Grass Roots North Carolina

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GRNC To Counter-Protest The Demanding Moms On Tuesday

June 1, 2015 by 2 Comments

The Demanding Moms plan a protest on June 2nd at the North Carolina General Assembly Building against HB 562. They will be wearing orange shirts* because that is the color required of hunters for safety. It is unknown if they will be chanting “Hands Up, Don’t Shot” but nothing they do would surprise me.

Bloomberg and his orange-clad minions are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to defeat HB 562. They are running a media campaign plus running full-page ads in the News and Observer. They may be running ads in other papers for all I know. This is in addition to all the free media they are getting from the editorial pages of various NC newspapers.

Grass Roots North Carolina is organizing a counter-protest on Tuesday morning. They are asking people to wear either GRNC logo shirts or green shirts. Details are below.

A legislative history of the pistol purchase permits that would be eliminated can be found here.

Bloomberg’s Anti-gun Agitators Plan Protest…
The handful of “Moms Demand Action for Gunsense” activists hired by Bloomberg in North Carolina to attack our gun rights
plan to protest pro-freedom House Bill 562 this coming Tuesday, June 2nd, in the Capitol building. If you show up for anything, you
need to attend our counter protest on Tuesday!

As
you know, HB562 is an omnibus pro-gun rights bill that,
among other things, will finally rid our state of one of the last
vestiges of an unpleasant Jim Crow past: the antiquated pistol permit
system.
It
isn’t surprising that repressive politicians like
Bloomberg want to maintain discriminatory and anti-freedom laws. But
Bloomberg is particularly dangerous given billions at his disposal to
wield as a
weapon intending to deprive every American of Second Amendment
rights.

Bloomberg is currently spending hundreds of thousands on TV ads to kill HB562, falsely claiming it
“abolishes” background checks.

GRNC Responds


In response, GRNC initiated
its “Michael Bloomberg doesn’t speak for me” radio ad campaign featuring real North Carolina
mothers who oppose Bloomberg and support HB 562. We kicked off the campaign with a press conference heavily covered by
national media which can be seen on GRNC’s home page at www.GRNC.org, at which North Carolina women stood
before the world to declare: “I’m a North
Carolina Mom, and Michael Bloomberg doesn’t speak for
me!”

News & Observer Colludes

No friend to NC gun owners, the Raleigh News & Observer has run a
series of misleading Op Eds along with a full page Bloomberg-funded,
deceit-laden advertisement against HB562. As an example of the type of
deception engaged in, Bloomberg’s ad implies that HB562 will allow
violent
criminals to legally obtain and possess firearms:

“Under House Bill 562, felons and domestic abusers would be able to avoid a criminal background check by buying handguns from
unlicensed sellers -including strangers they meet online.”

GRNC Plans Counter Protest: BE THERE!

We say, if Bloomberg
wants a party at the General Assembly, let’s give him a party!
Accordingly,
we need YOU to show up at the North Carolina General Assembly
Legislative Building, 16 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC
27601 at 8:30 AM on Tuesday, June 2, 2015. We will have a table set up
in the 1300 courtyard, on the left as you enter the building. If you
cannot
make it by 8:30 AM anytime before 10 AM will be helpful!

To demonstrate grassroots solidarity, we suggest wearing
GRNC apparel (polos, T-shirts, hats) or green (preferably bright green)
clothing. We will have coordinated stickers for clothing and signs to carry.

If you wish to wear GRNC apparel, but don’t yet have any, please
email GRNC Director of Development, Josette Chimel and she will bring
the
items you want to the General Assembly. Please email Josette today at DirectorofDevelopment@GRNC.org.
Bring as many of your friends and family as you can. Don’t forget to email GRNC Director of
Development, Josette Chimel with an estimate of the number who will be attending at
DirectorofDevelopment@GRNC.org.

IMMEDIATE ACTION
REQUIRED!
  • ATTEND ‘MICHAEL
    BLOOMBERG DOESN’T SPEAK FOR ME’ EVENT AT LEGISLATURE    : If you can attend, please send an email to DirectorofDevelopment@GRNC.org and let us know how many people you can bring. Details:

WHEN: Tuesday, June 2, 2015; 8:30 AM
WHERE: Legislative Building

1300 Courtyard
16 W. Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
MAPS &

DIRECTIONS:		 Directions:

http://www.ncleg.net/NCGAInfo/visitinglegcomplex.html

Legislative Complex Map:

http://grnc.org/images/alertimages/legislative-complex-map.jpg
TIPS:
Due to morning traffic and
parking considerations, please allow for plenty of extra travel time. Please be at the Legislative Building Courtyard by 8:30
AM.

