Contact Governor McCrory TODAY and ask him to sign House Bill 937 into law
Yesterday, the House-Senate conference committee on a critical pro-gun reform bill, House Bill 937, submitted its report that resolved differences between the House and Senate versions of H 937. The state House then passed this legislation by a 73-41 vote, quickly followed by the state Senate on a 32-14 vote. This omnibus firearms reform bill now goes to Governor Pat McCrory (R) for his consideration.
The final language in H 937 delivered to Governor McCrory leaves the vast majority of the Senate’s version of H 937 intact. The only provision affected was the attempt to repeal the handgun purchase permit law, which requires any North Carolina resident to acquire a permit from the sheriff in the county where he/she resides before acquiring a handgun. Rather than repeal this law, the language approved improves the permit issuing process, establishes a revocation requirement for individuals issued a permit who later become prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm, improves the reporting process of the records of individuals who are prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), and protects the privacy of individuals applying for a purchase permit. Your NRA will continue to work with legislators on future efforts to fully repeal the outdated handgun purchase permit law.
Along with several improvements to the handgun purchase permit law, H 937 also does the following:
- Allows Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) holders to lawfully carry their personal protection firearm into a restaurant that serves alcohol.
- Removes the prohibition on CHP holders from carrying into a place where tickets are sold for admission.
- Fixes the problem of anti-gun localities overstepping their authority regarding restricting CHP holders from carrying firearms into locally controlled parks.
- Allows CHP holders to transport their personal protection handguns in their motor vehicle while on all school property, as well as allow them to store those handguns in their locked vehicles while parked on school property.
- Ensures the privacy of CHP holders by allowing access to the database of permittees only for law enforcement purposes.
- Removes the prohibition on CHP holders carrying their personal protection firearms during a parade or funeral.
- Brings North Carolina in compliance with the standards set forth in the federal NICS Improvement Amendments Act (NIAA) of 2007—a critical mental health reform.
- Removes the prohibition on using firearms with sound suppressing devices while otherwise lawfully hunting game.
H 937 is the most comprehensive pro-gun reform bill passed in North Carolina since 1995, when the original Right-to-Carry law was enacted.
Passage of this bill could not have been possible without the dedicated efforts of NRA members who continually delivered a clear, consistent and supportive message to state legislators who worked hard on H 937. While many distractions delayed passage of this bill, several key state lawmakers worked tirelessly to ensure these critical reforms were passed. The pro-gun community owes a great deal of thanks to the following state legislators, who worked closely with the NRA on H 937:
Speaker of the House Thom Tillis (R-98)
State Representative Jacqueline Schaffer (R-105)
State Representative Justin Burr (R-67)
State Representative George Cleveland (R-14)
State Representative John Faircloth (R-61)
Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (R-26)
State Senator Buck Newton (R-11)
State Senator Andrew Brock (R-34)
State Senator Kathy Harrington (R-43)
State Senator Shirley Randleman (R-30)
The NRA also wishes to thank the North Carolina Rifle and Pistol Association, NRA's state affiliate, whose representatives worked side-by-side with the NRA throughout the legislative process in Raleigh.
The final step in this process is now in the hands of Governor Pat McCrory. Please contact Governor McCrory, thank him for his past support of our Right to Keep and Bear Arms and urge him to sign H 937 into law as soon as possible.
Contact information for Governor Pat McCrory:
(919) 814-2000