Orange County NC Website
6 <br /> Commissioner McKee asked if the Commissioners can create something that is not <br /> burdensome to the Sheriff's Office. He said he served on the shooting committee. <br /> John Roberts said he does not know. He said the Sheriff would be responsible for <br /> enforcing any laws passed by the BOCC. He said the Sherriff advised it would be extremely <br /> hard to monitor 900-foot distance, unless a deputy is present at the time of shooting. <br /> Commissioner McKee said that almost never happens. <br /> John Roberts said yes. He said the Sheriff is not in favor of the distance ordinance, due <br /> to the difficulty of enforcement. <br /> Commissioner Marcoplos said it may still be helpful. <br /> John Roberts said the Board has the authority to make this amendment. He said the <br /> State says the County can regulate firearms, and it does come down to whether it is <br /> enforceable. <br /> John Roberts asked for direction, or if additional exploration is needed. <br /> Commissioner Price referred to the noise, and asked if the BOCC can regulate noise if it <br /> is not a shooting range. <br /> John Roberts said the County currently regulates the negligent and dangerous discharge <br /> of firearms. He said putting it into the noise ordinance as well would not apply to proper <br /> shooting ranges, but could apply to people shooting off dangerously in their backyard <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said he supported Commissioner Marcoplos' recommendation. <br /> He referred to Churton Grove, and asked if there is any restrictions to one shooting in such a <br /> densely populated area <br /> John Roberts said there is, and the current ordinance says one cannot recklessly or <br /> negligently discharge a firearm. He said discharging a firearm in a neighborhood like Churton <br /> Grove is inherently dangerous. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said the current ordinance does not apply specifically to that <br /> neighborhood, but to everyone. <br /> John Roberts said correct. He said the Board cannot regulate professional sporting <br /> ranges, but none currently exist in the County. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin asked if there is a formal permitting process to establish a <br /> shooting range. <br /> John Roberts said there are no professional quality ranges in the County, and all are <br /> privately owned for private use, so the total number is not known. He said it can be a naturally <br /> occurring barrier, but if it is a barrier that was constructed prior to the County's standards, it <br /> probably satisfies the statutory definition. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin asked if one was constructed after the 2016 regulation change, <br /> would the berm be inspected to determine its adequacy. <br /> John Roberts said if it was constructed after 2016, it is subject to regulation, and <br /> Planning Staff could go out to inspect. He said the resident is supposed to go through staff, but <br /> may not always do so. He said the Planning Department operates on a complaint driven <br /> system, and investigate concerns if complaints are raised. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said if there was a regulatory system, and one built a range <br /> without going through the proper process, the complaint would be not that it was built, but that it <br /> did not follow protocol. <br /> John Roberts said staff would have to be able to prove that the structure was built after <br /> the ordinance was changed. <br /> Commissioner McKee said the firearms committee spent a lot of time trying to define <br /> noise, but was unable to do so other than by decibel levels. He referred to Churton Grove, and <br /> whether regulations apply to Churton Grove, and said it does apply to any and all tight <br /> subdivisions because one cannot discharge a firearm and keep the projectile on the property. <br /> He said there is not enough room on the lots to build berms. <br />