Wear bright green clothing if possible.

  • CALL & EMAIL THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Contact N&O President/Publisher Orage Quarles III by emailing him this weekend at: oquarles@newsobserver.com
    AND calling him Monday morning as close as possible to 9:00 AM at (919)
    829-4659. Let him know you don’t appreciate the N&O acting as a
    shill for New York carpetbagger Michael Bloomberg, and that you will
    promptly cancel your subscription and boycott N&O advertisers. Use
    the copy/paste email below, under ‘Deliver This Message to the N&O.’
  • CONTRIBUTE TO GRNC: Unlike Bloomberg, we don’t have millions of dollars for this campaign. WE RELY ON YOU. If you have
    contributed, we thank you (and unfortunately have to ask for more). If you have not, please go to: http://grnc.org/join-grnc/contribute


DELIVER THIS MESSAGE TO THE N&O
Suggested Subject: “Stop Partnering with Bloomberg on H562 Falsehoods”  
Dear Mr. Quarles:

I am very disappointed to see “The News & Observer”
partnering with New York billionaire, Michael Bloomberg, to spread the
falsehood that H562 will eliminate criminal background checks for
handgun
purchases in North Carolina. Of course, nothing could be further from
the truth.

H562 eliminates the Jim Crow-era Pistol
Purchase Permit (PPP) system that was put in place to keep minorities
from obtaining firearms for self-protection, and it can still be used
by
sheriffs to arbitrarily restrict law-abiding citizens from exercising
their civil rights. H562 would replace this archaic and shameful system
with
the National Instant Criminal-Background Check System (NICS).

NICS is a modern, computerized system already used by
thirty-five other states and territories, and even in North Carolina
for long gun purchases. The NICS checks a purchaser’s background at the
point of sale, which is greatly superior to the PPP system, where a
sheriff issues a paper permit which can be valid for up to five years,
leaving
plenty of time for the permit-holder to commit disqualifying crimes, and
still use the valid permit to buy a handgun.

The
idea that H562 eliminates background checks is absurd, and two or three
minutes with any popular search engine makes that clear. “The News
& Observer” is in the research and information business. If you can
get something this easy to research so terribly wrong, it
couldn’t possibly be a mistake. Feigned ignorance and blatant untruths
have no place at a news organization.

Because
“The News & Observer” has decided to shill for Michael Bloomberg, I
intend to boycott your newspaper, and its advertisers. In fact,
I have already contacted one of your advertisers to let them know of my
intentions, due to their affiliation with your newspaper and its
willingness
to aid Mr. Bloomberg and his front groups.

I
will continue to track this issue through alerts from Grass Roots
North
Carolina.

Respectfully,

Lies Told by Moms Demanding Action
Click
here to learn the full details of the deceptions spread by the so-called Moms Demanding Action (or rather Moms Demanding Gun
Bans).

* There is a great line in the movie Legally Blonde that applies here. As this movie was one of my younger step-daughter’s favorite movies, I learned some quotes from the movie along the way.

“Whoever said orange is the new pink was seriously disturbed” – Elle Woods

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Incoming Speaker of NC House Is Good On Guns

November 23, 2014 by 1 Comment

The Republican majority in the North Carolina House of Representatives elected Rep. Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) to replace Senator-elect Thom Tillis as Speaker. Moore, a Kings Mountain attorney, was selected on the first ballot by House Republicans as they met in Asheboro.

Moore won a majority of votes from the 73 GOP lawmakers that met at Randolph Community College. He beat Reps. Justin Burr of Albemarle, Mitchell Setzer of Catawba, John Blust of Greensboro, Leo Daughtry of Smithfield and Bryan Holloway of King.


Rep. Paul “Skip” Stam of Wake County was nominated as speaker pro tem. Rep. Mike Hager of Rutherford County was elected majority leader and John Bell from Wayne County, majority whip.


Huntersville Republican Charles Jeter was unopposed for conference chair, a post in which he’ll oversee campaigns and fundraising.

Moore was ranked second in the NC House in terms of effectiveness by the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research. He had chaired the House Rules Committee.

