If State Senator Julia Boseman’s recently introduced bill becomes law many hunters will become lawbreakers or will have to forgo many fast food restaurants. The New Hanover County Senator has introduced a bill to expand the safe zones around schools, parks, and child care centers.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO INCREASE THE “SAFE ZONES” NEAR CHILD CARE CENTERS AND SCHOOL GROUNDS REGARDING ILLEGAL DRUG SALES FROM THREE HUNDRED FEET TO ONE THOUSAND FEET, TO EXPAND THE “SAFE ZONE” FOR PUBLIC PARKS TO INCLUDE ALL PUBLIC PARKS, NOT JUST THOSE WITH PLAYGROUNDS AND TO INCREASE THE DISTANCE OF THOSE SAFE ZONES TO ONE THOUSAND FEET, TO INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR CARRYING A DEADLY WEAPON ON EDUCATIONAL PROPERTY, AND TO MAKE IT A CRIMINAL OFFENSE TO POSSESS OR CARRY A GUN, RIFLE, OR PISTOL IN A PUBLIC PARK, IN ANY CHILD CARE CENTER, OR ON ANY PLAYGROUND.
You read further along and here is the definition for a playground under this bill;
Playground. – Any outdoor facility (including any parking lot appurtenant thereto) intended for recreation open to the public, and with any portion thereof containing three or more separate apparatuses intended for the recreation of children including, but not limited to, sliding boards, swing sets, and teeterboards.
Under this definition all fast food restaurants that have play ground equipment will be off limits to hunters who have firearms inside their vehicle not to mention that it will deny the opportunity for Conceal Carry Holders from exercising their rights to carry. Once again denying the public the right to carry will only embolden the criminals who will prey on those they can. Hey Senator how about streamlining the trip to the death chamber for violent criminals and see how that works on making our state a safer place.
