GRNC: HB 69 – Constitutional Carry – Needs Your Help

HB 69 was introduced in the North Carolina House of Representatives earlier this month. It provides for permitless concealed carry just as we have permitless or constitutional open carry in the state. It was introduced by Rep. Larry Pittman (R-Cabarrus) and has been referred to the Judiciary I Committee. That last part is not good for the bill’s chances of success and Grass Roots North Carolina has issued an alert requesting it be moved to the Judiciary II Committee where it will receive a fair hearing.

11 states now have constitutional carry and it looks like New Hampshire will be joining the list if Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH) keeps his promise to sign the bill which has passed both houses of the legislature. That would make the three northern New England states bastions of freedom unlike the southern three.

GIVE HB 69 A FAIR HEARING!



As you know, Representative LARRY PITTMAN
(R-Cabarrus) 
introduced House Bill 69 (with GRNC’s feedback and support) to restore
our rights to constitutional (permitless) carry. The primary sponsors
of the
bill include Reps. MICHAEL
SPECIALE
(R-Beaufort, Craven, Pamlico), BEVERLY BOSWELL (R-Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, Washington),  and JAY ADAMS (R-Catawba).

Since its introduction, HP 69 currently resides in House Judiciary I which is chaired
by Representative TED DAVIS,
JR
.  We have reported his
actions in previous GRNC Alerts
and feel strongly that HB 69, if it stays in House Judiciary I under Rep. Davis, will be in danger of being
stopped.

GRNC
feels strongly that the seriousness of this bill deserves a fair hearing
and is asking everyone to contact your representatives to urge them to
move
HB 69 to House Judiciary II,
chaired by Representative JOHN M.
BLUST
.

To
recap the details of HB 69
(“Constitutional Carry Act”) and the reasons for GRNC’s support:
  • Establishes a new Article 54C, under which handguns may be carried concealed without
    permits;
  • Removes the need
    to have a concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed handgun in
    restaurants, public assemblies, parades and funerals, and (with the same
    limitations as currently in law) onto educational properties;
  • and Retains the current CHP system for purposes of reciprocity with other states.
HB
69 is designed to be a “clean”
reciprocity bill (i.e. without other measures) in order to draw fewer
objections from potential supporters. GRNC will shepherd the
introduction of
additional legislative initiatives in other bills.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!

  • CONTACT SPEAKER TIM MOORE and CHAIRMAN DAVID LEWIS at:

    919-733-3451, Tim.Moore@ncleg.net
    919-715-3015, David.Lewis@ncleg.net


    Tell them to move HB 69 from House Judiciary I to House Judiciary
    II
    in order for it to receive the fair hearing it deserves. You can use the
    copy/paste text below, under ‘Deliver This Message,’ to send an email
    message
    to Speaker Moore and Chairman Lewis.
  • CONTACT CHAIRMAN JOHN M. BLUST at:
    919-733-5781,
    John.Blust@ncleg.net

    Urge him to work with Speaker Moore to take the HB 69 into his
    committee
    and give it the fair hearing it deserves.  You can use the copy/paste text below, under ‘Deliver This Message,’ to send an email message to Representative
    Blust.
     

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE


Here are two suggested messages to deliver:
Suggested Subject: “Give HB 69 a fair hearing and move
to House Judiciary II
”  
Dear [Speaker Moore or Chairman Lewis]:
House
Bill 69, sponsored by Reps. Larry Pittman, Michael Speciale, Beverly
Boswell, and Jay
Adams, has been introduced and currently resides in House Judiciary I,
chaired by Rep. Ted David, Jr. I feel that Rep. Davis will not give
the bill
the fair hearing it deserves and urge you to please move it to House
Judiciary II chaired by Rep. John M. Blust.

A powerful trend is sweeping across
the
United States in which eleven states have now adopted (or previously
had) statutes under which lawful citizens could carry firearms for
self-protection without obtaining burdensome permits.

The states with
permitless concealed carry now include Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho,
Kansas,
Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Indeed, Missouri’s law went into effect on January 1, and West
Virginia’s went into effect in May. Additionally, more limited versions
of permitless carry exist in Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and
Oklahoma.

It is high time North Carolina joined those enlightened states
by relieving lawful North Carolinians from expensive and burdensome
permit
requirements which discriminate against people with lesser means.
Accordingly, I ask you to give a prompt hearing to HB 69
(“Constitutional
Carry Act”).

Each time we have expanded concealed carry – whether
into parks, restaurants, educational property or elsewhere –
naysayers have predicted gloom and doom. Each time, they have been
wrong. In fact, I am aware of no instance in any of the states which
have adopted
constitutional carry in which it has caused problems.

Again, I urge you to
give HB 69 a fair hearing and move it from Rep. Davis and House
Judiciary I
to House Judiciary II and Rep. Blust. I will be monitoring this issue
through Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts.

Respectfully,

Suggested Subject: “Please work with Speaker Moore and give HB 69 a fair
hearing in House House Judiciary II

Dear House Chairman Blust:

House Bill 69, sponsored by Reps. Larry Pittman, Michael
Speciale,
Beverly Boswell, and Jay Adams, has been introduced and currently
resides in House Judiciary I, chaired by Rep. Ted David, Jr. I feel
that Rep.
Davis will not give the bill the fair hearing it deserves and urge you
to please work with Speaker Moore to move it to House Judiciary II under
your
leadership.

As you know, Rep. Blust, a powerful trend is sweeping across
the United States in which eleven states have now adopted (or previously
had)
statutes under which lawful citizens could carry firearms for
self-protection without obtaining burdensome permits.

The states with permitless
concealed
carry now include Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Maine,
Mississippi, Missouri, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Indeed,
Missouri’s law went into effect on January 1, and West Virginia’s went
into effect in May. Additionally, more limited versions of
permitless carry exist in Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and
Oklahoma.

It is high time North Carolina joined those enlightened states by
relieving
lawful North Carolinians from expensive and burdensome permit
requirements which discriminate against people with lesser means.

Each time we have
expanded concealed carry – whether into parks, restaurants, educational
property or elsewhere – naysayers have predicted gloom and doom.
Each time, they have been wrong. In fact, I am aware of no instance in
any of the states which have adopted constitutional carry in which it
has
caused problems.

Again, I urge you to work with Speaker Moore to move HB
69 to your House Judiciary Committee, House Judiciary II, to give it the
fair
hearing it deserves. I will be monitoring this issue through Grass
Roots North Carolina legislative alerts.

Respectfully,

Sincerely,