NC Pro-Gun Bill Stalled in Committee – Your Help Needed

Tomorrow’s hearing for House Bill 562 has been canceled, and a new date has not yet been scheduled.

Some important pro-gun measures have been re-introduced into the bill after having been amended out previously.

• Repeal the requirement that law-abiding citizens must obtain a permit from their local sheriff before acquiring a handgun.  This measure had been removed in a previous version, but has been added back to the bill.
• Require the chief law enforcement officer (CLEO) of a jurisdiction to certify the transfer or making of a firearm in a timely manner. This measure had been removed in a previous version, but has been added back to the bill.

According to the NRA-ILA, HB 562 is now set to include the following:

• Require the chief law enforcement officer (CLEO) of a jurisdiction to certify the transfer or making of a firearm in a timely manner. This measure had been removed in a previous version, but has been added back to the bill.

• Clarify the exemption for keeping a firearm in a vehicle by a person with a valid Concealed Handgun Permit while the vehicle is on the property of a public school.

• Repeal the requirement that law-abiding citizens must obtain a permit from their local sheriff before acquiring a handgun.  This measure had been removed in a previous version, but has been added back to the bill.

• Improve the existing Range Protection Law, which would help to protect shooting ranges from new local ordinances designed to shut them down.

• Improve the issuing process and remove unnecessary disqualifiers for Concealed Handgun Permits.

• Remove the prohibition on using a lawfully possessed short barreled rifle for hunting.

• Strengthen North Carolina’s preemption statute.

While a new hearing date for HB 562 has not yet been determined, please continue to contact your state Representative, especially if he or she is a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, and urge her or him to support HB 562 and to work with NRA to ensure passage of the strongest pro-gun package possible.