Month: June 2016

When you attempt to double-cross Grass Roots North Carolina by going back on your word, they don’t take it lightly. Their response may not always win them friends but it does put politicians on notice about going back on your word.

Sheriffs in North Carolina have been dragging their feet on issuing pistol purchase permits. What used to be an immediate issuance has now started to drag into weeks and months because of a new requirement for a mental health check. I spoke to a client recently in Henderson County who waited over four months for his pistol purchase permit.

What GRNC sought was a sun-setting of the paper medical-release provisions once the records had been digitized. Sen. Shirley Randleman (R-Stokes, Surry, Wilkes) had inserted these provisions into a bill that was due for a floor vote. Now she has taken what she wanted in that bill and transferred it into another bill due for a floor vote and left the sunset provision to die on the vine.

More in the GRNC alert below. It’s time to play some General Assembly hardball.

SENATOR SELLS OUT ON PISTOL PERMIT MEDICAL-REPORTING FIX

Last week’s gun-rights hero is this week’s gun-rights turncoat . . .  It was not even a week ago that GRNC issued an update praising NC Senator Shirley Randleman (R-30, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes) for courageously standing up for gun owners alongside another courageous legislator, NC Rep. Michael Speciale (R-3, Beaufort, Craven, Pamlico). Unfortunately, it appears that the victory Sen. Randleman helped hand to gun owners last week was only a feint, and she apparently never intended to follow through on her pro-gun stance during this legislative session. In short: SENATOR SHIRLEY RANDLEMAN IS A SELLOUT! Last week, Sen. Randleman was a key figure in helping GRNC fix the NRA’s previous blunder, a major blunder that was giving sheriff departments cover to flout state law and force citizens to wait inordinately extensive (and illegal) lengths of time to receive pistol purchase permits (PPP). Randleman helped to insert the administrative fix to this problem into S89, a bill that, at the time, was sure to receive a hearing and a floor vote. This is all gun owners wanted from this bill, and it’s such a small thing really—simply sun-setting the outdated paper medical-release system once records-digitization is completed. Unfortunately, even this small thing, this minor administrative fix that will go a long way in easing pressure on sheriff departments, and make life easier for gun owners like you, was just too much for Sen. Randleman to continue to support. You see, this week, Randleman moved her favorite projects from S89 to another bill, another bill that will surely receive a hearing and a vote. However, the medical-reporting fix must not have been one of her favorites after all, because she left it where it was, and now it is believed that S89 is going to be left to languish and die without a vote. With all of this in mind, there really isn’t any other way to say it:  Sen. Randleman sold out gun owners—big time! Randleman received her positive, “pro-gun” press last week, and must have figured that was all she needed to gain some gun-rights cred. However, she didn’t count on the fact that GRNC is still paying attention. We are paying attention, and we are here to tell gun owners that Sen. Shirley Randleman pulled the ol’ slimy politician’s feint against you when she thought you weren’t looking! She may have been quietly laughing at you when she pulled this little stunt, but she likely won’t be laughing once she learns that she has been caught. Why Did Leadership Allow This Trickery? This cannot stand! We must demand that Shirley Randleman return the Medical Form Sunset provision to whichever bill is sure to receive a hearing and a floor vote, and we want an explanation. Also, we need to know why GA leadership, Speaker Tim Moore and Senate Leader Phil Berger, allowed this trickery to occur in the first place. Below, see how you can easily contact Sen. Randleman, and also the House and Senate leaders. They must answer for this! Please make the phone calls as well as sending the emails. If at all possible, make the phone calls during the time requested (today, 9-11 AM). Untrustworthy politicians like Shirley Randleman must be informed that she can’t throw gun owners under the bus and get away with it!

