NC Sheriffs' Associaton Threatens Passage Of HB 937

Just like any politician, there are some sheriffs in North Carolina who are resistant to give up a power over their constituents' lives. It doesn't matter that this power doesn't improve public safety, that it allows felons to purchase firearms without a NICS check, and that its intent when passed in 1919 was to keep African-Americans from being armed. The power in question is the pistol purchase permit issued by each county's sheriff and the resistance is coming from the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association.

The Sheriffs' Association is asking the NC House of Representatives to not concur with the State Senate on HB 937. Grass Roots North Carolina just released an alert about their opposition to HB 937.

Sheriffs' opposition could sink restaurant/campus carry and other initiatives!

The North Carolina Sheriffs' Association (NCSA) is pressuring both House Speaker Thom Tillis (R, Mecklenburg, GRNC ****) and NC Governor Pat McCrory (R, GRNC-***) to oppose GRNC's repeal of the antiquated pistol purchase permit system that has been in place since 1919. As part of omnibus gun bill HB 937, which contains restaurant and limited campus carry, the purchase permit law would be repealed IF the House votes to concur with Senate improvements to the bill and IF Gov. McCrory doesn't veto it.

Felons with purchase permits

The purchase permit law slated for elimination through HB 937 was designed to grant discriminatory power to NC Sheriffs and enable them to subjectively deny handguns to whoever they consider “undesirable." To this day, several counties abuse the permit system in ways that make it difficult for law-abiding citizens to rightfully obtain handguns.

Ironically, as documented by The Charlotte Observer, the law sheriffs defend is letting untold numbers of felons bypass background checks to buy guns. Why? Because the untrackable slips of paper issued by sheriffs after background checks can't be repealed and are good for 5 years. Eliminating the system would mean that checks using the National Instant Background Check System (NICS) would be done at the point of sale.

Sheriffs want money & power

Beyond the power to deny purchase permits for arbitrary reasons by claiming applicants don't have "good moral character" (whatever that means), consider the fact that currently proposed legislation will double the fees sheriffs collect. Are Sheriffs refusing to do what's right in order to maintain a cash cow worth millions?

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!

Keep HB 937 from dying: Send 3 emails and make 3 phone calls:

• GOVERNOR PAT McCRORY: First, email him BY CLICKING HERE or going www.governor.state.nc.us/contact/email-pat and then call him Monday morning at (919) 814-2000. Let McCrory know that contrary to what the Sheriffs' Association claims, HB 937 IMPROVES background checks.
• EMAIL ALL NC SHERIFFS: Using the copy-and-paste list of emails and the message below.
• CALL YOUR SHERIFF: Ask them (1) Whether they oppose repeal of a Jim Crow law which allows felons to circumvent background checks, making law-abiding citizens vulnerable to gun control; and (2) Whether they know that is the position of the association which claims to represent them. Identify your sheriff by CLICKING HERE or going to: http://www.ncsheriffs.org/ncmap.htm
• EMAIL & CALL SPEAKER THOM TILLIS: Let him know that you appreciate his earlier efforts, but that the Senate has upped the ante and now he needs to resist the power-hungry NC Sheriffs' Assoc. and pass HB 937 AS IS by making sure the House VOTES TO CONCUR. To contact Speaker Tillis, email Thom.Tillis@ncleg.net and call him on Monday morning at 919-733-3451.
• HELP GRNC PASS HB 937: GRNC has spent tens of thousands of dollars on radio spots, alerts and legislative team expenses to pass what could be the most pro-gun initiative in North Carolina history, but we can't do it without your support, so please go to: http://www.grnc.org/join-grnc/contribute

Register your opinion with McCrory via Twitter:

I want @PatMcCroryNC to sign H937, Amend Various Gun Laws, NOW http://bit.ly/17QJ0Sy #GRNC #NCPOL #NCGA

CONTACT INFORMATION

Use the following copy-and-paste email list to contact Sheriffs:

