Grass Roots North Carolina / Forum For Firearms Education
Post Office Box 10665, Raleigh, NC 27605
877.282.0939 (Phone) 919.573.0354 (Fax) www.GRNC.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

E-mail:    president@GRNC.org

Release date: February 4, 2024

 Solving the 'red book' problem

Recent news stories have been circulating, possibly at the behest of Harvey Morse, who heads what he calls the NC Concealed Carry Instructors Association, which incorrectly claims to be the voice for concealed carry instructors but, in fact, has been hyping a non-issue.

Specifically, Morse & Co. are griping about the Concealed Carry Handgun Training “red book,” which is mandated by the NC Criminal Justice Standards Division for concealed carry students. Morse complains that the cost of the book is too high and that it should be provided in a free pdf format.

What Morse apparently seems to ignore is the fact that the staff for the concealed handgun system is self-funded using proceeds from the book. At present, if there are no book sales, there can be no concealed carry permit.

Rather than grousing about the cost of red books, the correct solution is to seek legislative redress from the General Assembly by allocating funding for the program. GRNC is addressing in two ways: First, we are pushing for House Bill 189, a permitless concealed carry bill which will remove the need for concealed handgun permits while keeping the permit system in place for reciprocity with other states and as a statutory substitute for the computerized National Instant Background Check System (NICS).

Second, in the next session of the General Assembly, GRNC will pursue legislation to independently fund the program, removing the need for funding through the red book and allowing transition to a free pdf format. Moreover, as Morse should be aware, GRNC addressed this concept in comments to the NC Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission (NCCJETSC) in earlier hearings. NCCJETSC supports the idea of legislative funding, suggesting it should be a relative “Slam Dunk” in the legislature.

Founded in 1994, Grass Roots North Carolina is an all-volunteer 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to preserving individual liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights with emphasis on the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

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