 911 and letting the dispatcher know you are doing some target shooting on your property. No need to dispatch deputies if the source and intent of gunfire is known. But that’s common sense that isn’t so common.
GUN SAFETY is of course important . ownership of fire arms is like the type and color of car one drives ! EDUCATE folks who have made a gun purchase because of publicity over loosing the right to purchase one ! ( even if a large percent do not have the education to use a weapon .) the push to disarm the public is real ! and may never get resolved . 1 Crimes commited w, a fire arm and An ,accident are Pink and Blue but the gun public and non armed public are not addressing things as they should . The LAW is most likely on the books that takes away the wild west street shoot out ! BUT the non gun owners are ignorant , not in any way stupid , foolish , just uneducated on gun safety and use , AND THEY WILL NEVER BE , and should not have the need to be schooled in this use . BUT they should have the sense not to steam roll or circumvent laws already in place ! MUCH MORE TO SAY BUT SO FEW WILL LISTEN , lol