Special Elections In North Carolina Under Way

Grass Roots North Carolina reminds us that not one but two special elections are now under way here in North Carolina. The first is in the 3rd District to replace the late Rep. Walter Jones Jr. who passed away in February. The second is in the 9th District which includes parts of Charlotte and was a result of the Board of Elections ordering a new election. The first was tainted by vote harvesting which is illegal in North Carolina - though not in California it seems.

The GRNC-PVF has these recommendations:

CANDIDATE RECOMMENDATIONS: US HOUSE 3 & US HOUSE 9

US HOUSE DISTRICT 3 GRNC Political Victory Fund recommends you vote for GREG MURPHY in this Special Election, which is fast approaching. Below, under 'Voting Information,' you'll find information about early voting, which by the way, is already underway! Election Day is September 10.   US HOUSE DISTRICT 9 GRNC Political Victory Fund recommends you vote for DAN BISHOP in this Special Election, which is fast approaching. Below, under 'Voting Information,' you'll find information about early voting, which by the way, is already underway! Election Day is September 10.   "One of these crazy white nationalist guys could just roll up into a gun show right here in North Carolina and buy all the assault weapons they want." – Dan McCready To Dan McCready, as a gun owner you are a “crazy white nationalist” and he is trying to tell people that one can buy guns from dealers at gun shows without a background check. McCready WILL attack your rights if elected. Read more here: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/article234460552.html#storylink=cpy Your Vote is Critical Bishop's and Murphy's opponents are far left-wingers who can be counted on to support gun control. If victorious, they will surely be hanging with the likes of declared socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other anti-gun, power-hungry leftists. If the anti-gun candidates win, you can be sure they will be coming for your guns, which is bad enough, but ultimately, you can count on them coming for ALL of your rights. In short, vote like your rights depend on it---because they do. And, if you've kept up with the news, you know that these statements are not hyperbole. Contact Other Gun Rights Voters Please remember to call friends and family who live* in the 3rd or 9th District and remind them that GRNC Political Victory Fund recommends a vote for GREG MURPHY in the 3rd and DAN BISHOP in the 9th on or before September 10. If you're receiving this message, and don't live in one of these districts, please remind anyone you know who does live in one of them to vote. * The 3rd District consists of the following counties: Beaufort, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Greene, Hyde, Lenoir, Jones, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, part of Pitt (Pitt is split between District 3 and District 1) and Tyrrell. *The 9th District covers all or parts of: Mecklenburg, Union, Anson, Richmond, Scotland, Robeson, Bladen, and Cumberland counties. Voting Information Special Election One-Stop Early Voting is underway right now and ends on September 6. Check your county's one-stop site information for specific times and locations. Election Day is Tuesday, September 10 from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM. Click here to find your polling place on election day, or click here to find your One-Stop Early Voting location(s). Absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day (September 10) and received by 5 PM three days after Election Day (if by mail). Click here to check your voter registration. Same-day voter registration: One-stop absentee voting (commonly known as "early voting") allows any registered voter to cast an absentee ballot in person on select days prior to Election Day. In 2019, Special Election one-stop voting is happening right now, and it ends on Friday, September 6. Unlike on Election Day, when registered voters can only vote at their specific precinct location, one-stop voting allows registered voters to vote at any one-stop absentee voting site in their county, but only during the early voting dates. One-stop sites will have all the ballot styles for a given election at each site.

GRNC Alert: School Safety Is Up To NC House Republicans

Rep. Larry Pittman (R-Cabarrus, Rowan) is planning to offer a substitute amendment to the NC Senate's S 5 - School Safety Omnibus. It would create the position of volunteer school faculty guardian. Requirements would be a 16-hour training course from the NC Criminal Justice and Training Standards Commission, drug testing, and possession of a NC Concealed Handgun Permit. It would only apply to those who are either full or part-time faculty or staff of a school. The substitute is based upon his HB 216.