So what does this mean for gun rights in North Carolina?

Moore was recommended by Grass Roots North Carolina-PVF where he was ranked 4 stars. He was endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund and rated as A+.  That’s a good start. It does get better as Rep. Moore was one of the speakers at a gun rights rally in 2013 organized by GRNC. Given their reputation as a “no compromise” organization, the fact that Moore would be one of the speakers says volumes about him.

It was through the efforts of Moore as head of the Rules Committee that Durham County’s 80 year old gun registry was scrapped.

What about the rest of the Republicans in the House leadership?

Rep. Skip Stam (R-Wake) who will be Speaker Pro Tem is, at best, mediocre. He was rated B- by the NRA-PVF and did not receive an endorsement. Stam was not recommended by GRNC-PVF and was rated a mere 2 stars. He was characterized as a “weasel” by GRNC for his efforts to weaken some of the gun rights laws that passed the General Assembly in the last two sessions.

Rep. Mike Hager (R-Rutherford) who will be the House Majority Leader is much better. He received both a recommendation and 4 stars from the GRNC-PVF while also getting an A and the endorsement from the NRA-PVF. Hager was one of the sponsors of the bill that made the names of NC CHP and pistol permit applicants private.

Rep. John Bell (R-Wayne) is slated to be the House Majority Whip. He was rated as 4 stars by GRNC-PVF and was recommended. The NRA-PVF graded him an “A” and gave him their endorsement. His website points out the fallacy of gun-free zones and says they put innocent lives at risk. He sponsored HB937 which increased the number of places firearms would be permitted.

Rep. Charles Jeter (R-Mecklenburg) is the Republican Conference Chair. He was rated 3 stars by GRNC-PVF but was recommended. The NRA-PVF graded him an “A” and gave him their endorsement. His position on the Second Amendment post-Newtown was not to be reactionary like legislators on New York and Connecticut.

One thing I think should be pointed about this House leadership is their relative youth. Speaker-elect Tim Moore is 44, Conference Chair Charles Jeter is 41, and while I don’t have the exact age for Majority Whip John Bell, he appears to be in his late 30s to early 40s. House Majority Leader Mike Hager is a little older at age 52. Speaker Pro Tem Skip Stam is the old guy of the bunch at 64 but, then again, the position traditionally is held by older legislators.

To conclude, with the exception of Skip Stam, the Republican House leadership for the upcoming session is good on guns. This is good news for gun rights bills that will be presented in the new session.

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GRNC Recommendations

November 3, 2014 by

Early voting ended Saturday in North Carolina. Despite having fewer days allocated to early voting, 17.4% of all registered voters have already voted. This is an increase 1.9% over the 2010 midterm election. More importantly, over 100,000 more registered Democrats have voted early than did in 2010. This is attributed to get out the efforts of the Democrats.

While both sides increased their turnout and both sides are touting it as a good sign for their candidates, gun rights supporters who haven’t voted need to get to the polls on Tuesday. I don’t think I need to reiterate what is at stake.

As a help for when you go to the polls, I’m publishing Grass Roots North Carolina’s recommendations for the US Senate and House and the North Carolina Senate and House.

While I can’t speak for other areas of the state, NC Representatives Ramsey, Moffitt, and Presnell have been extensively targeted by out-of-state money flowing into PACs. All three are good on guns and all have been recommended by GRNC. Rep. Michele Presnell (R-Haywood-Madison-Yancey) went so far as to ask my friend Tim who owns a local surplus store what she could do to help gun owners. He suggested uniform signage for stores like the Texas 30.06 requirement and she was quite interested in it.

GRNC-PVF CANDIDATE RECOMMENDATIONS
 

District #/Name
US SENATE NC HOUSE (cont’d) NC SENATE
TILLIS 059: HARDISTER 001: COOK

061: FAIRCLOTH 002: SANDERSON
US HOUSE 062: BLUST 004: SCOTT
001: RICH 063: ROSS 006: BROWN
002: ELLMERS 065: JONES 007: PATE
003: JONES 067: BURR 008: RABON
004: WRIGHT 068: HORN 010: JACKSON
005: FOXX 069: ARP 011: NEWTON
006: WALKER 070: HURLEY 012: RABIN
007: ROUZER 071: MCCANN 013: WHITE
008: HUDSON 073: ZACHARY 015: FULGHUM
009: PITTENGER 074: CONRAD 016: MITCHELL
010: MCHENRY 075: LAMBETH 017: FULGHUM
011: MEADOWS 076: FORD 018: BAREFOOT
012: COAKLEY 077: WARREN 019: MEREDITH
013: HOLDING 078: MCNEILL 023: LOPEZ-CARTER

