Contact your state Representative TODAY and urge him or her to support House Bill 937
House Bill 937, a comprehensive firearms reform bill, is scheduled to be considered on the North Carolina House floor this Monday, May 6. This legislation seeks to make a number of important pro-gun reforms including, but not limited to:
- Allowing Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) holders to lawfully carry their personal protection firearm into a restaurant that serves alcohol.
- Removing the prohibition on CHP holders from carrying into a place where tickets are sold for admission and would fix the problem of anti-gun localities overstepping their authority regarding restricting CHP holders from carrying firearms into locally controlled parks.
- Addressing some issues regarding firearms in a vehicle, as well as certain firearm issues on campus grounds.
In addition, H 937 would bring North Carolina in compliance with the requirements set forth in the federal NICS Improvement Amendments Act (NIAA) of 2007. In accordance with federal law, individuals who have been placed under certain types of mental health-related orders – by a court – are prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms. The NIAA established clear standards for states to use in crafting laws to give persons subject to these prohibitions a means of relief. H 937, under the guidelines established by the NIAA, would allow a court to grant relief from the federal prohibition upon a finding that the petitioner will not be likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety, and that the granting of the relief would not be contrary to the public interest. Please click here for an NIAA fact sheet.
North Carolina gun owners owe their gratitude to state Representatives Jacqueline Schaffer (R-105) and Justin Burr (R-67), who worked closely with the NRA throughout the drafting and amending process for H 937. Special thanks also to their fellow primary bill sponsors, state Representatives George Cleveland (R-14) and John Faircloth (R-61). These state Representatives represented the bill and responsible gun owners exceptionally well during the House Judiciary Subcommittee A hearing that led to this bill being reported to the House floor.
This legislation is scheduled to be considered on the House floor this Monday, May 6. We anticipate that anti-gun legislators will do everything they can to defeat H 937, as well as attempt to amend it in a negative fashion. Please contact your state Representative and urge her or him to support H 937 and to oppose any amendments that may weaken this bill or delay its passage.
Also, the North Carolina Senate Judiciary II Committee amended Senate Bill 443. As introduced by state Senator Andrew Brock (R-34), S 443 sought to eliminate the practice of destroying lawful, functioning firearms that have been found or received by law enforcement. Unfortunately, the amendments removed almost all of this language. While this bill does not do anything to infringe on gun rights, it now does not clearly advance gun rights, and the NRA is no longer supporting it. We will continue to work with the bill sponsor and other pro-gun legislators to amend S 443, either on the Senate floor or when it reaches the House, with the goal of returning it to a state that the NRA can once again actively support.
Please contact your state Senator and urge her or him to work with the NRA to make S 443 a bill that can once again be promoted as advancing our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.