GRNC says, and I agree, that it is time to push Republicans in the proper direction on school safety.


From the alert:

SCHOOL SAFETY IS UP TO NC HOUSE REPUBLICANS

Pro-gun stalwart to offer full school protection bill as an amendment… If you follow GRNC’s alerts, then you know that GRNC 4-star statesman, Rep. Larry Pittman (Cabarrus, Rowan), can always be counted on to stand for your gun rights. In fact, he not only stands for them, he takes strides to advance them, and advance a pro-gun bill is exactly what Rep. Pittman intends to do, with your help. Studies Show Studies by the Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC), with respected researcher Dr. John Lott at its helm, have concluded that schools that allow educators and administrators to be armed are much (much) safer than their gun-free counterparts.  To read more about the CPRC’s study, click here. Incidentally, thanks to GRNC’s hard-working volunteers, NC’s House Republicans have been made well aware of this study and its results, so any legislator’s claimed ignorance of this truth is not viable. Help Rep. Pittman Help North Carolina Rep. Pittman intends to offer House Bill 216 (H216) (School Self-Defense Act), in its entirety, as an amendment to Senate Bill 5 (S5) (School Safety Omnibus), which is quite alive, but has just been sent back to the Rules Committee. We must encourage the Rules Committee members and other House Republicans to either allow a full hearing for H216 or to move forward with S5, with H216 as an amendment.  Note that the addition of language from H216 to S5 (or the passage of H216 by itself, in its entirety) would make school protection complete—entirely practical and most importantly: effective. The uniting of these two bills (or H216 alone) would be a great development, however, Rep. Pittman needs your help if this is to happen. Push Republicans in the Right Direction Below, see how you can easily contact the House Republican caucus to insist they do the right thing. To give them the push they need, please use the information provided below to send them a message.  (Note: GRNC will be tracking legislators' votes on this, and it will go down on their gun-rights record---for better or worse). Support "Rights Watch International" Learn more about Rights Watch International You shop. Amazon Gives. (What is Amazon Smile?)

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!

EMAIL THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE CAUCUS: Apart from a few reliable pro-gun statesman, the copy/paste email list(s) below will allow you to send your message to all House Republicans. For the message body, use the copy/paste text provided in the ‘Deliver This Message’ section, also below. PLEASE CONTRIBUTE TO GRNC: Help us fight gun control while we promote Second Amendment principles. Please CLICK HERE to contribute. Bear in mind that GRNC is an all-volunteer organization, so you can be sure your donations are put to the best possible use. Any amount helps, and any amount is appreciated. NC House Republicans Copy/Paste Email *Lists(s): Dean.Arp@ncleg.net; Lisa.Barnes@ncleg.net; John.Bell@ncleg.net; Hugh.Blackwell@ncleg.net; Jamie.Boles@ncleg.net; William.Brisson@ncleg.net; Mark.Brody@ncleg.net; Dana.Bumgardner@ncleg.net; Jerry.Carter@ncleg.net; Debra.Conrad@ncleg.net; Kevin.Corbin@ncleg.net; Ted.Davis@ncleg.net; Jimmy.Dixon@ncleg.net; Josh.Dobson@ncleg.net; Jeffrey.Elmore@ncleg.net; John.Faircloth@ncleg.net; John.Fraley@ncleg.net; Edward.Goodwin@ncleg.net; Holly.Grange@ncleg.net; Destin.Hall@ncleg.net; Kyle.Hall@ncleg.net; Bobby.Hanig@ncleg.net; Jon.Hardister@ncleg.net; Kelly.Hastings@ncleg.net; Cody.Henson@ncleg.net; Craig.Horn@ncleg.net; Julia.Howard@ncleg.net; Chris.Humphrey@ncleg.net; Pat.Hurley@ncleg.net; Frank.Iler@ncleg.net; Steve.Jarvis@ncleg.net; LindaP.Johnson@ncleg.net; Brenden.Jones@ncleg.net; Donny.Lambeth@ncleg.net; David.Lewis@ncleg.net; Pat.McElraft@ncleg.net; Chuck.McGrady@ncleg.net; Allen.McNeill@ncleg.net; Tim.Moore@ncleg.net; Gregory.Murphy@ncleg.net; Larry.Potts@ncleg.net; Michele.Presnell@ncleg.net; Dennis.Riddell@ncleg.net; David.Rogers@ncleg.net; Stephen.Ross@ncleg.net; Jason.Saine@ncleg.net; Wayne.Sasser@ncleg.net; John.Sauls@ncleg.net; Mitchell.Setzer@ncleg.net; Phil.Shepard@ncleg.net; Carson.Smith@ncleg.net; Sarah.Stevens@ncleg.net; Larry.Strickland@ncleg.net; John.Szoka@ncleg.net; John.Torbett@ncleg.net; Rena.Turner@ncleg.net; Harry.Warren@ncleg.net; Donna.White@ncleg.net; Larry.Yarborough@ncleg.net; Lee.Zachary@ncleg.net * Spam filters and the limitations of some email programs may require you to send this message to a smaller list of recipients. If necessary in your case, the above email list is conveniently split into multiple parts to allow you to easily send this message more than once—once to each list.

