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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: December 5, 2016 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 7-a <br /> SUBJECT: Recommendations of the Firearms Safety Committee <br /> DEPARTMENT: County Manager/County <br /> Attorney <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1. Recommendation of the Firearms Safety Travis Myren (919) 245-2308 <br /> Committee John Roberts (919) 245-2318 <br /> 2. Draft Ordinance <br /> 3. Adoption Resolution <br /> 4. Letter from Sara Conti - Firearms Safety <br /> Committee <br /> 5. Minutes from October 25, 2016 Firearms <br /> Safety Committee <br /> PURPOSE: To receive the recommendations of the Firearms Safety Committee which include <br /> rules regulating the safe discharge of firearms in Orange County and establishing an educational <br /> campaign to increase awareness of firearms safety issues. <br /> BACKGROUND: This item was presented in similar form at the January 21, 2016 meeting by <br /> Orange County Planning Staff as an amendment to the Orange County Code of Technical <br /> Ordinances ("UDO") recommended by the Planning Board and at the February 16, 2016 meeting. <br /> No decision on the item was made at those meetings and subsequently the Board of County <br /> Commissioners ("BOCC") created the Firearms Safety Committee to consider issues related to <br /> firearms safety and make a recommendation to the BOCC. <br /> The Firearms Safety Committee met multiple times from June through October and developed the <br /> attached recommendations. The proposed recommendations include (see attachment for full listing): <br /> • An amendment to the Code of Ordinances that includes provisions prohibiting the discharge of <br /> firearms while an individual is impaired, maintaining adequate backstops for projectiles, and <br /> requires discharged projectiles to remain on the property on which they are discharged. <br /> • A recommendation that the BOCC direct the Department of Social Services and/or Health <br /> Department to develop and distribute educational material on gun safety. <br /> • A recommendation that the County collaborate with public and private organizations to <br /> increase firearms safety awareness through training and distribution of safety materials. <br /> The Firearms Safety Committee by consensus unanimously recommended the firearms safety <br /> education and awareness items. The Committee voted 6-1 in favor of recommending the proposed <br /> ordinance. <br />