Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
21 <br /> 1 John Roberts said there are 18 exceptions to the noise ordinances, and the discharge of <br /> 2 firearms is one. <br /> 3 Commissioner Bedford asked if a new ordinance limited hours on the discharge of <br /> 4 firearms would it be included in the general noise ordinance. <br /> 5 John Roberts said he would not include it in the noise ordinance, but rather would <br /> 6 include it in the firearm ordinance. He said the wording could include a timeframe of darkness <br /> 7 to 9 a.m. <br /> 8 Commissioner McKee said there is recreational shooting/hunting at night. <br /> 9 Commissioner Bedford clarified that hunting would be exempt. <br /> 10 Commissioner Bedford said the complaints have come from daytime shooting. She said <br /> 11 there was one resident who said a bullet entered her home. <br /> 12 Commissioner McKee said shooters are liable for their projectiles, both legally and <br /> 13 civilly. <br /> 14 Commissioner McKee said he knows the Sheriff will try to enforce a firearm ordinance, <br /> 15 but he has concerns that an ordinance would be unenforceable and deputies will be wasting <br /> 16 their time chasing shots all over the county. He said this is an ineffective use of a deputy's time. <br /> 17 John Roberts said the Sheriff has said it will be difficult to enforce a firearms discharge <br /> 18 ordinance, because by the time a deputy gets there, the shooting has stopped. <br /> 19 Commissioner Greene said due to the enforceability aspect, she is more interested in <br /> 20 pursuing a time frame ordinance for future shooting ranges. She suggested sundown to 9 am, <br /> 21 and not on Sundays. <br /> 22 Chair Price said this proposal can be brought back for a business meeting. <br /> 23 Commissioner Greene said she will make a petition for this at a future meeting. <br /> 24 Commissioner McKee asked is there a legal definition of a shooting range, beyond a <br /> 25 professional, "pay to play" range. <br /> 26 John Roberts said the state law that defines a sport shooting range is very broad, and he <br /> 27 read the definition. He said it is an area designed and operated for private and commercial <br /> 28 shooting. <br /> 29 Commissioner McKee said he is unsure how the county prosecutes these issues if the <br /> 30 Sheriff's Department follows up on them <br /> 31 John Roberts said there would have to be a way to determine when the range was <br /> 32 established, testimony from neighbors seeing a berm or a backstop being built, or asking the <br /> 33 county to inspect. <br /> 34 Chair Price said the Board will not do anything further until another proposal is <br /> 35 presented. <br /> 36 <br /> 37 7. Boards and Commissions Appointment Process Discussion <br /> 38 <br /> 39 The Board discussed the boards and commissions' appointment process and <br /> 40 supplementary materials for appointment discussions. <br /> 41 <br /> 42 <br />