Cumberland County Commissioners Chair Kirk deViere is trying to pass an ordinance to ban the use of exploding targets at outdoor shooting ranges in Cumberland County, with the argument that the sound from their explosions disturbs people living nearby.
But in a 3-3 vote on Monday (with one of the seven commissioners absent), the explosive targets ban failed to pass. DeViere said he plans to bring the explosive targets ordinance forward again at a later date.
Monday’s vote also considered whether to amend another Cumberland County shooting regulation. The change would put more distance between a shooter’s target and neighboring homes and buildings.
The county’s current shooting distance ordinance says when people shoot their guns, whatever they expect the bullet to hit must be at least 200 yards from another person’s building (unless the occupants grant permission). DeViere wants to boost that distance to 225 yards.
A resolution for the change says the increased distance would “further ameliorate the detrimental impact to the public health, safety and welfare of such adjoining property owners” if the shooter uses exploding targets.
News accounts, websites and online videos show that some people enjoy shooting targets that explode.
The targets are made with chemicals that blow up when subjected to a high impact, County Attorney Rick Moorefield told the commissioners on May 19. The chemicals in these targets are legal for the general public to purchase because the chemicals are not explosive until they are mixed together, he said.
If Cumberland County’s ordinance passes, people who illegally use exploding targets could be charged with a misdemeanor and fined $250 for the first offense and $500 for later offenses.
Big bangs bother neighbors
Exploding targets are extremely loud, deViere said, and residents in rural areas, such as the Beaver Dam area southeast of Fayetteville, have complained. “I spent many hours with a lot of them, so I understand their concern,” he said.
The ordinance is not about restricting the rights of a gun owner under the Second Amendment, deViere said.
“This was to limit the explosion that was happening when a round was connected to a type of target that explodes at a decibel level that can be disruptive to neighbors, let alone a veteran that may have PTSD,” he said.
Other commissions say ‘nay’
Commissioner Glenn Adams raised questions on Monday about the proposed regulations.
“You’re talking about Second Amendment rights and gun rights, what you can do on your own personal property,” Commissioner Glenn Adams said. He dislikes the increased distance for the target zone, from 200 yards to 225 yards from other people’s buildings.
“That space that we are asking for, those yards, those are football field long. Nobody would be able to do this on their own private property,” he said. “I think it’s a dangerous road to go down when we try to increase this.”
Commissioner Henry Tyson brought up a potential roadblock: Some state lawmakers want to pass a law to prohibit North Carolina cities, counties and towns from regulating gun ranges and whether and how people may shoot guns on private property. However, this bill appears to be dead, as it never was approved by a legislative committee and no longer is eligible under the legislature’s rules for consideration this year.
The explosive target ordinance and new shooting distance regulation received preliminary approval from the Board of Commissioners in a 6-1 vote on May 19. Adams voted against it.
Because the May 19 vote was not unanimous, the proposed regulations had to come back for a follow up vote, County Attorney Moorefield said. That vote was Monday, where the tally changed from 6-1 in favor to the 3-3 tie. Democratic Commissioner Jeannette Council, who could have broken the tie, was absent.
Those who voted in favor: Democrats deViere, Veronica Jones, and Marshall Faircloth
Those against: Democrat Adams and Republicans Tyson and Pavan Patel.
With the 3-3 vote, the exploding target ban neither passed nor failed, deViere said. He plans to try again to enact it.
“We’ll bring it back,” he said. “This veteran and this chairman will bring that ordinance back.”
Senior reporter Paul Woolverton can be reached at pwoolverton@cityviewnc.com.
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