Latest news with #concealedcarry
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Carolina lawmakers focus on guns, immigration and parental rights ahead of a key deadline
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Gun access, parental rights and the response to illegal immigration were front and center this week in North Carolina as Republican lawmakers worked to keep their high-priority bills alive, while many other pieces of legislation are likely dead for two years. Unlike other years with chaotic late-night sessions full of political bargaining, the lead-up to Thursday's biennial 'crossover deadline' looked more orderly and even wrapped up a day early. GOP legislative veterans chalked it up to a disciplined House work schedule from new Speaker Destin Hall, and perhaps because fewer 'controversial' bills were considered. It doesn't hurt that parliamentary maneuvers can be used to bypass the deadline and move bills later — if top leaders allow. There are also exceptions for bills involving spending or taxes, constitutional amendments and other topics. 'There are so many ways to skin a cat,' Senate leader Phil Berger told reporters. Among other things, legislators advanced measures making it easier to retain a concealed handgun permit, as well as ensure immigrants unlawfully in the country can't get certain state benefits, and make it so minors need a parent's consent for more kinds of medical treatments. Since bills on these topics passed one General Assembly chamber, they met the deadline. Here's a look at some of the recent activity: Gun access appeared as a leading issue After a brief debate, the GOP-led House passed a bill that creates lifetime concealed handgun permits and eases training requirements for some people renewing expired permits with fixed durations. Democratic Rep. Marcia Morey warned that having renewals safeguards the public, because a lifetime permit wouldn't account for changing circumstances like addiction or mental illnesses. But Republican proponents emphasized that permits — with or without renewals — don't prevent bad behavior. Earlier this year, Senate Republicans approved legislation that would allow concealed carry without a permit. And in the past week, the House and Senate approved competing bills that would allow private K-12 school governing boards to give permission to certain employees or volunteers to carry a concealed handgun on campus for student and staff safety. Advancing Trump's immigration agenda Amid President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration, the House passed a bill Wednesday that would bar several state agencies from supplying benefits to immigrants unlawfully in the country. State public universities are also instructed to verify applicants as legal U.S. residents to be considered for instate tuition and financial aid, according to the bill. Republicans in both chambers have already signaled support for Trump's immigration policies through bills previously advanced this session. Emphasis on parents' rights and protections Minors would be limited in their ability to consent to most medical treatments on their own, except for pregnancy, according to a bill passed Tuesday in the House. A handful of House Democrats joined Republicans in approving it. Under current law, minors can provide sole consent for treating sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, substance abuse and mental health conditions. Minors could still consult with doctors about those issues, but the bill maintains parents' 'essential role' in determining the best medical course of action for their children, Republican Rep. Jennifer Balkcom said. Some Democrats spoke against the bill, saying it would endanger teenagers who feel less inclined to seek treatment for sensitive issues. The Senate approved legislation Wednesday that would prevent parents from being cited for neglect because they raised their child consistent with the child's sex assigned at birth. What didn't meet crossover? One House bill with momentum that fell short would have expanded the state's capital punishment methods from lethal injection to include death by electrocution and a firing squad. The legislation, which had cleared two committees, would make electrocution the default execution method but allow death-row offenders to choose another option if correction officials have it available. The firing squad method garnered national attention this year after South Carolina executed the first U.S. prisoner by firing squad in over a decade. North Carolina hasn't carried out a state execution since 2006 in part due to a legal impasse involving lethal injections and litigation over racial bias in capital trials. What's ahead? House and Senate leaders will decide the fate of measures from the other chambers. The state budget process also revs up as House Republicans hope to pass their two-year spending plan before Memorial Day weekend. Negotiations with Senate Republicans, who approved their budget last month, will follow. In the background is new Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, who has his own ideas on a budget and other legislation. Veto threats could wield Stein more influence since Republicans are now one seat short of a veto-proof majority. Republicans have been able to sway some Democrats on key measures.
