Legislators in North Carolina recently voted to do away with the state’s antiquated permit-to-purchase system, as well as to recognize North Carolinians’ right to self-defense while attending a church with a school attached.
With the passage of S.B. 41, those in the Tarheel State will no longer need a permit just to purchase a firearm. As the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) pointed out, a permit-to-purchase system is “redundant and unnecessary.” The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) is already used to conduct background checks on every firearm purchase at a gun store, and provides information to firearms dealers immediately.
Further, federal law requires that all firearm dealers initiate a background check before transferring a firearm to a non-dealer, regardless of where the transfer takes place. A NICS check is done instantly, whereas a permit-to-purchase application could take up to 30 days.
The bill also recognizes that adults who are officially licensed to carry a firearm for self-defense will not be prevented from doing so simply because they walk into a church with a school attached.
The North Carolina House of Representatives and Senate voted 70-44 and 29-19, respectively, to pass S.B. 41 before Gov. Roy Cooper (D) vetoed the bill. “Gov. Cooper’s veto message falsely claims that Senate Bill 41, ‘will allow more domestic abusers and other dangerous people to own handguns,’” reported NRA-ILA.
Cooper had also previously vetoed similar legislation, but this time, both chambers successfully voted to override the governor’s veto; by a vote of 71-46 in the House and 30-19 in the Senate.
“NRA thanks the Senate leadership of Sen. Danny Britt, Sen. Warren Daniel, Sen. Jim Perry, Sen. Phil Berger, and others for fighting to protect the rights of North Carolina’s law-abiding citizens. Also, on the House side, NRA thanks Speaker Tim Moore, Rep. Destin Hall, and others for their tireless efforts to advance Second Amendment freedom in the Tar Heel State,” wrote NRA-ILA.
Though this is welcome news, Cooper’s veto illustrates the necessity of being ready to vote for candidates for office that will defend your constitutional rights.
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