terry.johnson@alamance-nc.com; cbowman@alexandercountync.gov; acsdrecords@skybest.com; tallen@co.anson.nc.us; sheriff@ashecountygov.com; kevin.frye@averycountync.gov; jordan@sheriff.co.beaufort.nc.us; john.holley@bertie.nc.gov; pbenston@bladenco.org; sheriffingram@brunsco.net; van.duncan@buncombecounty.org; admin@burkesheriff.org; dbriley@cabarruscounty.us; ajones@caldwellcountync.org; tperry@camdencountync.gov; asab@carteretcountygov.org; mwelch@caswellcountync.gov; coy@catawbacountync.gov; richard.webster@chathamsheriff.com; keith.lovin@cherokeecounty-nc.gov; dwayne.goodwin@chowan.nc.gov; claycountysheriff@claync.org; alan.norman@clevelandcounty.com; cbatten@columbusco.org; jmonette@cravencountync.gov; sheriff@ccsonc.org; susan.johnson@currituckcountync.gov; doug.doughtie@darenc.com; david.grice@davidsoncountync.gov; astokes@dcsonc.com; blakew@duplincountync.com; sheriff@shf.co.durham.nc.us; sheriff.knight@co.edgecombe.nc.us; schatzwt@fcso.us; ; acloninger@gcps.org; gatescoso@hotmail.com; anderson.mickey50@yahoo.com; sheriff@granvillecounty.org; lsmith@co.greene.nc.us; bbarnes@co.guilford.nc.us; frazierj@halifaxnc.com; lrollins@harnett.org; suttles@haywoodnc.net; rdavis@hendersoncountync.org; juan.vaughan@hertfordcountync.gov; hpeterkin@hokesheriff.org; barbaradeese@yahoo.com; predmond@co.iredell.nc.us; sheriffashe@jacksonnc.org; sbizzell@jcso.org; sheriff@co.jones.nc.us; sheriff@leecountync.gov; wsmith@co.lenoir.nc.us; sheriffcarpenter@lincolnsheriff.org; rholland@maconnc.org; sheriffharwood@madisoncountysheriff.org; dgibbs@martincountyncgov.com; dgreene@mcdowellsheriff.org; daniel.bailey@mecklenburgcountync.gov; mcsd@mitchellcounty.org; mcsosheriff@montgomerycountync.com; lweaver@moorecountync.gov; dick.jenkins@nashcountync.gov; emcmahon@nhcgov.com; wardie.vincent@ncmail.net; sheriff@onslowcountync.gov; twpope@co.orange.nc.us; sheriffsawyer@coastalnet.com; sheriff@co.pasquotank.nc.us; carson.smith@pendersheriff.com; etilley@perquimanscountync.gov; djones@personcounty.net; rnelks@pittcountync.gov; dhill@polknc.org; sheriff@co.randolph.nc.us; james.clemmons@richmondnc.com; sheriff@robesoncoso.org; spage@co.rockingham.nc.us; kevin.auten@rowancountync.gov; chris.francis@rutherfordcountync.gov; sheriff@intrstar.net; sheriff@scotlandsheriff.org; rjburris@co.stanly.nc.us; sheriff@co.stokes.nc.us; atkinsong@co.surry.nc.us; sheriffcochran@swaincountync.gov; sheriffmahoney@tcsonc.org; dliverman@tyrrellcso.net; eddiecathey@co.union.nc.us; pwhite@vancecounty.org; donnie.harrison@co.wake.nc.us; eagleeye@vance.net; jross@washconc.org; Len.Hagaman@watgov.org; carey.winders@waynegov.com; cshew@wilkescountysheriff.net; cwoodard@wilson-co.com; roliver@yadkincountync.gov; gary.banks@yanceycountync.gov

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

To Gov. McCrory & Speaker Tillis:

Dear [Governor McCrory or Speaker Tillis]:

For reasons of money and power, North Carolina Sheriffs' Association executive director Eddie Caldwell is placing you in the untenable position of supporting a Jim Crow-era handgun purchase permit law which is letting untold numbers of felons bypass computerized background checks. Tell me: What will you do if you kill or delay the measure and then one of those felons kills someone, perhaps a child? Will that death be on your shoulders?

As documented by The Charlotte Observer, as many as 60 felons in Mecklenburg County alone might continue hold purchase permits after being convicted, enabling them to bypass the computerized National Instant Background Check System (NICS) because the untrackable slips of paper issued by sheriffs after background checks can't be repealed and are valid for 5 years. How many felons does that translate to statewide? 2,000? 3,000? Eliminating the system will mean that checks using the NICS would be done at the point of sale.

Support the purchase permit repeal: House Bill 937 does an exceptional job of expanding the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens while strengthening background checks. I will be closely monitoring your actions on this issue via Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts. Rest assured that I will remember them in future elections.

Respectfully,

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To the list of sheriffs:

Dear Sheriff:

I strongly urge you to tell North Carolina Sheriffs' Association executive director Eddie Caldwell that he is placing you and other sheriffs in the untenable position of supporting a Jim Crow-era handgun purchase permit law which is letting untold numbers of felons bypass computerized background checks. Tell me: What will you do if NCSA kills or delays the measure and then one of those felons kills someone, perhaps a child? That death will be on your shoulders.

As documented by The Charlotte Observer, as many as 60 felons in Mecklenburg County alone might continue hold purchase permits after being convicted, enabling them to bypass the computerized National Instant Background Check System (NICS) because the untrackable slips of paper issued by sheriffs after background checks can't be repealed and are valid for 5 years. How may does that translate to statewide? 2,000? 3,000? Eliminating the system will mean that checks using the NICS would be done at the point of sale.

Support the purchase permit repeal: House Bill 937 does an exceptional job of expanding the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens while strengthening background checks. I will be closely monitoring your actions on this issue via Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts. Rest assured that I will remember them in future elections.

Respectfully,