Will you let politicians decide what rights you “need?"

 Gun rights supporters:

Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger says he has done enough for you, and doesn’t see a “need” to pass House Bill 189 for permitless concealed carry. Specifically, when asked whether he would move HB 189, he said:

“We have passed a substantial bill dealing with some concerns about the Second Amendment. We have done away with the pistol purchase permit which was the number one goal of many of the gun rights groups for a long period of time. I just don’t know if there is a need for us to delve into additional issues dealing with guns.”

Right now, HB 189 is languishing in the House Rules Committee despite having passed both Judiciary and Rules committees earlier. As you may recall, despite being calendared for a floor vote, NC House Speaker Tim Moore pulled it from the calendar at the last minute and sent it back to Rules. 

To be fair, Berger and Moore did an outstanding job of passing Senate Bill 41 to repeal our Jim Crow-era pistol purchase permit system and to expand concealed carry into churches which sponsor schools. But Berger, Moore and other Republican leaders need to be reminded that they don’t get to decide what rights you “need.”

HB 189 is not dead!

As North Carolina’s most active and effective gun rights organization, Grass Roots North Carolina needs your help to get HB 189, “Freedom to Carry NC,” moving again. Contrary to news accounts, the bill for permitless concealed carry is not dead. That said, however, it will take some fairly heavy lifting to pass the bill.

The legislative “crossover deadline” has passed, but the bill can be resuscitated by amending it to include a financial appropriation, rendering it immune from the deadline per legislative rules. Bill sponsor Rep. Keith Kidwell (R-Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, Pamlico, GRNC ****) has told me he intends to do so.

In coming days, I will be writing open letters to both Speaker Moore and Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, after which we will begin turning up the heat on Republican leadership, potentially including mailings, radio spots and other means of channeling thousands of voters’ voices to chamber leaders.

What you can do to pass HB 189

 CALL SEN. PHIL BERGER: Let him know you appreciate his efforts to pass SB 41, but determining what rights you “need” is not part of his job description. Call Berger at (919) 733-5708.

 CALL SPEAKER TIM MOORE: Let him know you appreciate his efforts to pass SB 41, but that his job is not yet done. Gun voters elected Republican supermajorities to regain rights lost over previous decades, including passing HB 189 for permitless concealed carry. Call Moore at 919-733-3451.

 HELP GRNC REPLENISH THE COFFERS: We spent serious money getting SB 41 passed, and we need your help to prepare for the next battle. Please go to: grnc.org/join-grnc/contribute