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

Suggested Subject: "Republicans Must Protect School Children Now"   Dear Representative, I’m delighted to have learned of the push to amend S5 (School Safety Omnibus) with the entirety of H216 (School Self-Defense Act). The uniting of these two bills would be a wonderful development and is exactly what is required to protect North Carolina’s school children in a practical and effective manner. I have also been informed that S5 has been sent back to the Rules Committee, which would allow for a committee hearing for S5 in the coming days. With the protection of the children in our state’s schools in mind, I must insist that one of two things occur: 1) H216, in its entirety, should be heard on the House floor and receive a vote; or 2) SB5 should be heard in the Rules committee, and H216 should subsequently be allowed as an amendment. Through the work of the Crime Prevention Research Center, with respected researcher Dr. John Lott at its helm, we now have unambiguous, academic studies showing schools that allow teachers and faculty to be armed are much, much safer than their gun-free counterparts. There is just no way around it, allowing adults who are on scene to protect their students in a practical, immediate manner is the only way to effectively save the lives of school children, should the worst occur. With this in mind, Representative, whose side are you on? I know which side I’m on, the side that puts children under an umbrella of genuine protection, an umbrella provided by the responsible adults who surround them. Our state’s school children must be protected. To make this good and proper sentiment a reality, I insist that you push for the uniting of H216 and S5, or a full hearing and vote for H216, that you vote for them in committee (where that may apply), and on the House floor, ultimately voting in favor of protecting school children. I've been informed that GRNC will be tracking votes on the amendment and on the amended bill. Of course, gun owners will also be watching, but perhaps most importantly, concerned parents will be watching. I’ll be monitoring your actions on this matter through alerts from Grass Roots North Carolina. Respectively,

A Jim Crow Law Loved By NC Sheriffs And The Demanding Moms

The North Carolina pistol purchase permit is an archaic law that has its roots in segregation. As I've written many a time about its history, the law was designed to keep blacks, populists, and union leaders disarmed and at the mercy of the KKK and racist Democrats. It is still supported by the North Carolina Sheriffs Association and the gun prohibitionists.

The permit came to fore again as the NCSA tried to hijack a bill concerning church security to increase the price for a pistol purchase permit and, oh yes, include the "good moral conduct" requirement in our concealed handgun permits. The time for permit to go is long gone by. Why we even have a law on the books that was implicitly meant to discriminate against one race is beyond me.

Grass Roots North Carolina agrees and is saying it is time again to contact your legislators to demand this archaic, racist, and ineffectual law be eliminated. I agree.

