(NC)Concealed Reciprocity bill scheduled for Senate hearing Tuesday, March 11th

[DMK]

RECIPROCITY GETS HEARING--ACT NOW!

[Analysis] SB 33: “Concealed Handguns/Reciprocity,†is scheduled for a hearing in the NC Senate J-II Committee on Tuesday morning, March 11, at 10:00 AM. The prompt hearing may confirm hopes that a reciprocity bill would be dealt with fairly by a North Carolina Senate which has a stronger pro-gun representation than in past sessions. Any optimism should be cautious, however, because virtually no weakening amendments would be acceptable for the bill.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

USE GRNC’S AUTOMATED E-MAIL to contact J-II Committee members. By going to http://www.grnc.org/alerts/email_3_8_03.htm, in minutes you can quickly and easily send e-mail to all 17 members of the committee.

CALL “SWING VOTERS,†particularly if you live in the member’s district. Swing voters are listed below; some are “fence-sitters†on the gun issue, some are freshmen whose stance on gun issues is unknown. Immediately CALL these house reps and politely urge them to support SB 33 in its present form, without weakening amendments. If you leave them voice mail, please leave your name and at least a phone number.

ATTEND THE COMMITTEE MEETING. The Senate Judiciary II Committee meets at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, March 11 in Legislative Building room 1124. The Legislative Building is located at 16 W. Jones St. (919-733-7928) in Raleigh, across the street from the NC Museum of Natural History. Demonstrate your support for the concealed handgun law: Be there!

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

Dear Representative:

I strongly urge you to support SB 33: “Concealed Handguns/Reciprocity,†under consideration in the Senate Judiciary II Committee.

As in thirty-two other states with concealed handgun laws, North Carolina’s has been a resounding success. With fewer than 0.3% of permits revoked for any reason (the vast majority for reasons unrelated to firearms), even the state’s primary gun control organization, North Carolinians Against Gun Violence, has called it a “good law.†Elsewhere, an early report issued by the state found instances in which concealed handgun permit-holders were able to prevent violent crime. Not only have the “wild west†scenarios envisioned by concealed handgun opponents failed to materialize, objective research reveals that states with concealed handgun laws experience reductions in rape (5%), murder (8.5%) and aggravated assault (7%).

By requiring the North Carolina Attorney General to establish reciprocal agreements with other states, SB 33 will enable North Carolinians who have proven themselves sane, sober and law-abiding to protect themselves and their families while traveling elsewhere. It will particularly benefit North Carolinians who work in adjacent states such as South Carolina, which will recognize our permits once we recognize theirs.

Contrary to popular misconceptions, SB 33 will establish reciprocal agreements only with states whose issuing standards mirror those of North Carolinaextensive criminal background checks and a firearms safety and training course. Indeed, by providing additional motivation to take the safety course, SB 33 may reduce already low rates of gun-related accidents. To be effective, SB 33 must pass in its present form, without weakening amendments. At your earliest convenience, please advise me of your position on this issue.

Respectfully yours,

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CONTACT THESE ‘SWING VOTERS’
(All phone numbers are area code 919)

Sen. Walter Dalton (D-Rutherford), (919) 715-3038
Sen. Robert Holloman (D-Hertford), (919) 715-3032
Sen. John Kerr (D-Wayne), (919) 733-5621
Sen. Tony Moore (D-Pitt), (919) 715-8363
Sen. Joe Sam Queen (D-Haywood), (919) 733-3460

CONTACT THESE ANTI-GUNNERS
(Time permitting)

Sen. Katie Dorsett (D-Guilford), (336) 275-0628
Sen. Kay Hagan (D-Guilford), (919) 733-5856
Sen. Ellie Kinnaird (D-Orange), (919) 929-1607

Grass Roots North Carolina, P.O. Box 10684, Raleigh, NC 27605
919-664-8565, www.grnc.org GRNC Alert Hotline: (919) 562-4137

GRNC Alert 3-8-03:

 

[DMK]

GRNC Update 3-12-03: NRA Muddies Reciprocity Waters

Yesterday's hearing for SB 33: "Concealed Handgun Reciprocity," was a mixed bag. On the upside, the committee seems poised to give the bill a favorable report. On the downside, backdoor negotiations between lobbyists for the NRA and the NC Attorney General's office produced a "committee substitute" bill that gives too much power to the Attorney General. In essence, it not only allows the AG to determine which states have training and background check standards that would qualify for reciprocal agreements, but also makes his decision "conclusive"...read that unappealable.

Rest assured that GRNC is working on the problem. Meanwhile, we suggest that NRA members call the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action at 703-267-1000 and let them know that you don't appreciate having their lobbyists weaken the bill.

More information will be forthcoming as it becomes available.

Grass Roots North Carolina, P.O. Box 10684, Raleigh, NC 27605
919-664-8565, www.grnc.org GRNC Alert Hotline: (919) 562-4137

 

[DMK]

GRNC Update 3-14-03: Reciprocity Passes Committee

In yesterday’s alert, you heard how NRA representative Jennifer Palmer negotiated with the state Attorney General’s office to produce a last-minute “committee substitute†for SB 33: “Concealed Handgun Reciprocity†which would give the Attorney General absolute authority to determine which states have adequate issuing standards for reciprocal concealed carry agreements. Not only would the AG’s determination be “conclusive,†he wouldn’t even have to explain the rationale for rejecting a particular state.

In response, GRNC representatives responded by testifying to the committee that we could not support the bill in that form. Apparently, that made an impression on all involved, because the result was a negotiation resulting in a requirement that the Attorney General make a public report, within 30 days, for any state rejected, stipulating exactly the criteria under which the state was determined ineligible for a reciprocal agreement.

While far from ideal, the measure adds public accountability. Better still, the bill today passed from the Senate Judiciary II Committee by a unanimous voice vote. Even the rabidly anti-gun Sen. Ellie Kinnaird (D-Orange, GRNC 0-star) declined to oppose it. Unlike previous sessions of the General Assembly, reciprocity will now move to the Senate floor for a prompt vote, after which it heads to the relatively pro-gun NC House. GRNC will continue to work on flaws in the bill as it reaches the House.

In an almost comic aside to the committee meeting, Sen. Kinnaird again railed against gun owners, making a doomed attempt to “amend†SB 33 by adding the entirety of a gun show bill that GRNC killed in a previous session. Here amendment failed when she became the only committee member to vote for it.

Legislators who deserve your thanks

In addition to SB 33 co-sponsors listed in previous alerts, the legislators below deserve your thanks for actively defending your rights during the committee debate over SB 33.

Bill sponsor & J-II Vice Chair: Sen. Scott Thomas (D-Craven)
J-II Chairman: Sen. Fletcher Hartsell
Vice Chair: Sen. Austin Allran
Committee members: Sens. Hugh Webster (R-Alamance), Stan Bingham (R-Davidson), John Kerr (D-Wayne), Bob Rucho (R-Mecklenburg), and Fern Shubert (R-Union).

Grass Roots North Carolina, P.O. Box 10684, Raleigh, NC 27605
919-664-8565, www.grnc.org GRNC Alert Hotline: (919) 562-4137