1LwjabT

46
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
Commissioner Dorosin said he appreciated this discussion and the goal was to start this
conversation to gather feedback. He said this evening is a good beginning and he suggested
following up with Commissioner Jacobs’ suggestion in order to find some common ground, and
achieve the desired balance.
Commissioner Pelissier said the public should not make assumptions that all members
of the Board live in cities. She said she lives in rural Orange County where she hears target
shooting on occasion, which does not bother her at all. She said the role of the BOCC is to
protect the health and safety for all residents in Orange County and if an ordinance is needed, it
should be reasonable and practical. She said the BOCC should work with the Sheriff to see
how many complaints there have been, and then have the Sheriff speak with the County
Manager to kick-start this conversation. She expressed thanks to all who spoke this evening,
noting the BOCC now has a good understanding of firearms use in rural Orange County.
Commissioner Price said she has no intention of taking away anyone’s rights, and just
because the item is on the agenda, does not mean that she supports it. She said she finds the
ordinance to be excessive, and she looks forward to a more reasonable proposal.
Commissioner Burroughs said she is a city girl and has learned so much tonight. She
said she feels better equipped to evaluate the issue and is very grateful that everyone came to
speak this evening.
Chair McKee said the Lenoir ordinance has been referred to several times, and he read
parts of it. He said he can support an ordinance like this, but not the ordinance that is before
the BOCC tonight. He reviewed some of the highlights to which he is opposed. He said he has
no sympathy for the irresponsible gun owner. He said he has taken heat on social media for
not staking out a position earlier, but he will do so now. He will not support the proposed
ordinance, and he would like to see it rejected tonight. He said he agrees with Commissioner
Jacobs’ suggestion of the proposed work group made up of different stakeholders.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Pelissier to
reconstitute what once was the Orange County Hunting Ordinance work group and call it the
Orange County Firearms Safety Committee and stakeholders would include the Orange County
Sheriff, a representative from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Department, the County Attorney, the
County Manager, and members of the firearms community, as well as individuals who have
contacted the Board of County Commissioners who supported this ordinance and those who
felt unsafe due to firearms. The group’s charge would include, but not necessarily be limited to,
the purpose of having an additional County firearms, noise, lot size, cost, posting property,
safety concerns, and to look at other similar county ordinances, and what this proposed
ordinance did or did not accomplish.
The second part of the motion was to reject this proposed firearms ordinance
amendment.
Commissioner Jacobs said this committee would meet for as long as it took to reach a
resolution. He suggested the Clerk’s office advertise for those residents that may want to
participate.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
Roger Moore said another county has already passed a good, simple ordinance, and the
County may be wasting time in reviewing the issue.
Chair McKee said the BOCC seeks public engagement.
8. Reports