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.
