Haywood County Commissioners Are At It Again

The Haywood County (NC) Commissioners are at it again. They must have thought people would be mollified by their tabling of the carry restrictions on county property - some of which were illegal - so they have decided to bring up their proposal to regulate "commercial" outdoor shooting ranges.

As I noted in an earlier post, the range of the Haywood County Sheriff's Department would not meet the standards that the commissioners seem that they can require of "commercial" ranges. This range is also used by the Maggie Valley PD and the Canton PD. I'm not sure where the Clyde PD does their qualifications.

The Waynesville PD uses the Waynesville Police Association range off of Howell Mill Road in Waynesville. This range would most definitely fail the new standards if it was applied to them. My former residence was approximately a mere 100 feet beyond the distance required from the range to an occupied building. Many of my former neighbors would not be so lucky. Moreover, this range fails the 300 foot property line setback requirement.

I find it the height of hypocrisy to require a "commercial" range to jump through multiple hoops that the county by ordinance would exempt themselves from. As the alert from Grass Roots North Carolina makes clear, if you have a backyard private range and you allow a concealed carry instructor to use it, it becomes a "commercial" range. Likewise, if you sponsored an Appleseed shoot, it would become a "commercial" range.

If you live in Haywood County or WNC, if you travel or vacation in Haywood County, or if you just want to express your outrage at the commissioners' hypocrisy, please read the GRNC alert below and act on it.

VOTE MONDAY COULD RESTRICT RIGHT TO SHOOT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY

A public hearing will be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 18th in the Haywood County Courtroom of the Historic Courthouse. In late March, the board took comment on restrictions on display and carry of firearms on county property and on a second ordinance restricting “commercial” shooting ranges. In what might be a deliberate distraction by what many now see as the “Haywood County Board of Dictators,” however, it appears that the restrictions on display and carry – which drew outrage from hundreds of citizens – might have been intended to let the commission slip through, with minimal opposition, restrictions to shooting on private property.  THE FEINT? Although the proposed ban on display and carry of firearms Haywood County property appears to have been removed from their website, you can see it at http://bit.ly/1RA6x1U. In response to withering opposition, the county seemed to blink in a March 31 press release saying the ordinance would not be voted on during their April 4 meeting. Interestingly, the item has not been returned to the agenda for the April 18 meeting. GRNC President Paul Valone spoke against the proposal at a meeting attended by more than 400 GRNC members and county residents who uniformly opposed it. You can view his remarks in this YouTube Video. Although the Haywood County manager attempted to justify the ban by claiming it had been on the books since 1995 and that the county was simply trying to comply with recent changes to the law, in truth their proposal would unlawfully ban concealed carry throughout Allen’s Creek Park. Rather than justifying prohibitions on lawful citizens protecting themselves against criminals and terrorists, Haywood County should join 12 other North Carolina counties which have recently removed such restrictions on county property. In a recent editorial, Robert A. Lovingood, Vice Chair of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, responded to the horrific acts of terrorism in his county by advocating that selected County employees and concealed handgun permit holders be allowed to carry on county property. Rather than sticking their heads in the sand, Haywood County commissioners should be looking to harden soft targets which are vulnerable to both criminals and terrorists. THE REAL POWER GRAB? The County Commissioners will vote Monday on an ordinance to define and restrict “commercial” outdoor shooting ranges. Unfortunately, if a private property owner were to build even a rudimentary structure for shooting on his property and then hired a concealed handgun instructor to conduct a class on the property for his family -- even once -- that property would become a “commercial shooting range”, requiring him to first obtain a permit from the county. Say you and a few friends just share the cost of a private club? Fuggedaboutit. No exceptions are made for private clubs. If shooting takes place and money changes hands, you are the proud owner of a “commercial outdoor shooting range.” As the owner of a “commercial” range, you would be subject to onerous restrictions, including requirements that shooting stations and targets be more than 300 feet from property lines and ¼ mile from occupied buildings. You would have to build 6 foot fences, post warning signs, store firearms and ammunition per BATFE regulations, and restrict shooting to within stipulated daylight hours. And if you liked those, you’re going to love this one, straight out of the proposed commercial range ordinance: “Liability insurance. The permitee [sic] shall be required to carry a minimum of two million dollars ($2,000,000.00 - USA) per occurrence of liability insurance. Such insurance shall name Haywood County as an additional insured party and shall save and hold Haywood County, its elected and appointed officials, and employees acting within the scope of their duties harmless from and against all claims, demands, and causes of action of any kind or character, including the cost of defense thereof, arising in favor of a person or group's members or employees or third parties on the account of any property damage, personal injury, or wrongful death arising out of the acts or omissions of the permittee, his/her group, club, or its agents or representatives.”