079: HOWARD 024: GUNN
NC HOUSE 081: BROWN 026: BERGER
001: STEINBURG 082: PITTMAN 027: WADE
002: YARBOROUGH 083: JOHNSON 029: TILLMAN
003: SPECIALE 084: TURNER 030: RANDLEMAN
004: DIXON 085: DOBSON 031: KRAWIEC
005: PIERCE 086: BLACKWELL 033: BINGHAM
006: LAWSON 087: STARNES 034: BROCK
008: MARTIN 088: BRYAN 035: TUCKER
009: BROWN 089: SETZER 036: HARTSELL
010: BELL 090: STEVENS 038: RIVETTE
011: MARTIN 091: HOLLOWAY 039: RUCHO
013: MCCELRAFT 092: JETER 041: TARTE
014: CLEVELAND 093: JORDAN 042: WELLS
015: SHEPARD 094: ELMORE 043: HARRINGTON
016: MILLIS 096: ADAMS 044: CURTISS
017: ILER 097: SAINE 045: SOUCEK
019: DAVIS 098: BRADFORD 046: DANIEL
022: SMITH 103: BRAWLEY 047: HISE
025: COLLINS 104: CABLE 048: APODACA
026: DAUGHTRY 105: SCHAFFER 049: CRAWFORD
028: LANGDON 106: LOWE 050: DAVIS
033: WHITLOCK 107: ALEXANDER
036: DOLLAR 108: TORBETT
040: AVILA 109: BUMGARDNER
041: MURRY 110: HASTINGS
044: BUTTON 111: MOORE
045: SZOKA 112: HAGER
046: JONES 113: WHITMIRE
050: CHANEY 115: RAMSEY
051: STONE 116: MOFFITT
052: BOLES 118: PRESNELL
053: LEWIS 119: CLAMPITT
055: BRODY 120: WEST
056: CARTER

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Restaurant Carry In North Carolina Has Its First Anniversary And Carry Is Banned At The State Fair

October 6, 2014 by 2 Comments

The ability to carry concealed in a restaurant or eating establishment in North Carolina had its first anniversary this past week. The anniversary brings with it a measure of disappointment for the naysayers and gun prohibitionists. Blood didn’t run in the streets and there weren’t boozy shoot-outs on a regular basis. In fact, according to research by Grass Roots North Carolina, there wasn’t even one shooting involving a concealed carry holder in a restaurant serving alcohol.

House Bill 937, which became effective on October 1, 2013, dramatically expanded North Carolina’s concealed handgun law into restaurants where alcohol is sold and consumed, assemblies of people for which admission is charged, parades and funerals, further into state and municipal parks, and even to a limited extent into educational properties.


‘Guns and alcohol don’t mix’?


As always when we expand concealed handgun laws, opponents and media naysayers predicted shootings in bars, guns stolen from vehicles at schools, and various other sorts of mayhem using platitudes like “guns and alcohol don’t mix.”


GRNC explained endlessly that concealed handgun permit-holders, by virtue of background checks and training, had proven themselves sane, sober and law-abiding since 1995, with a rate of permit revocation on the order of three tens of a single percent. We explained that permit-holders in restaurants would still be prohibited from imbibing alcohol.


But the dire predictions persisted. Editorials ridiculed legislators. UNC president Tom Ross sent UNC police chiefs to testify against the bill, claiming it would hamper their ability to protect students. Gun control activists pushed restaurants to post against concealed carry.


So what has happened?


It has now been one year since HB 937 became effective. So what has happened? Nothing. GRNC monitors clipping services for gun-related incidents. Just like Virginia, Ohio, Tennessee and other states which adopted restaurant carry, however, we have been unable to find a single instance of a concealed handgun permit-holder misusing a gun in a restaurant or educational property.


So when will the media naysayers apologize? Will the media acknowledge the anniversary and the absolute lack of negative impact?


