Thursday, Horry County's Public Safety Committee will discuss the possibility of creating an ordinance that would restrict firing guns in residential neighborhoods, as well as other options to handle recent complaints.
Last month, NewsChannel 15 reported that residents of the Dunn Acres Community complained to Horry County police and council members when a group of more than a dozen people were shooting guns in the community.
Licensed concealed weapons permit instructor, Ron Comfort, said the group was holding a concealed weapons permit class every other Saturday on the property of one of the community landowners.
A draft of the possible ordinance says if passed, it would be illegal to discharge a firearm within 1200 feet of a school, public building or park and 900 feet of any dwelling or business.
The exceptions to the draft include:
- - a law enforcement officer or member of the armed forces of the United States in the performance of his or her lawful duty
- - an authorized and properly licensed gun club or firearms range or gallery, in an area properly zoned for such activity
- - in the lawful defense of life or property
"People who don't like guns want to do away with it period," said Conway resident Bill Wiegand.
Wiegand is a part of a group who plans to show up to Thursday's 5 p.m. meeting in protest of the proposed ordinance.
"If they make an ordinance for shooting a gun 900 feet from a residence, that is not right," said Wiegand. "It is just taking away our gun rights."
"I would welcome the sound of a gunshot with what's going in our world today," Wiegand added.
Horry County spokesperson Lisa Bourcier said the possibility of having county police deal with complaints on a case-by-case basis will also be discussed at the meeting.