Associated Press
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
North Carolina lawmakers focus on guns, immigration and parental rights ahead of a key deadline
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Gun access, parental rights and the response to illegal immigration were front and center this week in North Carolina as Republican lawmakers worked to keep their high-priority bills alive, while many other pieces of legislation are likely dead for two years. Unlike other years with chaotic late-night sessions full of political bargaining, the lead-up to Thursday's biennial 'crossover deadline' looked more orderly and even wrapped up a day early. GOP legislative veterans chalked it up to a disciplined House work schedule from new Speaker Destin Hall, and perhaps because fewer 'controversial' bills were considered. It doesn't hurt that parliamentary maneuvers can be used to bypass the deadline and move bills later — if top leaders allow. There are also exceptions for bills involving spending or taxes, constitutional amendments and other topics. 'There are so many ways to skin a cat,' Senate leader Phil Berger told reporters. Among other things, legislators advanced measures making it easier to retain a concealed handgun permit, as well as ensure immigrants unlawfully in the country can't get certain state benefits, and make it so minors need a parent's consent for more kinds of medical treatments. Since bills on these topics passed one General Assembly chamber, they met the deadline. Here's a look at some of the recent activity: Gun access appeared as a leading issue After a brief debate, the GOP-led House passed a bill that creates lifetime concealed handgun permits and eases training requirements for some people renewing expired permits with fixed durations. Democratic Rep. Marcia Morey warned that having renewals safeguards the public, because a lifetime permit wouldn't account for changing circumstances like addiction or mental illnesses. But Republican proponents emphasized that permits — with or without renewals — don't prevent bad behavior. Earlier this year, Senate Republicans approved legislation that would allow concealed carry without a permit. And in the past week, the House and Senate approved competing bills that would allow private K-12 school governing boards to give permission to certain employees or volunteers to carry a concealed handgun on campus for student and staff safety. Advancing Trump's immigration agenda Amid President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration, the House passed a bill Wednesday that would bar several state agencies from supplying benefits to immigrants unlawfully in the country. State public universities are also instructed to verify applicants as legal U.S. residents to be considered for instate tuition and financial aid, according to the bill. Republicans in both chambers have already signaled support for Trump's immigration policies through bills previously advanced this session. Emphasis on parents' rights and protections Minors would be limited in their ability to consent to most medical treatments on their own, except for pregnancy, according to a bill passed Tuesday in the House. A handful of House Democrats joined Republicans in approving it. Under current law, minors can provide sole consent for treating sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, substance abuse and mental health conditions. Minors could still consult with doctors about those issues, but the bill maintains parents' 'essential role' in determining the best medical course of action for their children, Republican Rep. Jennifer Balkcom said. Some Democrats spoke against the bill, saying it would endanger teenagers who feel less inclined to seek treatment for sensitive issues. The Senate approved legislation Wednesday that would prevent parents from being cited for neglect because they raised their child consistent with the child's sex assigned at birth. What didn't meet crossover? One House bill with momentum that fell short would have expanded the state's capital punishment methods from lethal injection to include death by electrocution and a firing squad. The legislation, which had cleared two committees, would make electrocution the default execution method but allow death-row offenders to choose another option if correction officials have it available. The firing squad method garnered national attention this year after South Carolina executed the first U.S. prisoner by firing squad in over a decade. North Carolina hasn't carried out a state execution since 2006 in part due to a legal impasse involving lethal injections and litigation over racial bias in capital trials. What's ahead? House and Senate leaders will decide the fate of measures from the other chambers. The state budget process also revs up as House Republicans hope to pass their two-year spending plan before Memorial Day weekend. Negotiations with Senate Republicans, who approved their budget last month, will follow. In the background is new Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, who has his own ideas on a budget and other legislation. Veto threats could wield Stein more influence since Republicans are now one seat short of a veto-proof majority. Republicans have been able to sway some Democrats on key measures.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NC House votes to loosen gun restrictions with lifetime concealed-carry permit
