Details

Created: 28 March 2013

In This Issue:

•    Why HB 17 passed the House without restaurant carry amendment

•    Pro-Gun Bills Filed in NC Senate


HB 17 & Restaurant Carry:

As you may know, on Thursday, Representative Larry Pittman (R-Cabarrus, GRNC ****) led a charge to return restaurant carry to HB 17 after it had been stripped from the bill in committee. With support from GRNC, including an alert to membership, Rep. Pittman challenged NC House leadership by attempting to amendment the bill on the floor.

Although the House had been scheduled to begin session at 12:30 PM, House Republicans delayed convening the session as negotiations continued. As information came in indicating that a fix might be in the offing in the Senate, HB 17 was displaced from the calendar to give more time for review.

After discussions over the weekend between GRNC and numerous current and former legislators, it was decided that sufficient time remains in the session to allow the Senate to either pass SB 342 for restaurant carry or to use other vehicles. Thus, in accordance with Speaker Thom Tillis' wishes, the onus for passing restaurant carry now returns to the Senate, where Senator Buck Newton (R-Johnston, Nash, Wilson, GRNC ****) has indicated willingness to move legislation. Please monitor future alerts on the issue.


Pro-Gun Bills Filed in NC Senate:


SB 342: "Amend Gun Laws"

As noted above, SB 342: "Amend Gun Laws," sponsored by Sens. Newton, Dan Soucek (R-Allegany, Ashe, Avery, Watauga, GRNC ****) and Jeff Tarte (R-Mecklenburg, GRNC ****), was filed last week using the same language for restaurant carry which died in HB 111 last year. The bill would also tighten the definition of "restaurant carry" being tortured by various municipalities in order to continue banning guns in parks in violation of our new law. GRNC recommends you contact your NC state senator and ask them to support the bill.


SB 410: "Enabling Heroes Act of 2013"

In a bid to join Vermont, Alaska, Arizona and Montana by bringing "constitutional carry" to North Carolina, GRNC has worked with Sen. Jeff Tarte to draft SB 410, the "Enabling Heroes Act of 2013." The bill would remove the current blanket prohibition on carrying concealed weapons, instead making it illegal to carry deadly weapons for illegal purposes. SB 410 would leave the concealed handgun permit system intact, however, for the purpose of carrying firearms in more "sensitive" areas such as educational properties.

Along with eliminating the requirement to obtain a CHP to carry concealed in the state, SB 410 also provides for CHP permit holders -- not just faculty members or marshals, as other proposals have -- to carry concealed firearms in educational properties, as well as preventing prosecution for inadvertent carry onto an off-campus extracurricular school event.

GRNC applauds SB 410's sponsors, Sens. Tarte, Andrew Brock (R-Davie, Iredell, Rowan, GRNC ****), Shirley Randleman (R-Stokes, Surry, Wilkes, GRNC ****) and Ron Rabin (R-Harnett, Johnston, Lee, GRNC ****), for boldly stepping up for the rights of all of North Carolina's gun owners. We must all do our part by letting our voices be heard and showing our support for this bill. We urge you to contact the NC Senate Leadership and your State Senator and let them know that you expect their full support in passing SB 410 in short order.

•    Immediately email and call your NC state Senator and ask them to not only support SB 410 with their vote, but also to ask Senate leadership to give it an expeditious committee hearing. Find contact information for your NC state senator, CLICK HERE or go to: http://www.ncleg.net/representation/WhoRepresentsMe.aspx

•    Thank Senator Tarte for his leadership: Rarely do freshmen stand up so boldly for gun rights. Those who do should receive the recognition they deserve. Contact Sen. Tarte at: jeff.tarte@ncleg.net


DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

Suggested Subject: "Please Support Senate Bill 410" 

Dear Senator ___________ :

Please support Senate Bill 410, the "Enabling Heroes Act of 2013" not only by giving it your vote on the Senate floor, but by contacting Senate leadership to ask for an expeditious hearing. The bill would expand our concealed handgun law onto educational properties and would allow permitless concealed carry in some limited areas.

Four states have thus far enacted or always had "constitutional carry" -- making it lawful to carry a concealed firearm provided it is not done for the purpose of committing a crime -- including Vermont, Alaska, Arizona and Montana. While enhancing the ability of lawful citizens to protect themselves and their families, none of these states have documented an increase in gun-related crime.

SB 410 would also expand permitted concealed carry onto educational properties where violent predators now feel free to kill with impunity, secure in the knowledge that victims have been disarmed. Indeed, a controlled, multi-variate study conducted by John R. Lott and William Landes found that the only effective policy in deterring multiple victim public homicides such a occurred in Newtown was the adoption of concealed handgun laws.

Since inception of our law in 1995, concealed handgun permit-holders have spent eighteen years proving themselves sane, sober and law-abiding. With violence creeping into our schools at an alarming rate, we must have the ability to protect our children from further tragic events. While law abiding citizens stand by virtually helpless, our children are being slaughtered. We must have the ability to protect ourselves and our families. I will be monitoring action on this bill via Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts.

Respectfully,