Beaufort Co. Council sends proposed gun ordinance back to committee for revisions

by Aaron Dixon

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - Beaufort County Council voted unanimously to send a proposed gun ordinance back to committee, saying they still had more questions than answers after meeting with local law enforcement, the solicitor’s office, and other community groups.

Council members said feedback from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office made it clear the ordinance would be stronger if it were written as a civil ordinance — similar to a public nuisance violation — rather than a criminal ordinance.

What the ordinance would do

The proposed ordinance would make it unlawful to discharge a weapon outside city limits within 500 feet of a building, park, or school.

County leaders said the proposal was prompted by multiple neighborhood complaints in the Bluffton area last year.

Why the council wants changes

As currently drafted, council members said the ordinance needs clearer enforcement language and penalties.

If rewritten as a civil ordinance, Beaufort County Code Enforcement Officers would issue citations for unlawful gunfire, and cases would be handled in a lower court. The sheriff’s office would still assist with issuing citations after hours or in situations where code enforcement officers have safety concerns.

“I think we are getting closer, but it needs to be civil penalties and not criminal, and so I believe there’s some more work needed to be done,” Beaufort County Councilwoman for District 6, Anna Maria (Tab) Tabernik, said.