Morrisville council votes to allow guns at park, playgrounds

MORRISVILLE, N.C.

Many people in Morrisville, including the mayor, spoke out against the law, which lets people with a concealed carry permit take their gun to a playground.

In the end, council members voted in favor of updating the town's firearms ordinance to comply with the new state law which includes allowing concealed weapons on playgrounds.

Not doing so was always out of their hands, but it didn't stop people from speaking out on the controversial issue.

"We don't need people with weapons defending us against a danger that's not there," said parent Sarah Sydney.

Sydney was one of several people who took to the podium and pleaded with council members not to allow concealed carry permit holders to have guns on playgrounds.

"I think we can all agree the majority of concealed carry permit holders are law abiding citizens, but some are not," said another woman.

While their pleas were heard, it was a battle they were never going to win.

"I took an oath of office to uphold the constitution of the United States and the laws of North Carolina," said Morrisville Council member Steve Rao.

As of Oct. 1, one of North Carolina's newest laws allows concealed carry weapons on not just playgrounds, but also greenways and playing fields.

It's something that some in the crowd approved of.

"Concealed carry permit holders are overwhelmingly responsible individuals," said a man in attendance.

No matter how each council member or the mayor may have felt, state law trumps any town ordinance.

"My absolute highest priority has to be safety," said Morrisville Mayor Jackie Holcombe.

In the end, council members voted to follow the law. Tuesday's vote was just essentially about changing the wording of the ordinance because of course the law already applied.

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