BC 1993 11 15 - Laserfiche WebLink

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453 The Board of Commissioners for the County of Cabarrus met in regular session in the CommissionersI Meeting Room at the Cabarrus County Governmental Center in Concord, North Carolina on Monday, November 15, 1993, at 6:30 P.M. Present - Chairman: Carolyn B. Carpenter Vice-Chairman: Kenneth F. Payne Commissioners: Jeffrey L. Barnhart Sue B. Casper Arne L. Fennel Also present were Mr. John Witherspoon, County Manager; Mr. Fletcher L. Hartsell, Jr., County Attorney; and Mrs. Frankie F. Bonds, Clerk to the Board. Chairman Carpenter called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. Commissioner Barnhart led the Pledge of Allegiance. The invocation was given by Reverend Jim Howard, Assistant Pastor of Faith Covenant Church. Additions to Agenda UPON MOTION of Commissioner Barnhart, seconded by Chairman Carpenter and unanimously carried, the Board added the following items to the agenda: Discussion of centerfire rifle legislation, the Harrisburg water line and an executive session to discuss possible land acquisition. Centerfire Rifle Legislation Chairman Carpenter introduced discussion of the new State law which allows hunters to use centerfire rifles to hunt in Cabarrus County provided they do so with written permission of the landowner and provided they hunt from a stand at least nine (9) feet off the ground. This new law amended the 1981 regulation which prohibited the hunting of deer with centerfire rifles in Cabarrus County. According to Chairman Carpenter, the Board had discussed this measure on four separate occasions in January and March 1993 and had included the request to amend the 1981 law in its legislative goals package for 1993. Representative Robert C. "Robin" Hayes spoke in support of the use of centerfire rifles and reviewed the process by which the new law had been handled from the time of its request by hunters in the county, consideration by the Board of Commissioners, and approval by the General Assembly. He presented statistics regarding various types of hunting accidents and stressed the importance of hunter safety. In conclusion, Representative Hayes outlined three options available to the Board at this time: (1) Leave the law as it is; (2) Ask for it to be repealed in the 1994 short session; or (3) Draw different lines which will further address the additional fears and concerns of some people. Wildlife Officer Roger Gibby stated in his opinion there should be no problem with the use of centerfire rifles if the hunters shoot from a stand. He indicated that most hunting injuries are caused by persons being struck from short-range. Chairman Carpenter opened the meeting for Informal Public Comments. Ms. Betsy carpenter objected to the use of high powered rifles and cited safety concerns for the children, pets and animals in the county. She complained that the public was not informed at the time the new law was being considered and stated in her opinion it would be impossible for one wildlife officer serving three counties to enforce the new law. Mr. Ray Olson of 1324 Fawn Ridge Road in the Carriage Downs subdivision objected to the use of centerfire rifles and stated that the bullets can stray from three to five miles. He reported that there is a national movement away from the use of these weapons in suburban areas and presented a petition which he stated contained 445 signatures in opposition to use of centerfire rifles in Cabarrus County.