NC State Fair: The latest battleground


In the latest battle, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler says he will post the North Carolina State Fair against concealed carry even though statutes adopted in HB 937 now prohibit him from doing so. He apparently believes that even despite passing concealed carry in 1995; Castle Doctrine/Stand Your Ground and expanded concealed carry into parks and elsewhere in 2011; and HB 937 in 2013 – all without the mayhem predicted by opponents – somehow, the state fair must be a different and more dangerous place than all the others.


So GRNC asks both Troxler and the media, “Where’s the mayhem?”

It is against this background that GRNC is taking NC Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler (R-NC) to task for trying to continue the ban on carry at the North Carolina State Fair. HB 937 which permits restaurant carry also permitted carry at assemblies where an admission is charged such as the State Fair. GRNC is threatening legal action to make Ag Commissioner Troxler and the State Fair to abide by the law.

Sean Sorrentino of An NC Gun Blog attended Troxler’s press conference and questioned him about the decision to post the State Fair. Troxler replied that it was long-standing policy to post against carry and he’d leave it to the lawyers about the interpretation of the new law.

Paul Valone, President of GRNC, has met with Troxler last Monday. As Valone says, Troxler is not known as a liberal or anti-gun but that still doesn’t make him right. GRNC will be going to court seeking a temporary restraining order before the fair opens in about a week.

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Upcoming Events For Grass Roots North Carolina

September 26, 2013 by

Grass Roots North Carolina has two big upcoming events – one a “meet and greet” this weekend and the other is “dinner and a movie” in various NC cities on October 1st. The latter is on the day that the new gun laws go into effect which include the ability to carry concealed in restaurants that serve alcohol. To clarify, a person who is legally carrying concealed in North Carolina is forbidden by law to consume alcoholic beverages while carrying.

Bunnlevel is in Harnett County about halfway between Raleigh and Fayetteville. If I lived closer, I’d love to attend. Range 37 PSR Gun Club is one of the premier gun clubs in North Carolina and looks like a fantastic facility.

From GRNC:

Two Upcoming GRNC Events!
Mark your calenders…   

1st Annual GRNC Meet, Greet, Eat & Shoot at 37 PSR in Bunnlevel, NC on Saturday, September 28th from noon until 6pm:
The event is $30 per person (free under 16) and will be a great
opportunity to come out and spend the day with many of the GRNC
volunteers who work hard for our gun rights every day. Dinner is
potluck, so bring a dish and utensils. For info: GRNC@nc.rr.com or call 877-282-0939.

GRNC Dinner and a Movie: Celebrate restaurant carry when it takes effect on October 1
by joining GRNC in Asheville, Hickory, Charlotte (Matthews),
Greensboro, Durham or Fayetteville. Where? Texas Roadhouse restaurants,
which have already promised they will not post against concealed carry.
For info: DinnerandMovie@GRNC.org or call 877-282-0939.

Support GRNC!

  • Support GRNC: GRNC needs your support to help combat the efforts against your rights as gun owners. Join or renew your membership!  http://www.grnc.org/join-grnc/join-grnc-online
  • SIGN THE “STOP THE GUN BAN” PETITION: Go to: www.StopTheGunBan.org Whether or not you have already signed it, forward this to others and tell them to sign it too.
Uncategorized

GRNC On Passage Of HB 937 By NC State House

May 8, 2013 by

The North Carolina House of Representatives passed HB 937 – Amend Various Firearms Laws – on the Third Reading. They also tabled a number of amendments which would not only have weakened the bill but would have added things like magazine restrictions, background checks, and safe storage laws. What the bill does do is clarify park carry, allow restaurant carry and carry in events that charge admission, and allows concealed carry holders to have firearms locked in their vehicles on university and community college campuses.

What was sad is that only one Democrat voted for the bill. That was Rep. Paul Tine (D-Dare) of Kitty Hawk. He is to be congratulated. The rest of the Democrats in the State House including some that ostensibly were “pro-gun” not only voted against the bill but for the weakening amendments. I’ll have a subsequent post up on those amendments and who voted for them later.

In the meantime, Grass Roots North Carolina is quite pleased that the Republicans stood firm “with those that brought them.” It goes on to the State Senate where it will face continued opposition from the leadership of the University of North Carolina System and a number of Democrats. GRNC is asking that people ask Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) to stand firm this time.

Standing Firm

In recent months, GRNC has spent plenty of time beating on Republican leaders for failing to “dance with the ones that brought them,” namely failure to move gun legislation after gun owners came out strong in the 2012 elections.

