Orange County NC Website
11 <br />then arrivedand said he knew of no law that prohibits video recording the <br />Committee’s proceedings by observers.The group then took a stretch break. <br />When the group returned from the breakit continued its substantive discussion. <br />Mr. Hunnellsaid that the real issue is perceived unsafety.For example, there are <br />restrictive covenants in my neighborhood against shooting, he said, but I can shoot <br />on an adjoining property not covered by the covenants. However, my neighbors are <br />concerned when they hear gunshots because they are uncertain about what is going <br />on. Some won’t walk along the Eno River because there is private property across <br />the river where people shoot.These are perceptions –theneighbors ad walkers <br />would not actually be in danger --and I don’t know how we address that. Mr. <br />Tilley agreed: based on the statistics presented by Chief Sykes, he said, there is not <br />an actual safety problem. <br />Relentless noise is another issue, said Mr. Tilley, if Ms. Conti’s situation is an <br />example of something we want to address. Ms. Conti saidshe would “love it” if <br />the Committee could come up with a noise ordinance that was enforceable.But we <br />are not here because I have a problem with a shooting range. I believe we are here <br />because a lot of people have an issue with gun safety in Orange County. The <br />County has changed over the years. There are a lot more people shooting in <br />proximity to one another. They will say they are not being careless or shooting in <br />wanton disregard of their neighbors’ safety;they are just shooting like they have <br />always been shooting. I have been living in the county for almost thirty years, and <br />we’re living closer to each other now, we’re more populous, and it has become <br />more of an issue for more people. <br />Mr. Webster asked if we are at the point in the discussion where the Committee <br />can say whether or not an ordinance is needed. The facilitator reviewed the flip <br />chart notes he had been taking on the Committee’s discussion, noting three <br />possible issues: <br />x Noise: Relentless shooting creating gunfire noise that is bothersome to <br />neighbors <br />x Safety: Shooting on private property that is clearly risky –obviously <br />inconsistentwith how a responsible shooter should act --but since no damage, <br />injury or fatality has occurredthere are no law enforcement tools to prevent the <br />likely harm. <br />x Perceptions: Perceptions that shooting is not safe.