A RACIST LAW NEEDS TO END

The latest round of shenanigans by the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association and our state legislature leave no doubt that the only proper course of action is to put North Carolina's racist Jim Crow-era pistol purchase permitting in the trash bin. Enacted during the Jim Crow era as a way to prevent African Americans from purchasing handguns, North Carolina's pistol purchase permit system has long been sold as a "public safety measure," when it is anything but. Not only did it give sheriffs wide latitude to deny someone the right to purchase a handgun, but it also creates a dangerous safety loophole that allow criminals to circumvent point-of-sale background checks. The right to keep and bear arms can never be subject to the whims of elected officials, and Grass Roots North Carolina has worked tirelessly to ensure that the permitting process (like the concealed handgun permitting process) remains "shall issue" (meaning that a sheriff can not arbitrarily deny a permit.) The well-funded anti-freedom movement has worked hard to perpetuate this racism under the auspices of "public safety," and it's now clear that the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association pays the same lip service to the second amendment as does the proliferation of Bloomberg-funded anti-gun astroturf groups. Here's the irony: the pistol purchase permits create a massive loophole for criminals to purchase firearms through legitimate channels of commerce. A pistol purchase permit is good for 5 years, and there is absolutely no mechanism in place through which a permit can be revoked if the bearer becomes, for instance, a convicted felon. The permit allows the purchaser to completely circumvent the NICS FBI background check normally done at the point of sale. A racist law that makes us less safe ... one has to wonder why some politicians and the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association keep supporting this terrible legislation. Is it the profit motive for the sheriffs? Is it the mere desire for control? Do these groups want criminals to get guns? Isn't it time that our politicians and the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association speak up and tell us the truth? Support "Rights Watch International" Learn more about Rights Watch International You shop. Amazon Gives. (What is Amazon Smile?)

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!

POINT: Send an email to the Republican members of the NC Senate letting them know exactly how you feel about the Pistol Purchase Permit. PLEASE CONTRIBUTE TO GRNC: Help us fight gun control while we promote Second Amendment principles. Please CLICK HERE to contribute. Bear in mind that GRNC is an all-volunteer organization, so you can be sure your donations are put to the best possible use. Any amount helps, and any amount is appreciated. CONTACT INFO John.Alexander@ncleg.net; Ted.Alexander@ncleg.net; Deanna.Ballard@ncleg.net; Phil.Berger@ncleg.net; Dan.Bishop@ncleg.net; Danny.Britt@ncleg.net; Harry.Brown@ncleg.net; Jim.Burgin@ncleg.net; Warren.Daniel@ncleg.net; Jim.Davis@ncleg.net; Chuck.Edwards@ncleg.net; Carl.Ford@ncleg.net; Eddie.Gallimore@ncleg.net; Rick.Gunn@ncleg.net; Kathy.Harrington@ncleg.net; Ralph.Hise@ncleg.net; Rick.Horner@ncleg.net; Brent.Jackson@ncleg.net; Todd.Johnson@ncleg.net; Joyce.Krawiec@ncleg.net; Tom.McInnis@ncleg.net; Paul.Newton@ncleg.net; Jim.Perry@ncleg.net; Bill.Rabon@ncleg.net; Norman.Sanderson@ncleg.net; Vickie.Sawyer@ncleg.net; Bob.Steinburg@ncleg.net; Jerry.Tillman@ncleg.net; Andy.Wells@ncleg.net

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

Suggested Subject: "Repeal NC's Racist Jim Crow Pistol Purchase Permit NOW!"   Dear Senators: I write this letter to you today to demand that you work to repeal North Carolina's racist, Jim Crow-era pistol purchase permitting system. The pistol purchase permit system provides criminals with a dangerous loophole: since there is no mechanism for a Sheriff to revoke a pistol purchase permit, someone could be convicted of a felony and still circumvent the NICS background check with a pistol purchase permit in hand. Furthermore, we have seen how deeply-pocketed special interests like Michael Bloomberg's anti-gun organizations and the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association will try to further their elitist agenda with the same capriciousness that Jim Crow-era sheriffs used the pistol purchase permitting process to deny African Americans the right to keep and bear arms. North Carolina is no place for dangerous, racist legislation like this, and the people of this state deserve nothing less than a full repeal of this Jim Crow law. I will be monitoring your actions on this issue closely through alerts from Grass Roots North Carolina. Respectfully,

