NC: "GUN BAN" SIGNS BREAK STATE LAW

 

However reluctantly, Winston-Salem, Raleigh and others have fallen into line with the state law that prohibits local governments from restricting concealed carry in parks. After having the law explained to them, and faced with lawsuits for being out of compliance, these locales are removing or appropriately amending signs that had illegally banned guns. GRNC and its supporters, along with its sister organization, Rights Watch International, applied the heat, and the local politicians saw the light.

With this, one would think that other local governments would now have a better understanding of the new statutes and what is required to bring their local jurisdictions “up to code.” Yet, it appears that seeing is not believing for leadership in some towns, so yet again, it looks like heat must be applied.

Elected leadership in Kernersville have failed to make any effort to comply with new state laws regarding lawful concealed carry in parks. This is most likely because of misinformation received from Kernersville Town Attorney, John Wolfe, misinformation that has been repeated by the mayor. Wolfe recently said:

“Remember that Kernersville does not put up signs at every intersection that say you can turn right on red. There are laws that say you can turn right. Where people are allowed by law to carry a weapon they should not need signage. People should be aware of the law.”
 

Of course, by their logic, if Kernersville followed the parks example for traffic signs, it would have to mark all intersections "no right on red," regardless of whether it was actually legal, and list the ordinance number governing right turns. The result would be the same: Drivers would assume a right turn was prohibited.

So, while using false logic as a shield, Kernersville town leaders are refusing to remove signs like the one pictured below, even though these signs are clearly out of compliance with S.L. 2013-369. At best, these unlawfully posted signs are confusing to law-abiding park-goers, and at worst, they are intended to intimidate CHP-holders into believing a gun ban is in effect, when in fact, these signs are in locations where gun bans are illegal. In short, these signs are just as illegal as they are misleading! 

The voters of Kernersville and the people of North Carolina should not stand for this sort of lawlessness from their elected officials. And as always, GRNC is ready to lead the charge to help yet another local government recognize its error, and lead it down the path to legitimacy.

Below, you can read the letter that GRNC President, F. Paul Valone, recently delivered to Kernersville Mayor, Dawn H. Morgan, admonishing her and other town leaders to bring Kernersville into compliance with state law.

Also below, you’ll find contact information and a suggested message that you can use to contact the elected leaders of Kernersville, and let them know that gun owners are watching, and we are expecting them to remove these illegal signs, or face the legal consequences.  

Action, please