House Judiciary panel approves controversial concealed weapons bill

Yahoo

2 days ago

(Photo by Aristide Economopoulos/NJ Monitor)
The North Carolina House Judiciary 2 Committee voted 6-5 along party lines Tuesday to pass a bill to allow the permitless carry of concealed firearms, one of the most controversial topics of the current legislative session.
Senate Bill 50, 'Freedom to Carry NC,' would allow individuals who are U.S. citizens, at least 18 years of age, and not otherwise prohibited by law, to carry concealed weapons without applying for a permit.
It's backed by Republican leadership and would make North Carolina the 30th state to approve of so-called 'constitutional carry.' Having previously cleared the Senate, the bill now proceeds to the House Rules Committee for further consideration.
Though the Judiciary 2 Committee has only 10 members — six Republicans and four Democrats — House Minority Leader Robert Reives II (D-Chatham, Randolph) took the unusual step of using his position as a committee 'floater' to attend the meeting and narrow the margin.
'Nine states have allowed constitutional carry at age 18, North Carolina would be the 10th that this bill became law,' primary sponsor Rep. Danny Britt (R-Hoke, Robeson, Scotland) said.
One amendment to the legislation increases the public safety employee death benefit to $150,000.
Another calls for the University of North Carolina Board of Governors to develop a scholarship program for any child of a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, or first responder who is permanently and totally disabled as a result of a traumatic injury sustained in the line of duty. These scholarships would be available for children between the ages of 17 and 28.
The bill received opposition from a several lawmakers and members of the public. No one other than Britt spoke in favor of the measure.
Rep. Ya Liu (D-Wake) is the mother of two teenagers. She said there's a huge difference between individuals at the age of 18 and 21.
At schools, students like Liu's son conduct drills for active shooter and lockdown situations.
'Our children are scared,' Liu said. 'We shouldn't accept it as a way of life, that they have to live with this.'
Rep. Laura Budd (D-Mecklenburg) said this morning she told her 15-year-old son on the way to school that SB 50 was on the committee hearing docket today.
He was shocked that an 18-year-old at his high school, potentially his classmate, would be allowed to buy a gun, according to Budd.
She added that 18-year-olds in the United States can't drink a beer or rent a car.
'But yet, when it comes to something as a lethal as a gun… we want to lower the age and remove more restrictions,' Budd said, pointing out the irony.
Anne Enberg, a local legislative leader for Moms Demand Action, said bills like SB 50 won't make communities safer.
Enberg brought up a poll conducted by Everytown for Gun Safety in September that found 77% percent of likely North Carolina voters were against removing permit requirements from concealed carry laws.
'We should be looking for solutions that make us safer, not bills that would push crime and public safety's staff in the wrong direction,' she said.
John Vanmeter-Kirk is a rising second-year student at North Carolina State University, a volunteer with Students Demand Action, and a lifelong Raleigh resident.
He said he was speaking in front of the committee because SB 50 would put his home and community in danger.
On Sunday, Vanmeter-Kirk noted, two North Carolina communities experienced mass shootings: one in Hickory and one in Asheville.
'Two innocent North Carolinians are dead, numerous injured, my community torn apart by senseless gun violence that could've been prevented,' Vanmeter-Kirk said. 'Even after two North Carolinians are dead, you're considering this incredibly dangerous bill that will only lead to the loss of more North Carolinians, dishonoring the memory of those we lost two days ago.'