Notes from Johnston County NC Firearms Ordinance Meeting!!

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I attended the Firearms Ordinance Work Group meeting last night, along with about 50 other citizens of Johnston County. The room was packed, and everyone in there was opposed to having any ordinance. I did find that many of the citizen members of the work group were not in favor of an ordinance but joined the work group in an effort to steer the language to something palatable. The citizens were recreational shooters, gun shop owners, gun smiths, and affiliates with the NRA. The job of the work group is to make a recommendation to the County Commissioners, which it is in their power to recommend no ordinance at all. 

The chair of the work group, Allen Mims, is one of the County Commissioners. Jeff Carver is also a County Commissioner and sits on this work group. Last night Mr. Mims read through the ordinance item by item and with each item, the work group made their comments, many coming from e-mails that they had received. There were modifications to the language of the ordinance and more exemptions were added. There was a great deal of discussion concerning item 3 and what would constitute being “under the influence.” Would there be a standard, and at what point is the County violating the 4th Amendment when an individual is on their own private property. There was also discussion about the hours detailed in item 5. Some protested that there is a valid reason to train at night and this ordinance would prohibit this manner of training. The hours were amended to be two hours after sunset until one hour before sunrise. Clarification was also made to the exemptions such that it is clear that all legally defined hunting would be exempted from the ordinance. Exemptions were made for any future public or for-profit shooting ranges in the County.

After listening to the meeting last night, I have the feeling that some final ordinance will be proposed to the County Commissioners. I also feel that any law that requires this many exemptions is fundamentally flawed. I do believe that the work group members have good intentions. However, they are curtailing the freedom of law abiding citizens instead of addressing the punishment of those who damage/destroy property and/or cause bodily harm. Below are some links to assist you in contacting members of the work group and our Johnston County Commissioners so that you may express your discontent with the proposed ordinance. The next meeting is the public hearing and is scheduled for Monday, March 7th at 6:00 PM.

Good Neighbor Firearms Ordinance Work Group Information (Check this page in the future for the newly amended version of the ordinance)
Good Neighbor Firearms Ordinance Work Group Members (PDF)
Johnston County Board of Commissioners

Thank you!