Committee discusses limited firearm use in densely populated areas of the county

Even living outside the city limits, homes are closer together than they were 30 years ago. Because of that, Beaufort County officials want to regulate shooting guns in unincorporated areas.

A regulation reintroduced to the Beaufort County Public Services Committee meeting Tuesday would be a safety measure to address discharging firearms in densely populated areas of the county. The issue was last broached in January.

"(The regulation) is not so much from a hunting perspective, but targeted to centralized neighborhoods," said committee member William McBride. "(The discharge of firearms in densely populated areas) is a nuisance and a potential for accidents as well."

The regulation would not prohibit the lawful discharge of firearms on private property but would regulate it in populated areas, such as subdivisions, said Herbert Glaze, chairman public services committee. The committee did not discuss specifics regarding how discharging firearms would be regulated.

And despite gun violence that swept through the county this summer, Glaze said the move to regulate discharging firearms out in the county is not related. Since July 5, five people have died in shootings and 18 people have been shot in the county.

In an effort to curb gun violence, the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, the State Law Enforcement Division and the U.S. Marine Corps collected 30 guns on an amnesty day Saturday. Glaze also started a group called Citizens Against Violence Everywhere.

Rather, the regulations discussed Tuesday were prompted because people shoot their guns near neighboring homes or schools, buildings not constructed when state laws addressing where guns can be shot went into effectmore than 30 years ago.

Committee members agreed before the firearm regulations would be adopted, public input would be invited. Committee member Steven Baer suggested the county ordinance be modeled after other municipalities. For example, guns cannot be discharged with Beaufort city limits. The authority to regulate where a person fires a gun is backed by state law that says local governments can regulate the "careless or negligent discharge or public brandishment of firearms." To go into effect, the ordinance has to be approved by the Beaufort County Council.

"We have to do something with the growing density," Glaze added. "This is not something that we can let lie dormant because it's getting worse."