North Carolina's Guns in Parks Saga Continues

This is an opportunity to promote COMMON SENSE!

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- Forsyth Commissioners will decide whether or not to enact gun bans at their next meeting, Monday, February 13th.

The scheduled vote will either promote the Second Amendment or trample upon it. This is your opportunity to be heard.

Commissioner Bill Whiteheart has spoken out against this ban, but needs help. It appears that most of the Republican Commissioners support lawful carry, we need to establish a presence at this meeting to ensure they don’t develop cold feet.

Under HB 650 that went into effect Dec. 1, only very narrowly defined “recreation areas” may be posted. Like some other counties, Forsyth is considering expanding this definition to draconian proportions. One version would restrict all “recreational facilities, which includes park buildings and their appurtenant premises, playgrounds, athletic fields, swimming pools, and athletic facilities”.

In addition, there is an attempt to ban carry in Tanglewood as alcohol may be sold and consumed during special events. The Commissioners need to understand that pursuant to N.C.G.S 14-269.3 any prohibition against conceal carry must follow the letter of the law and only be in effect during such special events.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED:
Contact the Forsyth County Commissioners

Email the County Commissioners: http://www.forsyth.cc/commissioners/contactus.aspx

Deliver this message

Dear Forsyth County Commissioner,
Since North Carolina’s concealed carry law was passed in 1995 violent crime has dropped 43.5%. Removing restrictions on where law-abiding citizens can defend themselves has always improved safety. Do the right thing and comply with the spirit of state law by allowing law-abiding concealed carry permittees to effectively defend themselves and their families within Forsyth County Parks. Any restriction of carry within our parks will only serve to notify criminals where they will find defenseless victims.
If you truly care about the safety of your citizens and visitors, you will implement state law to its fullest. This means no bans of concealed carry ANYWHERE in our parks beyond which has been stipulated pursuant to NCGS 14-269.3. Tanglewood is major tourist destination. It is important that our citizens and visitors are safe and permitted effective self-defense in our parks. Your decisions on this matter will factor in where tourist dollars of gun-owners are spent.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Citizen

Attend the Forsyth County Commissioners Meeting
Monday, February 13, at 6:00 PM in the County Government Building, 201 North Chestnut Street 5th floor, Winston-Salem, NC 27101 Save the date and do your best to attend – YOUR ATTENDENCE IS POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE!
Contact David Regnery at dwfr@yahoo.com to most effectively coordinate participation.

Use the following talking points to speak at the meeting:

Complying with state law is as easy as not posting against carry anywhere.
Only specific playgrounds, athletic fields, swimming pools and athletic facilities can be posted
Bans are unnecessary, require expensive signs and open the County to expensive litigation.
Limiting a Constitutional right is serious business and shouldn’t be done for any reason.
Increased “shall-issue” laws are always followed by reduced crime.
There is no evidence that bans solve problems.
There is clear evidence that disarmed victims are targeted by criminals.
Greensboro Parks and Recreation Commission approves park ban ordinance

This proposed ban will now move to the City Council. Greensboro citizens are advised to monitor the City Council agenda for discussion of this Park Ban.

The Greensboro agenda is posted here: http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/index.aspx?page=85.

Contact GRNC immediately when this ordinance is scheduled for hearing: alert@grnc.org.

Begin planning to attend this meeting and speak against this Second Amendment infringement.

Victory in defending park carry in Ashe…
Ashe county commissioner Larry Rhodes helped steer around proposed park-wide bans. Although a few narrowly-defined recreational facilities may still be posted, most park areas will remain open to lawful concealed carry.

Kudos to North Carolina Senator Dan Soucek, who participated in the Ashe meeting and spoke against bans.

…and Orange counties!
In Orange County, commissioners balked at a proposed park ban that was surreptitiously included as a consent agenda item not intended for extensive discussion. Thanks to the vigilance of GRNC member Chris Weaver, the commissioners appropriately received an earful from three law-abiding gun owners.

As a result, Orange County tabled the proposed park ban for later consideration as a full agenda item. Orange County residents: prepare to attend this next full-agenda meeting!

Curiously, self-described “gun-owning” Orange County commissioner Barry Jacobs spoke against carry in park areas where children may be present. This irrational concern has been echoed by several other anti-gun municipal representatives.

There seems to be a growing belief that children are somehow magically capable of discharging holstered handguns just by being nearby. In their minds the potential harm created by this suspected magical ability exceeds the value of effectively defending children against abductors, not to mention their mothers against assault and rape.

Prior to passage of HB650 parks have remained off-limits to lawful carry. As a result, they have seen more than their share of violent crime. We MUST put a stop to irrational thinking on the part of municipal leaders when it comes to self-defense in dangerous parks. Our children and their mothers deserve protection too.

More irrationality: NRA claims credit for passing HB650
We appreciate NRA’s defense of the Second Amendment – especially when they’re not supporting anti-gun politicians like Heath Shuler and Hugh Holliman. We are also glad that NRA recognizes the significant victory that HB650 represents to North Carolina gun owners.

But make no mistake, this victory was won by YOU – the active members of Grass Roots North Carolina. By holding elected officials’ feet to the fire of Second Amendment truth, YOU have created increased freedom to bear arms in our great state.

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org