Latest news with #FreedomtoCarryNC
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
House Judiciary panel approves controversial concealed weapons bill
(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.'
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers, faith leaders stress gun safety as permitless concealed carry bills advance
Getty Images/Luke Sharrett Gun control advocates and faith leaders held a press conference at the state Legislative Building Wednesday urging lawmakers to oppose bills that would allow carrying concealed firearms without a permit. It's one of the biggest issues this session. Legislators are considering bills that would allow 'constitutional carry,' or the idea that individuals should be able to carry concealed weapons without restrictions based on the Second Amendment. Senate Bill 50, 'Freedom to Carry NC,' allows North Carolinians 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 enshrine such a policy in state law. The bill has passed the Senate and is awaiting action in the House. Its counterpart in the lower chamber, House Bill 5 or 'NC Constitutional Carry Act,' has the same idea. This measure still needs approval from the House Rules Committee. Rep. Phillip Rubin, a Democrat from Wake County, said the fact that either bill is even under consideration is a reflection of the troubled state of democracy in North Carolina. North Carolina is one of the 'most intensely' gerrymandered states in the country, he said, with Republicans earning less than 48% of the vote statewide but holding 59% of the seats in the legislature. At the congressional level, the North Carolina delegation went from an even 7-7 split to a 10-4 Republican majority following GOP-crafted redistricting. 'In a functioning democracy where elected representatives feel accountable to the people they represent, a bill this unpopular and this dangerous would never pass. It would never even come to a vote,' he said. 'That is why I'm so sad to see common sense gun regulation measures that can't get a vote, and dangerous measures like permitless concealed carry that repeatedly can.' Polls released recently by Everytown for Gun Safety and Elon University found the bulk of North Carolina voters against loosening gun regulations. Rev. Jennifer Copeland is the executive director of the North Carolina Council of Churches, which represents 19 denominations. She said owning or carrying a gun doesn't make people safe. 'All of us are less safe when everyone around us has a gun tucked into their waistband or carries it around in their purse,' she said.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
As North Carolina lawmakers debate gun restrictions, schools stress safe storage
A North Carolina Highway Patrol officer demonstrates how to attach a gunlock. (Screenshot from NC SAFE video, This story first appeared on NC Newsline. Gun regulation has been one of the most hotly contested issues at the North Carolina General Assembly this year. Lawmakers have introduced bills on a myriad of topics: constitutional carry, handguns at private schools and privacy around concealed carry permits, to name a few. Permitless concealed carry — known as constitutional carry due to the idea that individuals have the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms without infringement — has drawn the most attention. 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 constitutional carry. The bill has passed the Senate and awaits further approval in the House. Its counterpart in the lower chamber, House Bill 5, or NC Constitutional Carry Act, is largely the same. This measure still needs approval from the House Rules Committee. The biggest difference in the legislation is that HB 5 would authorize elected officials in the state to carry a concealed firearm 'while performing their official duties if the official has a concealed handgun permit.' While the State Capitol and Executive Mansion are excluded from this list, it would be allowed at the State Legislative Building and Legislative Office Building, where lawmakers conduct their business. States move to outlaw popular 'Glock switches' that make some guns fully automatic North Carolina residents are overwhelmingly opposed to the measures, according to newly released polls. But lawmakers have chosen to move forward. 'There is political play around this policy that is lawmakers in both chambers pandering to the far right extremists and, frankly, being more worried about their own primaries … than they are about the safety of their constituents,' said Monisha Henley, senior vice president for government affairs at Everytown from Gun Safety. 'That is why they've been trying to push it through the legislature at lightning speed.' A 2022 study from the Crime Prevention Research Center looked at changes in crime and killings of police after adopting constitutional carry. Using data from 13 states, researchers found that the drop in murder is statistically significant, but the change in violent crime is not. Paul Valone, president of the Grass Roots North Carolina gun rights group, has spent decades working on the issue. He's modeled his advocacy after legislation in Vermont, the first state that didn't have restrictions requiring permits for concealed carry. 'SB 50 and HB 5 are not perfect bills, but they're what's achievable right now,' Valone said. 'Those of us who have spent a lot of time in the movement believe that because we lost our rights over generations incrementally, we will probably have to win them back incrementally.' The movement has spread to schools. House Bill 193, Firearm Law Revisions, authorizes individuals with a valid concealed handgun permit to possess or carry a handgun on educational property owned, used, or operated by a private school. The bill's wording would allow anybody lawfully entitled to carry a concealed weapon to do so on the premises of a private school below the college level, with written permission from the school. This could be school officials, teachers, and even students. 'This bill endangers students, it endangers teachers, and people don't want it,' Rep. Deb Butler (D-New Hanover) said during a committee hearing. 