Perhaps that message got through: On Monday and Tuesday, Republicans stood firm in defending House Bill 937, “Amend Various Gun Laws,” against an onslaught of anti-gun amendments proposed by Reps. Darren Jackson (D-Wake, GRNC 0-star), Paul Leubke (D-Durham, 0-star), Verla Insko (D-Orange, 0-star), Pricey Harrison (D-Guilford, 0-star) and others. Thanks are due in particular to Speaker Thom Tillis (R-Mecklenburg, ****) and Rules Chair Tim Moore (R-Cleveland, ****).

As weakening amendment after weakening amendment was introduced, Rep. Tim (“The Hammer”) Moore and Rep. Justin Burr (R-Montgomery, Stanly, ****) shot them down with motions “lay the amendments on the table.” But for their efforts, North Carolina gun owners could have been saddled not only with weakening amendments to the original bill, but also to exactly the sort of universal gun registration and standard capacity magazine bans you just defeated at a federal level.

Rep. “Yellow Star” Jackson, who previously tried to brand gun owners by their drivers’ licenses much as Nazi’s put Yellow Stars on those bound for concentration camps, was particularly relentless, earning GRNC-PVF’s special attention in future elections.

Eloquent defense of gun owners was also given by Reps. John Blust (R-Guilford, ****), Bert Jones (R-Caswell, Rockingham, ****), Larry Pittman (R-Cabarrus, ****), John Faircloth (R-Guilford, ****) and others. It should be noted that Tillis ran a tight ship, ruling for early termination of “surprise” amendments not previously submitted to legislators for review.

What Next?

HB 937 now heads for the Senate, where it will undoubtedly find an equally rocky path. In addition to UNC opposition, campus carry is one thing Senate leadership has not signed off on. You input to Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (R-Guilford, Rockingham. ****) will be necessary to move the bill.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!

CONTACT SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM PHIL BERGER: Let him know that now that the House has gotten the ball rolling, you expect the Senate to pick it up THIS YEAR. We will not again stand by for “next year,” as in 2011-12, at which point the chamber said, “Well, we really can’t do this in an election year.” Email Berger at: Phil.Berger@ncleg.net

Uncategorized

Update On HB 937 – Omnibus Gun Bill In North Carolina

May 1, 2013 by

The vote scheduled for yesterday in the North Carolina House of Representatives on HB 937 was pulled from the calendar. The gun prohibitionists are saying it was due to them but, in reality, it was due to the need for a fiscal note to be attached to the bill.

As Grass Roots North Carolina notes, we still need to keep up the pressure on the General Assembly to act on this bill soon and not to dilute it.



Keep pressure on: delay gives gun control extremists time to prepare opposition

At the last minute HB 937, “Amend Various Firearm Laws” was pulled from the House schedule and not voted on. The reason for this unexpected rescheduling is not, as North Carolinians “Against Gun Violence” would have you believe, due to gun control input. At least as stated by leadership, it was due to a delayed request for a fiscal note to be attached to the bill. There is, however, a chance that it was delayed due to UNC opposition listed below.

This bill is critical for NC gun owners and contains restaurant carry, provisions for guns in locked vehicles on college campuses, carry in assemblies for which admission is charged, and a “cleanup” of parks carry language.

It has already raised the hackles of citizen disarmament proponents, including UNC President Tom Ross, who apparently doesn’t trust our state’s brightest young men and women with the means to effectively defend themselves.

We need to increase the heat on the NC House to ensure that this bill is both voted on and passed without the weakening amendments that will be proposed by extremists who want North Carolinians disarmed. MAKE SURE to participate in this email effort – the stakes are high and we need full participation to drive our message home!

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!

  • EMAIL HOUSE REPUBLICANS: Use the copy and paste list below to deliver a clear message that you expect them to pass HB 937 without delay.

