Gun ordinances get initial OK from Pitt County Commissioners

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - The Pitt County Commissioners gave initial OK Monday night to two ordinances involving the discharging of firearms in unincorporated areas of the county.

The board voted 5-4 to approve the proposals.

One limits firing guns at night in densely populated subdivisions and other areas where living quarters are nearby. Certain exemptions would apply.

The other proposal makes it unlawful to fire a gun in unincorporated areas where bullets would leave the property from where they were fired.

A person found guilty of violating the ordinances would be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and face fines and possible jail time.

Commissioner Mac Manning, a former Pitt County Sheriff says the ordinances are not about taking away from gun owners but ensuring safety.

“There are recreational uses but you have to be safe and do it somewhere where the bullet is not traveling into someone else’s property or possibly hurting somebody,” he said.

While some residents say they were happy with the first vote passing, others say they were disappointed.

“I think it’s very disappointing that they decided that they weren’t going to listen to their constituents and they were going to move forward with this bill,” Sean Sorrentino, the Vice President of Operations for Grassroots NC said.

But he says these ordinances are less intrusive than the previous ones for gun owners.

“I do think it’s important that we consider is far less intrusive than the bill they originally intended to pass...the message to take is is that the people of this county spoke up repeatedly saying the previous ordinance was terrible. Now this isn’t great but it’s far far better for us as gun owners than the previous bill would’ve been.”

A second approval by commissioners is needed before the ordinances would take effect.

The second and final vote will take place at the next meeting on March 24th at 6 p.m.