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!
PHONE SENATOR RANDLEMAN: (919) 733-5743. Please make phone calls today, Tuesday, between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. If you can’t call during those times, please call later.   Suggested phone message: Hello, my name is ___________. I am calling because I am a North Carolina gun rights supporter, and I’ve just learned of the about-face that Senator Randleman pulled on gun owners. We were counting on the senator to help us fix the medical reporting system for pistol purchase permits, and last week, she acted as though she was going to come through for us. However, I am now aware that the senator has moved all of her favorite projects from Senate Bill 89 to another bill, but left the administrative medical-reporting fix in S89, where it is now likely to languish and die. I am demanding that Senator Randleman provide voters with an explanation for why she sold us out, and I’m insisting that she find a way to return the medical-reporting fix to a bill that will receive a hearing and a vote. I will continue to pay very close attention to this issue through alerts from Grass Roots North Carolina. Thank you. PHONE HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERSHIP: Senator Phil Berger (919) 733-5708 & Speaker Tim Moore (919) 733-3451. Please make phone calls today, Tuesday, between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. If you can’t call during those times, please call later.  Suggested phone message:   Hello, my name is ___________. I am calling because I am a North Carolina gun rights supporter, and I’ve just learned that [Speaker Moore] / [Senator Berger] has allowed pending gun rights legislation, which would sunset the requirement for paper medical release forms for pistol purchase permits, to be positioned so that it has no chance of receiving a floor vote. I would like to know why he would allow this pro-gun legislation to be left behind, in Senate Bill 89, where it will languish and die, and I insist that leadership stand up for gun owners and find a way to place this language in a bill that is sure to receive a floor vote. I will continue to pay very close attention to this issue through alerts from Grass Roots North Carolina. Thank you. EMAIL SENATOR RANDLEMAN at this address: Shirley.Randleman@ncleg.net Use the copy/paste message provided below under ‘Deliver This Message to Sen. Randleman.’ EMAIL SENATE AND HOUSE LEADERS using these copy/paste email addresses: Tim.Moore@ncleg.net; Phil.Berger@ncleg.net Use the copy/paste message under ‘Deliver This Message to Sen. Berger & Spkr. Moore.’
DELIVER THIS MESSAGE TO SENATOR RANDLEMAN
Suggested Subject: “Fix Your Sellout of Gun Owners!  Dear Senator Randleman: I have just been informed of the fast one you have pulled on gun owners. Last week, you were basking in praise for your courageous efforts to make sure pro-gun language was inserted into Senate Bill 89. This language would sunset the antiquated paper medical reporting requirement for pistol purchase permits, once the records are digitized. An obvious update for the twenty-first century. A small change perhaps, but this small change would make a huge difference. As you know, various sheriff departments around the state have been using this antiquated reporting requirement as an excuse to delay pistol purchase permits for extended, and unlawful lengths of time. I was sure you were going to help the voters end all of that, but I was clearly wrong. It appears you have sold out gun owners, and I am incensed.  Please understand that the little trick you just pulled did not go unnoticed. I am fully aware that you moved all of your favorite projects to another bill, but have left the medical-reporting fix in S89, where it will now surely languish and die. I am demanding that you explain your about-face on this legislation, and I’m insisting that you find a way to return the medical-reporting fix to a bill that will receive a hearing and a vote. I will be paying very close attention to this issue through alerts from Grass Roots North Carolina. Respectfully,
DELIVER THIS MESSAGE TO SEN. BERGER & SPKR. MOORE
Suggested Subject: “Pistol Permit Medical-Reporting Fix Must Receive a Vote”   Dear Senator Berger and Speaker Moore: I have just learned that the NC House and Senate Leaders have allowed pending gun rights legislation, which would sunset the requirement for paper medical release forms for pistol purchase permits, to be positioned so that it has no chance of receiving a floor vote. This is unacceptable, and I would like to know why the ostensibly pro-gun House and Senate leadership would allow this legislation to be set aside where it will surely languish and die. As you know, various sheriff departments around the state have been using the antiquated paper medical-reporting requirement as an excuse to delay pistol purchase permits for extended, and unlawful lengths of time. I was sure you were going to help the citizenry end all of that. If that is not the case, I am terribly disappointed. As a gun owner, and a voter, I must insist that you correct this reversal by standing up for gun owners and finding a way to place this language into a bill that is sure to receive a floor vote. Is it really too much to ask that you support gun owners on such a small thing, like this simple administrative fix? This is a minor item that will make a major difference to gun rights voters, and it serves to bring our state’s background check system into the twenty-first century. I will continue to pay very close attention to this issue through alerts from Grass Roots North Carolina. Respectfully,