NC HB216 - School Self-Dense Act

Rep. Larry Pittman (R-Cabarrus) introduced HB 216 in February of this year. The School Self-Defense Act would create the position of volunteer school faculty guardian. This would apply to either full or part-time faculty and staff who possessed a valid NC Concealed Handgun Permit. The school faculty guardian would also have to take a special 16-hour training class, submit annual certification of marksmanship and of possessing a CHP to the chief administrator of the school system, keep the handgun concealed unless responding to an act of violence, and submit to an annual drug testing. School systems would have the opportunity to opt out of this program.

Grass Roots North Carolina is urging that people contact Republican legislators and urge them to bring this bill forward. Their alert is below.

DEMAND REPUBLICANS PROTECT NC'S SCHOOLS

H216 is a bill that will allow the true protection of schoolchildren… The anti-gun crowd is content to posthumously praise the brave souls who throw themselves in front of innocents, or charge wicked gunmen in order to save the lives of others. Save lives these courageous people do, and heroes they are. Yet, anyone with exceptional sense would be hard-pressed to come up with a reason why these heroes must always be unarmed, only to be seriously injured or killed while carrying out their valiant acts. Why must the fruitfulness of these acts be so limited? The answer is simple: political leaders and activist groups have set it up that way. Those hostile to the Second Amendment are proud of having disarmed the good guys by creating “gun free” zones in schools and elsewhere, leaving adults and the children in their care to fight psychotic leviathans with staplers and pencils. Well, it doesn’t have to be this way. H216: Genuine School Safety Pro-gun stalwart and GRNC four-star Representative Larry Pittman (Cabarrus, Rowan), is once again at the forefront of the push for a practical and appropriate solution to this societal concern. For the sake of protecting schoolchildren, Rep. Pittman is imploring his Republican colleagues to advance H216 (School Self-Defense Act) to once and for all put responsible adults, those nearest to the schoolchildren during daytime hours, in a position to actually protect those children in a practical and effective manner, should it be necessary. On a volunteer basis, H216 would allow educators to carry concealed firearms to deter mass killings in schools. It is modeled after a federal program to arm professional airline pilots as “Federal Flight Deck Officers.” Have questions? Below are some facts related to this proposal: 25 states allow schools or districts to give permission to individuals to carry guns: Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, New Jersey, New York, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia. At least 14 states allow concealed carry in schools: The states include Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Washington. At least 9 states specifically allow school employees to carry guns on school property: The states include: Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming. Florida created a school marshal system: Florida created a $67 million “school marshal” program to arm teachers in classrooms, in response to the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Arming faculty reduces school shootings: A new study entitled “Schools that Allow Teachers to Carry Guns Are Extremely Safe: Data on the Rate of Shootings and Accidents in Schools that Allow Teachers to Carry found that: Zero school shootings at schools with armed faculty: During hours when armed teachers would logically be present, none of the schools with armed faculty experienced school shootings. A significant increase in school shootings at schools which do NOT allow armed faculty: Between 2001 and 2018, the number of school shootings at schools which did not allow armed faculty more than doubled. You Can Help Protect Schoolchildren Representative Pittman and the other sponsors of H216 need your help. They want to shepherd H216 through the legislative process and get down to the serious (and very sensible) business of actually protecting children in schools, rather than doing everything under the bureaucratic sun to stall. Enough blue-ribbon panels, enough useless gun control proposals. If you’re a parent, you know what parents really want, parents who have real-life children in real-life schools (and incidentally, parents who vote). You want your children protected—really protected—Now! Another “Governor’s Select Committee” isn’t going to cut it. Below, see how you can easily contact Republicans in the NC House to demand that they stop stalling, and get to the serious business of protecting children in schools—now! Insist they do whatever is necessary to move H216 through committee, on to the floor for a vote, so it can move to the NC Senate.   Support "Rights Watch International" Learn more about Rights Watch International You shop. Amazon Gives. (What is Amazon Smile?)

