After weeks of public opposition, Pitt County passes firearms ordinance on second reading 5–4

Pitt County commissioners approved a firearms ordinance on second reading at their April 7 meeting by a 5–4 vote after public comments highlighted widespread opposition. Several speakers during the public-comment period said the underlying complaint that prompted the ordinance was primarily about noise from shooting, not public safety, and urged the board to amend noise rules instead of restricting firearms.

Resident Bobby Norville recounted the history of the complaint from the Holly Pine subdivision and said the original issue was noise. Norville said the county manager’s office received 83 calls in opposition and a commissioner had submitted a petition with almost 200 signatures opposing the ordinance; he also said three people spoke in favor at an earlier public hearing while 22 spoke against it. Norville warned that restrictions on firearms could be perceived as an infringement on Second Amendment rights.

Commission discussion and the formal second reading followed the public-comment period. Commissioners debated constituent feedback and legal/regulatory considerations before advancing the ordinance. The transcript records the second-reading vote carried 5–4. The board did not record a text of the ordinance in the public hearing discussion summary; planning staff or the county attorney typically records the ordinance language and effective date in the formal minutes and ordinance document.

The action on second reading leaves the ordinance adopted unless further procedural steps (such as an additional reading or other administrative filing) are required by county code; the transcript does not record the ordinance’s effective date or any subsequent implementation actions. Several citizens who had opposed the ordinance addressed the board during public comment but the vote indicates the ordinance will move forward despite vocal opposition at the meeting.