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1 <br /> <br />ATTACHMENT D <br /> <br />ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE II OF CHAPTER 17 OF THE <br />DURHAM COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES <br />OFFENSES INVOLVING FIREARMS AND OTHER WEAPONS <br /> <br />WHEREAS, Chapter 1115 of the 1951 North Carolina Session Laws authorizes the Board of <br />County Commissioners of Durham County to “regulate, control, restrict, and prohibit the use and <br />discharge or any and all firearms of every kind, nature, make and description outside the <br />incorporated limits of any municipality in Durham County"; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, G.S. 153A-121 allows a County, by ordinance to define, regulate, prohibit, or <br />abate, acts, omissions, or conditions detrimental to the safety or welfare of its citizens; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, in 1993, the Board of County Commissioners adopted Article II of Chapter 17 of <br />the Durham County code of Ordinances, to regulate and restrict the use of firearms and other <br />weapons within Durham County, which ordinance has been amended over the years; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, G.S. 14-409.40, allows a County, by ordinance, to prohibit the possession of <br />firearms in public-owned buildings, on the grounds or parking areas of those buildings, or in public <br />parks or recreation areas; and, <br /> <br />WHEREAS, G.S. 14-415.23 allows a County, by ordinance, to prohibit the possession of <br />concealed weapons in County buildings and recreational facilities, and their appurtenant premises; <br />and, <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners wishes to amend Article II of Chapter 17 in <br />recognition of changes in the laws of North Carolina and conditions in Durham which have occurred <br />since it was first adopted, and to address concerns of public safety; and, <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the purpose of this Ordinance is to protect the public safety by regulating the <br />discharge of weapons within the unincorporated areas of Durham County, and the possession of <br />weapons on County property; <br /> <br />NOW, THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR THE COUNTY <br />OF DURHAM DOTH ORDAIN: <br /> <br />1. That Durham County Code of Ordinances Chapter 17, Article II – Offenses Involving Firearms and <br />Other Weapons, which was adopted in 1993, and subsequent amendments thereto, is hereby repealed in <br />its entirety and replaced with the following: <br /> <br />Secs. 17-31-1750. -Reserved <br /> <br />Sec. 17-51 Intent. <br /> <br />The Board of Commissioners has determined that the health and safety of its citizens requires <br />certain restrictions be placed on the discharge of firearms and airguns and on the possession and display <br />of weapons on county owned and controlled property. This is in recognition of the fact that each person <br />discharging a firearm is responsible for exhibiting reasonable regard for the safety and property of other <br />persons and for discharging the firearm in such a manner as to assure that all projectiles come to rest <br />17