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!

EMAIL REPUBLICANS IN THE NC HOUSE: Use the copy/paste email list provided below, and the copy/paste message provided under ‘Deliver This Message’ section. PLEASE CONTRIBUTE TO GRNC: Help us fight gun control while we promote Second Amendment principles. Please CLICK HERE to contribute. Bear in mind that GRNC is an all-volunteer organization, so you can be sure your donations are put to the best possible use. Any amount helps, and any amount is appreciated. *NC House Republicans Copy/Paste Email List(s): Dean.Arp@ncleg.net; Lisa.Barnes@ncleg.net; John.Bell@ncleg.net; Hugh.Blackwell@ncleg.net; Jamie.Boles@ncleg.net; William.Brisson@ncleg.net; Mark.Brody@ncleg.net; Dana.Bumgardner@ncleg.net; Jerry.Carter@ncleg.net; Debra.Conrad@ncleg.net; Kevin.Corbin@ncleg.net; Ted.Davis@ncleg.net; Jimmy.Dixon@ncleg.net; Josh.Dobson@ncleg.net; Jeffrey.Elmore@ncleg.net; John.Faircloth@ncleg.net; John.Fraley@ncleg.net; Edward.Goodwin@ncleg.net; Holly.Grange@ncleg.net; Destin.Hall@ncleg.net; Kyle.Hall@ncleg.net; Bobby.Hanig@ncleg.net; Jon.Hardister@ncleg.net; Kelly.Hastings@ncleg.net; Cody.Henson@ncleg.net; Craig.Horn@ncleg.net; Julia.Howard@ncleg.net; Chris.Humphrey@ncleg.net; Pat.Hurley@ncleg.net; Frank.Iler@ncleg.net; Steve.Jarvis@ncleg.net; LindaP.Johnson@ncleg.net; Brenden.Jones@ncleg.net; Donny.Lambeth@ncleg.net; David.Lewis@ncleg.net; Pat.McElraft@ncleg.net; Chuck.McGrady@ncleg.net; Allen.McNeill@ncleg.net; Tim.Moore@ncleg.net; Gregory.Murphy@ncleg.net;  Larry.Potts@ncleg.net; Michele.Presnell@ncleg.net;  Dennis.Riddell@ncleg.net; David.Rogers@ncleg.net; Stephen.Ross@ncleg.net; Jason.Saine@ncleg.net; Wayne.Sasser@ncleg.net; John.Sauls@ncleg.net; Mitchell.Setzer@ncleg.net; Phil.Shepard@ncleg.net; Carson.Smith@ncleg.net; Sarah.Stevens@ncleg.net; Larry.Strickland@ncleg.net; John.Szoka@ncleg.net; John.Torbett@ncleg.net; Rena.Turner@ncleg.net; Harry.Warren@ncleg.net; Donna.White@ncleg.net; Larry.Yarborough@ncleg.net; Lee.Zachary@ncleg.net * Limitations of certain email programs and spam filters may require you to send this message to smaller lists. If that is necessary, the above email list is conveniently split into three parts to allow you to easily send this message three times—once to each list.