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!
EMAIL & CALL THE HAYWOOD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. Urge them to vote against the gun-ban ordinance. Below, find a copy/paste email list, and under 'Deliver This Message,' you'll find a copy/paste email message to send.  EMAIL CONTACT INFO County Commissioners copy/paste email list:  markswanger@bellsouth.net; kirk@jwklaw.net; lkensley@bellsouth.net; sorrells@cbvnol.com; billupton@bellsouth.net PHONE INFO MARK S. SWANGER, Chairman                                    Phone: 828-627-6109 (h) Cell: 828-507-2315 J. W. “KIRK” KIRKPATRICK, III, Vice Chairman        Phone: 828-452-0801 (w) Fax: 828-452-1861 L. KEVIN ENSLEY, Commissioner                                                           Phone: 828-627-3765 (h) Cell: 828-734-8713 MICHAEL T. SORRELLS, Commissioner                                           Phone: 828-926-9549 (h) Cell: 828-506-2174 BILL L. UPTON, Commissioner                               Phone: 828-648-7469 Cell: 507-2129 ATTEND THE COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING THIS MONDAY, APRIL 18. Join GRNC President F. Paul Valone at this critical event. See details below:  WHEN:  Monday, April 18, 2016 5:30 PM WHERE: Historic Courthouse Haywood County Courtroom 215 N. Main St. Waynesville, NC HINTS: Dress for the press! Please no offensive signs, slogans or clothing. Be sure to arrive early, as seating may be limited.
DELIVER THIS MESSAGE
Haywood County Commissioners: I am outraged by what is either a deception or a two front power grab being perpetrated by the commission. First, you tried to restrict concealed carry in Allen’s Creek Park in violation of state law. And although other restrictions on County property might be permissible, creating “victim disarmament zones” invariably leads to predation of the lawful citizens by criminals, sociopaths, and terrorists.  Rather than justifying prohibitions on lawful citizens protecting themselves against criminals and terrorists, Haywood County should join 12 other North Carolina counties which have recently removed such restrictions on county property. In a recent editorial, Robert A. Lovingood, Vice Chair of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, responded to the horrific acts of terrorism in his county by advocating that selected county employees and concealed handgun permit holders be allowed to carry on county property. Rather than sticking their heads in the sand, Haywood County commissioners should be looking to harden soft targets which are vulnerable to both criminals and terrorists.  But now that proposal appears to be at least temporarily shelved in favor of onerous restrictions which could prohibit private property owners from shooting on their land. Under this proposal, if a private property owner were to build even a rudimentary structure for shooting on his property and then hired a concealed handgun instructor to conduct a class on the property for his family -- even once -- that property would become a “commercial shooting range”, requiring him to first obtain a permit from the county.  As the owner of a “commercial” range, he would be subject to onerous restrictions, including requirements that shooting stations and targets be more than 300 feet from property lines and ¼ mile from occupied buildings. He would have to build 6 foot fences, post warning signs, store firearms and ammunition per BATFE regulations, restrict shooting to within stipulated daylight hours, and pay for $2 million in liability insurance that would indemnify you!  I demand you immediately shelf this commercial range proposal, and I will be monitoring your actions through Grass Roots North Carolina alerts.  Respectfully,