Concealed Carry In Restaurants And Parks Passes NC House

HB 111 passed its Third Reading this afternoon 74 - 45 with 3 excused absences and 1 not voting (the Speaker). It has been ordered engrossed and will now be sent to the North Carolina Senate for action.

Rep. Darren Jackson (D-Wake) offered an amendment that would have stripped out concealed carry in restaurants. It failed 45 - 71.

The final vote on the Third Reading was a roll call vote despite earlier reports that it would be a non-roll call vote.

Ayes

Democrats

Representative(s): Alexander, K.; Brisson; Crawford; Hill; McGuirt; McLawhorn; Owens; Spear; Wray

Republicans

Representative(s): Avila; Barnhart; Blackwell; Blust; Boles; Bradley; Brawley; Brown, L.; Brown, R.; Brubaker; Burr; Cleveland; Collins; Cook; Current; Dixon; Dockham; Dollar; Faircloth; Folwell; Frye; Gillespie; Guice; Hager; Hastings; Hilton; Hollo; Holloway; Horn; Howard; Hurley; Iler; Ingle; Johnson; Jones; Jordan; Justice; Killian; Langdon; LaRoque; Lewis; McComas; McCormick; McElraft; McGee; McGrady; Mills; Moffitt; Moore, T.; Pridgen; Randleman; Rhyne; Sager; Samuelson; Sanderson; Setzer; Shepard; Stam; Starnes; Steen; Stevens; Stone; Torbett; Warren, H.; West

Noes

Democrats

Representative(s): Adams; Alexander, M.; Bell; Bordsen; Brandon; Bryant; Carney; Cotham; Earle; Faison; Farmer-Butterfield; Fisher; Floyd; Gill; Glazier; Goodman; Graham; Hackney; Haire; Hall; Hamilton; Harrison; Insko; Jackson; Jeffus; Keever; Luebke; Martin; Michaux; Mobley; Moore, R.; Parfitt; Parmon; Pierce; Rapp; Ross; Tolson; Wainwright; Warren, E.; Weiss; Wilkins; Womble

Republicans

None

The NRA-ILA released this on the bill this evening:

North Carolina: House Finally Considers and Passes Right-to-Carry Reform Bill

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

House Bill 111, which would expand where Right-to-Carry permit holders may lawfully carry firearms for personal protection, passed Second Reading on Tuesday and then passed in the House of Representatives today on Third Reading. H 111 will now move to the state Senate for their consideration.

Introduced by state Representatives Mark Hilton (R-96), Jeff Barnhart (R-82), Fred Steen (R-76), and Kelly Hastings (R-110), H 111 would remove the prohibition on permit holders from carrying firearms into restaurants that serve alcohol. As introduced, it would have also completely removed the ability of local governments to prohibit the lawful carrying of firearms by permit holders into parks. Finally, it clarifies that permit holders may carry firearms for personal protection within the state parks system.

As previously reported, H 111 was amended in subcommittee with language to allow servers in restaurants to ask patrons who order an alcoholic beverage whether they are carrying a concealed firearm. This amendment was proposed by state Representative Debra Ross (D-38), one of the most virulently anti-gun legislators in the General Assembly. On Tuesday, state Representative Leo Daughtry (R-26) offered an amendment to strip the Ross Amendment from H 111. This amendment passed by a 72 to 46 vote, removing Ross’s “poison pill” language. Two additional amendments were offered on Tuesday that were designed to weaken provisions dealing with carrying in parks.

First, state Representative David Guice (R-113) introduced an amendment that would allow local governments to prohibit permit holders from carrying firearms onto certain “recreational facilities,” which are defined as playgrounds, athletic fields, swimming pools, and athletic facilities. Unfortunately, this amendment passed by a 70 to 48 vote. The NRA will work to remove this emotionally-based, anti-gun amendment from H 111 when it is taken up in the state Senate.

In addition to the Guice Amendment, state Representative Bill Faison (D-50) offered an amendment to weaken the provisions regarding the state parks system. That amendment failed by a 44 to 74 vote.

Today, state Representative Darren Jackson (D-39) introduced an amendment that would strip out the restaurant carry provisions entirely. That amendment failed, but at this time, we do not have a vote count.

H 111 is now headed to the state Senate, where the NRA will work to make a good bill even better by trying to remove the Guice Amendment. Please take a moment to contact your state Senator and urge him or her to work with the NRA to improve and pass H 111.

Grass Roots North Carolina sent the following out tonight at about 8:30pm.

HB 111 Passes House
Today, GRNC's HB 111, "Handgun Permit Valid in Parks & Restaurants," passed its Third Reading in the North Carolina House and will now move to the Senate. An amendment attempted by Rep. Darren Jackson (D-Wake, GRNC 0-star) to remove restaurants from the areas where concealed carry is permitted failed in a 45-71 vote. On its Third Reading, the bill passed by 74-42 which, like its vote on Second Reading, represents a veto-proof 3/5 majority. Because the bill passed one chamber before the May 12 "crossover deadline" it remains alive for consideration next year even if not acted on by the Senate before the 2011 session adjourns.

After a request by GRNC, no attempt was made by House Republicans to water down the odious Guice Amendment under which municipalities may bar guns in any park with athletic facilities. Tactically, it is more sound to leave the worst possible language in the bill in the interest of garnering more support to remove it altogether. GRNC is reasonably confident of removing the provision in the Senate.

Throughout the House debate, gun owners found stalwart friends in Reps. Mark Hilton (R-Catawba, GRNC ****), Jeff Barnhart (R-Cabarrus, ****), Fred Steen (R-Rowan, ****), Kelly Hastings (R-Cleveland, Gaston, ****), George Cleveland (R-Onslow, ****), Glen Bradley (R-Franklin, Halifax, Nash, ****), Jonathan Jordon (R-Ashe, Watauga, ****), Bert Jones (U-Rockingham, ****), and Leo Daughtry (R-Johnston, ****) and John Blust (R-Guilford, ****). Particular thanks go to Speaker Thom Tillis (R-Mecklenburg, ****), who weathered adverse media to bring the bill to a vote. Please use the links above to offer a short note of thanks to all.