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

Suggested Subject: "Enough is enough. Pass H216 to Protect Schoolchildren"   Dear Representative: I am writing today to make it clear that I’ve had it “up to here” with blue-ribbon panels, governor’s select committees, and useless gun control proposals. Every second that ticks by is another second that schoolchildren in North Carolina are not protected in any effective manner from mass shooters. You have the power to change that, and I demand that you do. Right now, H216 (the School Self-Defense Act) is in a position to receive a committee hearing and then move to the floor for an up-or-down vote. This bill would allow educators to carry concealed firearms to deter mass killings in schools, and is modeled after a federal program to arm professional airline pilots as “Federal Flight Deck Officers.” Below is some information that greatly strengthens the case for H216: - 25 states allow schools or districts to give permission to individuals to carry guns. - At least 14 states allow concealed carry in schools. - At least 9 states specifically allow school employees to carry guns on school property. - Florida created a school marshal system in response to the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. - Arming faculty reduces school shootings. Note there have been zero school shootings at schools with armed faculty. During hours when armed teachers would logically be present, none of the schools with armed faculty experienced school shootings. There is a significant increase in school shootings at schools which do NOT allow armed faculty. Between 2001 and 2018, the number of school shootings at schools which did not allow armed faculty more than doubled. The Republican Party still holds a majority in the General Assembly and the excuses are wearing thin. I demand that you do whatever it takes to shepherd H216 through the legislative process. Unfortunately, there is always a lingering possibility of a school shooting. With that in mind, I insist that you do everything you can to make it possible for teachers to protect the children under their care. I will be monitoring your actions on this matter through alerts from Grass Roots North Carolina. Respectfully,

Asheville Gun Show Needs Volunteers

Grass Roots North Carolina issued this alert on Wednesday and I'm late putting it up. If you live in Western North Carolina or will be visiting the weekend of May 11th and 12th, you should come to the Asheville Gun Show. If you could donate a couple hours of your time to help work the GRNC booth, I know a guy who get you into the show for free.

Go to a decent gun show, help out gun rights, save some money on admission. It works.

ASHEVILLE GUN SHOW NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers are needed to help man the GRNC table at the upcoming Asheville Gun & Knife Show, in Asheville, on May 11 and 12, 2019. The show will be held at WNC Agricultural Center, located at 1301 Fanning Bridge Road, Fletcher, NC, 28732. Help defend Second Amendment freedom and join GRNC in expanding North Carolina gun rights! Potential Volunteers should contact John Richardson at 828-768-3520 or by email at jpr9954@gmail.com.

A Dating Partner Of The Respondent?

The proposed red flag for North Carolina, HB 454, includes in its definition of "family or household member" as someone you are dating. Thus, someone you go out with on a blind date would be eligible to seek an "Extreme Risk Protection Order" which would order the police to take all your firearms. They could do this electronically, with no court costs, and, if they possessed a valid "Address Confidentiality Program" authorization card, could keep their address secret.

Do we really need the modern day equivalent of the Star Chamber?

I say no and so does Grass Roots North Carolina which issued the following alert:

