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DISTRIBUTED <br />TED <br />Anne Shortliffe <br />1111 Ben Johnston Road <br />Efland, N.C. 27243 <br />March 4, 1991 <br />Board of County Commissioners <br />Orange County <br />P.O. Box 8181 <br />Hillsborough, N.C. 27278 <br />To The Commissioners: <br />Though I was unable to attend the public hearing Monday night on <br />hunting ordinances, I'd like to share a story with you through this letter. <br />For the last 7 years, my husband and I have lived in Cheeks township <br />in a home which we built on a five acre lot. About four years ago I wasl <br />home alone, 7 months pregnant with my first child. I heard gunfire which <br />sounded close by. When I stepped out into my front yard, I was greeted by <br />the crack of a bullet streaking through the tree just above my head <br />followed by the report of a high - powered rifle. I fell to the ground and <br />returned inside on my hands and knees to call and report the shooting to', <br />the sheriff. As it turned out, the shots were not fired on my property <br />but, rather, from a public road that runs in front of my house. <br />We have reported gunfire close to our home no less than 5 times each <br />year that we have lived in Orange County. Unlike the incident which I have <br />described, most of these involve armed people trespassing on clearly posted <br />property. We have been verbally abused and physically threatened by people <br />who insist that these lands have been hunted for years. <br />We support all of the proposed hunting regulations. The proposal to <br />require written permission from the landowner sends a message that clearly <br />needs to be sent. It is an important first step. I encourage you not only <br />to pass this ordinance but to consider even stronger actions. <br />Orange County is growing. What used to be forest lands are rapidly,, <br />becoming housing subdivisions. There is no reasonable place for the uselof <br />high powered rifles in this populated county Indeed, there appears to be <br />a need to regulate all gunfire which occurs within a dangerous proximity',to <br />occupied dwellings, barns, and livestock. Additional ordinances which <br />address these issues need to be considered in the very near future. our <br />neighbors in Wake and many other growing counties have learned these <br />lessons the hard way. Let's not wait for a tragedy. <br />Thank you, <br />Anne Shortliffe <br />