North Carolina gun owners who want concealed carry handgun permits could soon have to apply only once in their lives, if a bill in the state legislature becomes law. The current law requires concealed carry permit holders to renew the permits every five years. Under House Bill 674, which passed the House on Wednesday evening, there would be a new lifetime concealed carry permit, too. Holders of that permit would be able to keep it for life, never again having to take another firearm safety and training course or pass another background check. The bill passed 70-42 with mostly Republican votes, and with some Democrats objecting to ending the renewal process. Rep. Shelly Willingham, a Rocky Mount Democrat and retired law enforcement officer, voted in favor of the bill. Republicans argued that the process was burdensome to permit holders and that some states require no permits at all — something that has also been proposed for North Carolina. Rep. Tracy Clark, a Guilford County Democrat, argued against the bill, saying that 'a lot can happen in the 5, 10, 20 years since approval.' Democratic Rep. Marcia Morey of Durham, a former judge, agreed with Clark. 'As many of you like to say on that side of the aisle, about 'good guys with the gun,' OK, that's fine, good guys with the gun. But a lifetime — there can be a lot of changes,' Morey said. 'So this five-year is just a check make sure the good guy with a gun stays a good guy who's confident, who's safe and knows how to operate the gun, does not have any affliction that would be a danger to one's self, or the public,' she said. Morey said renewing a permit every five years is 'common sense.' Rep. Jay Adams, a Catawba County Republican, countered that 'someone can go off the deep end' two days after getting any permit or license, and the permit doesn't prevent 'bad behavior.' The bill now goes to the Senate, which can choose to do nothing, change the bill in committee or take it up as it is for a vote. What's next for concealed carry bills In March, the Senate passed a bill along party lines that would allow someone to carry a concealed handgun without a permit, The News & Observer previously reported. That means both House and Senate Republicans have sent each other a bill that would change the law on concealed carry handgun permits to loosen existing gun regulations. House Speaker Destin Hall said Republicans do plan to take up full permit repeal in this session. He said the House's bill to eliminate concealed carry permits is virtually identical to the Senate's, and they may take up the Senate version because it already advanced. As for the lifetime concealed carry permit bill that passed Wednesday, Hall said: 'Whether we have a requirement for a permit in this state or not, that's still useful for folks because they get a permit here that they can use in other states.' 'So they need that regardless of whether we have a permit or not,' Hall said. Republicans have a veto-proof supermajority in the Senate, and are one vote short of that threshold in the House.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Senate advances gun bill that could expand gun rights for Oklahoma municipal employees
Sen. Christi Gillespie, R-Broken Arrow, looks at her computer screen during Senate proceedings on Monday, May 5, 2025. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate on Tuesday advanced a bill that would permit cities to allow employees and elected officials to carry concealed firearms inside municipal buildings despite concerns it could increase gun violence. House Bill 1095 would give local officials to decide if they want their employees to have the option of allowing concealed firearms, said Sen. Christi Gillespie, R-Broken Arrow, the Senate author. She said county employees have been allowed the same right since 2017, and there hasn't been an incident. Gillespie said it is a right, not a privilege, to carry firearms. 'Bad guys don't ask for permission,' Gillespie said. 'So, it is making people that choose to carry more safe.' But Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, questioned what evidence there is that such a move would make those facilities safer as opposed to more volatile. Hicks said the measure may impact the comfort of constituents, including children, survivors of violence and those with trauma, who may feel intimidated or unsafe interacting with armed government personnel. She said the bill prioritizes political ideology over public safety. 'In doing so, it sends a message that we are more concerned about expanding access to firearms than preserving trust in our public institutions,' Hicks said. 'The unintended consequences of this bill are real and irreversible.' Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, said that last year, 458 people were killed in their workplace by guns. The vast majority of those were employees killing fellow workers, Kirt said. She said the measure exposes citizens to more workplace violence and dangerous environments. Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City, said studies indicate that having firearms in a building, often with people who are not trained, increased the risk of suicide and homicide. 'Impusive actions, when there are firearms in a building, tend to have more fatal consequences,' Brooks said. Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, who supported the measure, said it was a local control issue. 'It was Benjamin Franklin who said that those who would sacrifice necessary freedom for temporary security deserve neither,' Bullard said. Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee, said every individual 'has a moral right to defend themselves.' 'When seconds count, police police are minutes away. Vote for freedom,' he said. The bill passed by a vote of 39-8 and returns to the House for consideration. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