GO ON A DATE, LOSE YOUR GUNS

Like everyone else, Gun Owners have the Constitutional right to due process and the presumption of innocence. House Bill 454 would change all of that, allowing anyone in an ever-expanding circle of people, including a ‘dating partner,’ to decide you are ‘imminently dangerous’ and direct the authorities to confiscate your guns. H454 doesn't define ‘dating partner,’ ‘imminent’ or what makes someone a 'danger to themselves or others’.  But keep in mind that those who would deny your Second Amendment rights often consider any gun owner to be ‘dangerous,' and they would be able to force the confiscation of your guns without your foreknowledge (through an ex parte hearing). So let’s say you go on a casual outing with someone who knows you have guns, and they decide to "report"  you, for revenge, out of spite or whatever (due to unrequited interest, for example). They can honestly claim to be a ‘dating partner,’ a term entirely undefined by H454, and have your property confiscated at the point of a gun. On top of all of this, the authorities can charge you a storage fee for keeping your guns and ammunition. They take your guns against your will and in violation of your rights, and you get to pay for the privilege! Nothing in the proposed law would stop the authorities from test firing your guns for a ballistics database to see if they were used in a crime, or doing anything else with them for that matter. While you may have to undergo a ‘mental health' or 'chemical dependency' evaluation to keep what you already own, your accuser has the option of staying anonymous under the ‘Address  Confidentiality  Program’. How nice for the accuser who will never have to confront you in court, in blatant violation of the 6th Amendment. Laws already exist for Involuntary Civil Commitment, and these provide due process, but apparently, these aren’t good enough for the gun grabbers. In addition to being unconstitutional, clearly this new form of government overreach isn’t effective, as research shows that these new laws do not work as advertised. Please Contribute to GRNC-PVF It’s going to be a busy year in the world of freedom-fighting. At the same, time multiple special elections approach, House and Senate bills, both good and bad, are being filed in the General Assembly. Funds and volunteers are already stretched thin, and we’re still climbing toward peak activity. Now more than ever, this all-volunteer organization needs your support. Anything you could spare will help GRNC-PVF and would be greatly appreciated, and let’s face it, with all that’s coming our way, donations are nothing less than an investment in the future of gun freedom in our state. Please CLICK HERE to donate to GRNC-PVF.  Support "Rights Watch International" Learn more about Rights Watch International You shop. Amazon Gives. (What is Amazon Smile?)

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!

EMAIL BOTH PARTY'S LEADERS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY: Below, find the copy/paste contact information you need to tell the party leadership that this unconstitutional gun control bill must not receive a hearing. Use the copy/paste text provided under the ‘Deliver This Message’ section. PLEASE CONTRIBUTE TO GRNC-PVF: Help us fight gun control while we promote Second Amendment principles. Please CLICK HERE to contribute. Bear in mind that GRNC is an all-volunteer organization, so you can be sure your donations are put to the best possible use. Any amount helps, and any amount is appreciated. NC General Assembly Leadership copy/paste email list: Tim.Moore@ncleg.net; Sarah.Stevens@ncleg.net; John.Bell@ncleg.net; Jon.Hardister@ncleg.net; Darren.Jackson@ncleg.net; Cynthia.Ball@ncleg.net; Deb.Butler@ncleg.net; Carla.Cunningham@ncleg.net; Garland.Pierce@ncleg.net; Amos.Quick@ncleg.net; Phil.Berger@ncleg.net; Harry.Brown@ncleg.net; Dan.Blue@ncleg.net; Jay.Chaudhuri@ncleg.net; Rick.Gunn@ncleg.net; Jerry.Tillman@ncleg.net; Ted.Davis@ncleg.net; David.Lewis@ncleg.net

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

Suggested Subject: “Stop H454, the Gun Confiscation Bill“ Dear Republican Leader: I am writing today because I am outraged over H454's attempted erosion of Constitutional liberties, in particular, the right to due process.  With just the word of a ‘dating partner’ (an undefined term), someone’s firearms can be forcibly confiscated by law enforcement. This confiscation would be based on ‘dangerous behavior,’ another term that the bill doesn't define. Those who are hostile to the Second Amendment often (and absurdly) consider gun owners dangerous by their mere existence. Considering that, and the fact that anyone, out of spite or revenge, would be able to have a citizen's guns forcibly taken from him or her, these constitutionally abhorrent orders will, in essence, legally codify the practice of ‘SWAT-ing’ anyone who owns or is believed to own a gun. For these reasons, I’m insisting that you take whatever legislative steps necessary to halt this freedom denying measure. Do the right thing: use your position to take active steps to make sure this ominous gun control bill will never have a hearing, and never receive a vote. I will be closely monitoring your actions regarding this gun control bill through alerts from Grass Roots North Carolina. Respectfully,

I think Black Rifle Coffee has captured the type of "dating partner" who might file for a ERPO if they knew you possessed a firearm in the video below. Yes, it is a spoof but the reality is that there are men and women like that out in society.