'You're telling the teachers of North Carolina that we don't really care what you say.' Coming up Tuesday, members of the House Judiciary 2 committee will discuss The Firearms Liberty Act. House Bill 674 would among other changes allow for the issuance of lifetime concealed handgun permits. NC S.A.F.E. (Secure All Firearms Effectively), a statewide initiative to raise awareness on storing firearms safely, announced a partnership with the Wake County Public School System last Thursday. NC S.A.F.E for Schools is designed to help school districts across the state share resources about safe gun storage with parents in the district. Youth gun deaths in the US have surged 50% since 2019 The Wake County Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution in March of last year to 'regularly and consistently' provide families with information and resources on the importance of secure gun storage. North Carolina experienced at least 12 incidents of gunfire on school grounds in 2024, resulting in one death and nine injuries. Residents of Raleigh's Hedingham neighborhood are still reeling from an October 2022 mass shooting in which a teenager who was able to access his father's firearms killed five people and wounded two others. The teen charged in that shooting spree will go to trial in 2026. Research has shown that secure firearm storage practices are associated with up to a 32% reduction in the risk of self-inflicted and unintentional firearm deaths. 'As a school system, we have resolved to educate our community on the importance of safe gun storage and its role in protecting students. Whether providing handouts for safety presentations, helpful information for digital communications, or even materials for school resource officers, resources from NC S.A.F.E. have been invaluable to that mission,' Robert Taylor, superintendent of the Wake County Public School System, said in a statement. For more information, click here for a safe storage fact sheet. NC Newsline is part of States Newsroom, a national nonprofit news organization. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
As NC lawmakers debate gun restrictions, schools stress safe storage
A North Carolina Highway Patrol officer demonstrates how to attach a gunlock (Photo: Screenshot from NC SAFE video -- Gun regulation has been one of the most hotly contested issues at the North Carolina General Assembly this year. Lawmakers have introduced bills on a myriad of topics: constitutional carry, handguns at private schools, and privacy around concealed carry permits, to name a few. Permitless concealed carry — known as constitutional carry due to the idea that individuals have the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms without infringement — has drawn the most attention. Senate Bill 50, 'Freedom to Carry NC,' allows 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 constitutional carry. The bill has passed the Senate and awaits further approval in the House. Its counterpart in the lower chamber, House Bill 5 or 'NC Constitutional Carry Act,' is largely the same. This measure still needs approval from the House Rules Committee. The biggest difference in the legislation is HB 5 authorizes elected officials in the state to carry a concealed firearm 'while performing their official duties if the official has a concealed handgun permit.' While the State Capitol and Executive Mansion are excluded from this list, it would be allowed at the State Legislative Building and Legislative Office Building, where lawmakers conduct their business. North Carolina residents are overwhelmingly opposed to the measures, according to newly released polls. But lawmakers have chosen to move forward. 'There is political play around this policy that is lawmakers in both chambers pandering to the far right extremists and, frankly, being more worried about their own primaries… than they are about the safety of their constituents,' Monisha Henley, senior vice president for government affairs at Everytown from Gun Safety, said. 'That is why they've been trying to push it through the legislature at lightning speed.' A 2022 study from the Crime Prevention Research Center looked at changes in crime and killings of police after adopting constitutional carry. Using data from 13 states, researchers found that the drop in murder is statistically significant, but the change in violent crime is not. Paul Valone, president of the Grass Roots North Carolina gun rights group, has spent decades working on the issue. He's modeled his advocacy after legislation in Vermont, the first state that didn't have restrictions requiring permits for concealed carry. 'SB 50 and HB 5 are not perfect bills, but they're what's achievable right now,' Valone said. 'Those of us who have spent a lot of time in the movement believe that because we lost our rights over generations incrementally, we will probably have to win them back incrementally.' The movement has spread to schools. House Bill 193, 'Firearm Law Revisions,' authorizes individuals with a valid concealed handgun permit to possess or carry a handgun on educational property owned, used, or operated by a private school. The bill's wording would allow anybody lawfully entitled to carry a concealed weapon to do so on the premises of a private school below the college level, with written permission from the school. This could be school officials, teachers, and even students. 'This bill endangers students, it endangers teachers, and people don't want it,' Rep. Deb Butler (D-New Hanover) said during a committee hearing. 