Revised measure focuses on unsafe discharge, allows fines up to $500
By Delayna Earley
The Island News
Beaufort County Council has approved a revised ordinance regulating the discharge of firearms in certain unincorporated areas, advancing a civil penalty approach after months of debate driven by reports of bullets striking homes.
The measure makes it unlawful to discharge a firearm in a way that is considered intentional, negligent or careless and likely to cause injury, death or property damage, shifting the focus from distance-based restrictions to unsafe behavior.
The issue first gained traction earlier this year after residents north and south of the Broad River reported gunfire hitting homes and passing through neighborhoods, raising concerns about safety in areas where development has pushed houses closer to rural land.
In response, council initially advanced a proposal that would have prohibited firing a gun within 500 feet of homes, schools and parks in certain parts of the county.
That version quickly ran into questions about enforcement and property rights.
By March, council postponed a vote on the ordinance after extended public comment and discussion, signaling the need to revisit the language and work more closely with law enforcement and legal staff.
The debate continued into April, when council unanimously rejected a version that would have created criminal penalties for violations, effectively ending that approach and shifting the focus to civil enforcement instead.
By the time the ordinance returned this week, the proposal had been significantly scaled back.
“This is the civil penalty ordinance,” county staff said during the public hearing, noting the earlier criminal version “didn’t pass.”
Unlike earlier drafts, the version approved by council does not include the 500-foot buffer that had been at the center of earlier discussions.
Instead, the ordinance is designed to address unsafe firearm use more broadly, giving law enforcement and code enforcement officials a tool to respond when gunfire poses a risk to people or property.
“The reason that we have this is because of … someone not being safe,” Councilman Mark Lawson said, pointing to increased development near residential areas.
During discussion, Councilman Logan Cunningham praised Councilman David Bartholomew for his work refining the ordinance.
“I just want to say, David worked really hard on this, and thank you for getting that done and taking the bull by the horns, because this was a really split thing on council for months,” Cunningham said.
He added that Bartholomew also worked with state legislators and local residents as the ordinance evolved.
Under the ordinance, violations are handled through civil penalties rather than criminal charges, with fines of up to $500 per violation.
The measure also encourages those cited to take a firearm safety course, which a magistrate may consider when determining the amount of the fine.
The ordinance does not apply to lawful uses such as self-defense, law enforcement activity, military duties, wildlife control by state officials or operations at established shooting ranges.
With the vote, Beaufort County now has a defined way to respond to complaints of unsafe gunfire in unincorporated areas, replacing earlier proposals that relied on fixed distance requirements with a standard based on whether the discharge itself is dangerous.
Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.