CHARLOTTE — When North Carolina lawmakers approved a bill expanding where concealed weapons are legally allowed, it created a dilemma for communities that had banned firearms from playgrounds.
To comply with the legislation, some municipalities have had to change their local laws. While some community leaders have expressed outrage, gun rights groups say its time municipalities follow the law — and they’re watching to make sure they do. If they don’t, legal action could follow.
“The days when local government bureaucrats can ignore state law with respect to firearms are over,” said Paul Valone, founder of Grass Roots North Carolina, a gun rights group. “We want these municipalities to comply with the law. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”
The fight has been brewing for years. Opponents say it’s dangerous to have guns around children, but supporters say concealed weapons help reduce crime.
The latest battle can be traced back to 2011 when the General Assembly passed a law that prohibited municipalities from banning concealed weapons in local parks.
The legislation also included a provision that let cities ban concealed weapons from “recreation facilities” — defined as “a playground, an athletic field, a swimming pool and an athletic facility.”
In the wake of
Article source: http://www.dailyadvance.com/ap/staten/gun-rights-groups-monitor-new-nc-law-2234341 If you need a cheap air ticket, hotel or rental car please visit http://www.airticket.com