'You're telling the teachers of North Carolina that we don't really care what you say.' Coming up next Tuesday, members of the House Judiciary 2 committee will discuss 'The Firearms Liberty Act.' House Bill 674 would among other changes allow for the issuance of lifetime concealed handgun permits. NC S.A.F.E. (Secure All Firearms Effectively), a statewide initiative to raise awareness on storing firearms safely, announced a partnership with the Wake County Public School System on Thursday. NC S.A.F.E for Schools is designed to help school districts across the state share resources about safe gun storage with parents in the district. The Wake County Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution in March of last year to 'regularly and consistently' provide families with information and resources on the importance of secure gun storage. North Carolina experienced at least 12 incidents of gunfire on school grounds in 2024, resulting in one death and nine injuries. Residents of Raleigh's Hedingham neighborhood are still reeling from an October 2022 mass shooting in which a teenager was able to access his father's firearms killing five people and wounding two others. The teen charged in that shooting spree will go to trial in 2026. Research has shown that secure firearm storage practices are associated with up to a 32 percent reduction in the risk of self-inflicted and unintentional firearm deaths. 'As a school system, we have resolved to educate our community on the importance of safe gun storage and its role in protecting students. Whether providing handouts for safety presentations, helpful information for digital communications, or even materials for school resource officers, resources from NC S.A.F.E. have been invaluable to that mission,' Robert Taylor, superintendent of the Wake County Public School System, said in a statement. For more information click here for a safe storage fact sheet.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NC Senate passes bill easing concealed carry gun restrictions
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A bill loosening gun restrictions in North Carolina continues to move forward. Senate Bill 50 passed through the chamber Thursday afternoon on a 26-18 vote. SB 50 also named the 'Freedom to Carry NC' act, ultimately allows a person to carry a concealed handgun without a permit. The bill applies to individuals who are at 18 and older and a U.S. citizen unless otherwise prohibited by law. All North Carolina counties under burn ban due to hazardous forest fire conditions During the meeting, primary sponsor of the bill, Sen. Danny Britt (R- Hoke, Robeson, Scotland), said, 'We're just trying to make sure that people's constitutional right is protected. We believe the Constitution is worth fighting for.' Britt said 29 other states currently allow the carry of concealed firearms without permits. The bill states there are some restrictions where it would still be unlawful to carry a concealed firearm including a law enforcement or correctional facility, private facilities where a notice is posted, and areas prohibited by federal law. Wednesday, some lawmakers and people who spoke during public comment at the meeting voiced their concerns about SB 50. Questions of safety and education remained a key focus. Sen. Paul Lowe (D- Forsyth) said, 'I get the constitutional right side and to be able to get a gun if you want one… I get that. But the education of how to handle a firearm is my concern.' Currently, North Carolina law requires an eight-hour minimum of training to obtain a concealed carry permit. If SB 50 passes, Britt said the training would not be required. 'To be able to use a firearm safely, that takes years of training, not just through an 8-hour class,' said Britt. 'What we're doing is making it easier for our law abiding citizens to constitutionally carry, and most of those folks I believe are adequately trained to handle a firearm.' Britt also noted that education is not currently a requirement for open carry in North Carolina. 'I don't know what bills have been put in place or filed to our open-carry statutes, it seems as though that's been fine,' he said. Before hearing from members of the public, Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga, Yancey), spoke in support of SB 50. NC bill legalizing marijuana faces uncertainty with only Democratic support 'I will continue to get and renew my concealed carry permit even after this bill because I've traveled to South Carolina and Florida and it sure makes the purchasing process a whole lot easier.' He added, 'I really just want to ask an attorney a question. Can you name any other constitutional right in which we would require government education before you can exercise your right?' In response, Sen. Julie Mayfield (D- Buncombe) replied, 'We require women to go through all sorts of education to seek a legal, safe abortion in this state.' Mayfield said her biggest concern is reducing barriers to people obtaining guns. She included, 'We had a speaker in there who talked about the rise in gun violence and death by gun is the now the leading cause of death among children. I just think bills like this that make it easier for people to obtain guns is going in the wrong direction.' The Senate bill has also created concerns among law enforcement. In a statement, Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead said, 'This will undermine public safety, and I think we should take our time… to study this a little bit more to get some more data and have conversations with law enforcement because SB 50 could potentially increase the chance of violence in even the most minor of law enforcement interactions with the public. My deputies in Durham County will have to treat every traffic stop, every encounter, like a felony stop. That puts everybody at risk.' The Wake County Sheriff's Office also shared the following statement: 'Sheriff Rowe and the Wake County Sheriff's Office remain committed to ensuring the safety of our community. Please know that we are actively monitoring this legislation and will continue to work with lawmakers to advocate for policies that prioritize the well-being of our community and law enforcement officers. We encourage residents to share their concerns with their local representatives as well.' In 2023, the North Carolina legislature also overturned former Gov. Roy Cooper's veto and passed a law that no longer required a pistol purchase permit from the sheriff's office in order to buy a handgun. It eliminated the process of the agency's ability to run a background check. SB 50 maintains the option to obtain a permit for purposes of reciprocity with other states and other personal reasons. The bill now heads to the House. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
