NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1961 SESSION

CHAPTER 943
HOUSE BILL 1145

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 1071, SESSION LAWS OF 1953, AS AMENDED BY CHAPTER 857, SESSION LAWS OF 1957, AUTHORIZING AND EMPOWERING THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF FORSYTH COUNTY TO ADOPT REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE GOVERNMENT THEREOF SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF FORSYTH COUNTY TO ADOPT REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE DISCHARGE OF FIREARMS IN FORSYTH COUNTY OUTSIDE OF THE MUNICIPALITIES THEREIN.

The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:

Section 1. Chapter 1071, Session Laws of 1953, being an Act to authorize and empower the Board of Commissioners to adopt regulations for maintaining and promoting good government for the people of rural Forsyth County as amended by Chapter 857, Session Laws of 1957, is hereby amended by inserting in Section 1 thereof, after the last Subsection 6, the following subsection and paragraph:
"(7)	To regulate or prohibit any person, firm or corporation or association from operating or engaging in the operation of a contest or exhibition for profit or otherwise in which guns, rifles, pistols or other firearms are fired and discharged unnecessarily, resulting in discomfort and annoyance to residents or other persons. The provisions of such regulation shall be applicable to all areas of Forsyth County outside of the corporate limits of any municipality, but shall not be applicable to the following:
(a)	The discharge of firearms by a law enforcement officer in the lawful discharge of his duties;
(b)	The discharge of firearms by any person or persons for self‑defense or other necessity;
(c)	The discharge of firearms by persons in carrying out their duties as a member of the National Guard or any other military organization;
(d)	The discharge of firearms by persons engaged in practice shooting while members of any pistol club or organization sponsored by any law enforcement agency;
(e)	Persons engaged in lawful hunting.
The Board of Commissioners in the exercise of the powers contained in this Subsection 7 is hereby empowered and authorized to issue permits for use in connection with the conduct of contests or exhibitions where firearms are discharged, but only after satisfactory evidence is presented to the effect that the discharge of firearms at a contest or exhibition will riot result in discomfort and annoyance to residents or other persons."
Sec. 1½. That Subsection (3), Section 1, Chapter 1071, 1953 Session Laws, being an Act to authorize the Board of Commissioners of Forsyth County to adopt regulations for maintaining and promoting good government for the people of rural Forsyth County, as amended by Chapter 857, 1957 Session Laws, be and the same is hereby further amended by rewriting Subsection (3) of Section 1 to read as follows:
(3)	To regulate or prohibit the operation of public poolrooms, billiard parlors, and dance halls, and any club where persons may associate for a common purpose, which club building is located within 300 yards of the property on which is located any public school or church building.
Sec. 2. This Act shall apply to Forsyth County only.
Sec. 3. All laws and clauses of laws in conflict with this Act are hereby repealed.
Sec. 4. This Act shall be in full force and effect from and after its ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 16th day of June, 1961.