If you’re under the impression that this was some sort of simple oversight by that intern who wrote the original ordnance, you need to think again. The gun-grabbing crowd will never stop.<\/p>\n
Forest City passes ordinance after rewrite following Second Amendment backlash<\/a><\/p>\n After Cops & Congress reporting, town attorney revises urban archery code before commissioners approve measure with one no vote<\/strong><\/p>\n By Annie Dance | Cops & Congress<\/a> | News & Commentary<\/p>\n Forest City commissioners approved a revised urban archery ordinance Monday night after Cops & Congress<\/em> reporting<\/a> drew attention to broader weapons restrictions when used lawfully, buried inside the proposal and triggered hundreds of comments<\/a> on social media.<\/p>\n The ordinance passed<\/a> with one dissenting vote from John Mark Bennett.<\/p>\n Before the vote on Sept. 14, the town attorney, Elizabeth T. Miller, known as Beth, revised the code to explicitly protect the lawful defense of people and property \u2014 language that had become a central point of concern after the original ordinance was published in the town\u2019s meeting agenda packet.<\/p>\n Miller, a registered Democrat<\/a>, is also the attorney for the town of Rutherfordton. She has been practicing law since 1988, according to the state bar public directory.<\/p>\n The original proposal had been drafted by intern Ben Roach, according to their July meeting documents, and then reviewed by the town manager, Janet Mason, town attorney, and police chief Chris LeRoy before it was placed on Monday\u2019s agenda. Roach is the son of Paula Roach, who serves as Rutherford County Deputy County Manager and Finance Director.<\/p>\n Despite those reviews, the first version proposed changes to Forest City\u2019s firearms and nonfirearm weapons ordinances without expressly preserving an exception for a person lawfully defending themselves or their property.<\/strong><\/p>\n That changed after the issue became public.<\/strong><\/p>\n The revised ordinance now states that Forest City\u2019s prohibition on discharging firearms does not apply to \u201cany person while exercising a legal right to defend persons or property.\u201d<\/p>\n The same protection was added to the section governing bows, crossbows, air rifles, slingshots and other nonfirearm projectile weapons.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Before the vote, SunShine McCurry, who is challenging incumbent Steve Holland for Mayor on the ballot, gave a public comment<\/a>. She opposed urban archery because she didn\u2019t want to \u201csee a deer running through Main Street with an arrow through them\u201d in \u201cChristmastown USA.\u201d She also raised concerns about \u201cpregnant deer.\u201d<\/p>\nForest City gun ordinance draws Second Amendment scrutiny<\/h4>\n
Urban archery measure went far beyond deer hunting<\/h3>\n