After unanimously striking down a proposed gun regulation in February, the Orange County Board of Commissioners created a Firearms Safety Committee to discuss the possibility of future regulations.

Commissioner Barry Jacobs said in their meeting Tuesday night, the creation of the committee does not necessarily mean that any new regulations will be passed.

“We hear enough about those kinds of issues that we just want to have a conversation in a controlled and not necessarily super-charged atmosphere,” he said.

Jacobs said it would give residents the ability to talk through issues such as safety, noise and second amendment rights with people that know the law and the current regulations.

“And see if there are accommodations that can be made that everyone can live with,” he said. “Maybe we can’t, maybe we can, but that’s the purpose.”

The committee will be comprised of eight Orange County residents, who will have voting powers within the committee.

It will also have representatives from the sheriff’s office, the county manager and NC Wildlife Resources. Along with a member of the board, they will be there in an advisory capacity.

“I think we want to ensure that the public doesn’t feel that it’s the commissioners who are running the show here,” commissioner Bernadette Pelissier.

Jacobs said the commissioner, who has yet to be chosen, will be there to give guidance to the committee.

“They could give some response to tell people the commissioners don’t want to go in that direction or the commissioners have heard enough complaints about X that they want to make sure it’s adequately addressed by this group,” he said. “They don’t have to say ‘and therefore you should do this,’ but they could at least give some guidance.”

The board also gave permission for the county to hire a facilitator for the committee, to help mediate heated discussions.

According to an abstract given to the board, the county clerk has contacted Andy Sachs about this position. Sachs is the public dispute coordinator at the Dispute Settlement Center.

The county clerk will advertise to residents when the application window for the committee op

Related Stories
‹
County Commissioners Reject Gun Regulation
After taking hours of public comment, the vast majority in opposition to the proposal, the Board of Commissioners unanimously rejected a proposal that would have made it illegal to shoot a gun for recreational purposes after 6 p.m. Commissioner Earl McKee said he did not like the proposal because he thought it would effectively eliminate […]
Orange County Commissioners Explore Options for Expanding Affordable Housing in Mebane
Orange County’s recently met with Mebane to discuss ways to plan for the future of the city and how to accommodate its growing population.
'Recreation for Folks from Orange County:' Commissioners Further Plans for Millhouse Road Site
Orange County is continuing to make progress on its plans for a recreational playing field facility north of Chapel Hill.
Following Recount, Bronson's 25-Vote Lead Holds Over McKee in Orange County District 2 Commissioner Race
UPDATE: Following Wednesday’s recount, the margin between Beth Bronson and Earl McKee remained 25 votes and the Orange County Board of Elections ratified the District 2 Democratic primary results on Friday. Bronson shared a statement about officially winning the race, saying she holds “a lot of respect” for McKee and the sitting commissioner has offered […]
In Carrboro and Orange County, A Push Back Against Pollution
The Carrboro Town Council and Orange County Commissioners both passed resolutions this week to tackle climate change.
Bedford, Stegman Projected to Win Orange County Commissioner Seats; Bronson Leads Tight District 2 Race
Karen Stegman won the Democratic primary for the open at-large seat on the Orange County Board of Commissioners, while District 1 incumbent Jamezetta Bedford appears poised for re-election on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the closest race of the night unfolded in District 2, where Beth Bronson holds a slim lead over long-time Commissioner Earl McKee. With […]
2026 Candidate Introductions: Democratic Primaries for the Orange County Board of Commissioners
After only one of the 2024 races for the Orange County Board of Commissioners was contested in the primary cycle, all three have competition this year.
Former Town Councilor, Pastor María Palmer Details Orange County Commissioner Campaign
María Palmer's campaign for a District 1 Orange County Commissioner seat is built around championing equity and improving affordability.
Orange County Public Transportation Piloting Fare-Free Model in 2026
Orange County Public Transportation will be piloting a one-year, fare-free model for its fixed-route transit services beginning Jan. 2, 2026. The Orange County Board of Commissioners approved the move at its Dec. 9 meeting. In a press release, the county government hailed the move as “an important step in testing strategies to expand mobility, promote […]
What to Know About the Attack on the Hannukah Festival in Australia That Killed 15 People
A father and son are suspected by officials to have killed 15 people on a popular Australian beach, shocking a country where gun violence is rare.
›