  • CALL & EMAIL YOUR NC HOUSE REP: Let them know you expect them to vote against all weakening amendments and for final passage of HB 937. Find your rep HERE or by going to: http://www.ncleg.net/representation/WhoRepresentsMe.aspx

Contact Information

Copy and paste email addresses for House Republicans:

Dean.Arp@ncleg.net, Marilyn.Avila@ncleg.net, John.Bell@ncleg.net, Hugh.Blackwell@ncleg.net, Jamie.Boles@ncleg.net, Robert.Brawley@ncleg.net, Brian.Brown@ncleg.net, Rayne.Brown@ncleg.net, Rob.Bryan@ncleg.net, Dana.Bumgardner@ncleg.net, Justin.Burr@ncleg.net, Rick.Catlin@ncleg.net, George.Cleveland@ncleg.net, Jeff.Collins@ncleg.net, Debra.Conrad@ncleg.net, Leo.Daughtry@ncleg.net, Ted.Davis@ncleg.net, Jimmy.Dixon@ncleg.net, Josh.Dobson@ncleg.net, Jerry.Dockham@ncleg.net, Nelson.Dollar@ncleg.net, Jeffrey.Elmore@ncleg.net, John.Faircloth@ncleg.net, Jim.Fulghum@ncleg.net, Mike.Hager@ncleg.net, Jon.Hardister@ncleg.net, Kelly.Hastings@ncleg.net, Mark.Hollo@ncleg.net, Bryan.Holloway@ncleg.net, Craig.Horn@ncleg.net, Julia.Howard@ncleg.net, Pat.Hurley@ncleg.net, Frank.Iler@ncleg.net, Charles.Jeter@ncleg.net, Linda.Johnson2@ncleg.net, Bert.Jones@ncleg.net, Jonathan.Jordan@ncleg.net, Donny.Lambeth@ncleg.net, James.Langdon@ncleg.net, David.Lewis@ncleg.net, Chris.Malone@ncleg.net, Susan.Martin@ncleg.net, Pat.McElraft@ncleg.net, Chuck.McGrady@ncleg.net, Allen.McNeill@ncleg.net, Chris.Millis@ncleg.net, Tim.Moffitt@ncleg.net, Tim.Moore@ncleg.net, Tom.Murry@ncleg.net, Michele.Presnell@ncleg.net, Nathan.Ramsey@ncleg.net, Dennis.Riddell@ncleg.net, Stephen.Ross@ncleg.net, Jason.Saine@ncleg.net, Ruth.Samuelson@ncleg.net, Jacqueline.Schaffer@ncleg.net, Mitchell.Setzer@ncleg.net, Phil.Shepard@ncleg.net, Paul.Stam@ncleg.net, Edgar.Starnes@ncleg.net, Bob.Steinburg@ncleg.net, Sarah.Stevens@ncleg.net, Michael.Stone@ncleg.net, John.Szoka@ncleg.net, Thom.Tillis@ncleg.net, John.Torbett@ncleg.net, Rena.Turner@ncleg.net, Harry.Warren@ncleg.net, Andy.Wells@ncleg.net, Roger.West@ncleg.net, Chris.Whitmire@ncleg.net,

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

Suggested Subject: “Pass HB 937, “Amend Various Firearm Laws” WITHOUT amendments!”

Dear Representative:

I strongly urge you to support House Bill 937, “Amend Various Firearms Laws” by passing the bill without weakening amendments. Provision for concealed handgun permit-holders to carry in restaurants is already law in surrounding states like TN, VA, GA and OH. The “Chicken Little” predictions of gun control extremists in those states have not been realized. Are not North Carolinians as trustworthy as citizens of surrounding states?

It is past time that we are able to defend ourselves and our families while eating at dinner restaurants. It is past time that law-abiding faculty and staff are able to adequately defend themselves while traveling to and from work.

Your constituents have a fundamental right to bear arms for defense. It is your responsibility to help remove infringements on this right. This is why NC gun owners elected pro-Second Amendment legislators in an election that went liberal in other states.

We worked hard for you. Now it is your turn to return the favor.

I will be monitoring your actions via Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts, and rest assured I will hold legislators accountable for their votes.

Respectfully,

As I write this, I am in Texas. On the morning news here, there was a report that the Texas legislature is considering a bill that would allow concealed carry holders to store their firearms in a locked vehicle while on campus. This is the same as HB 937 would allow. Just like in North Carolina, the usual suspects are objecting.

Uncategorized

NC House Votes On HB 937 – Restaurant Carry – On Tuesday

April 28, 2013 by 2 Comments

The North Carolina House of Representatives has placed HB 937 on the calendar for a vote on Tueday. This bill would allow restaurant carry, has provisions for firearms in locked vehicles on university and community college campuses, would allow carry in assemblies where admission is charged, and clarifies park carry definitions.

From Grass Roots North Carolina:

Help Fight-off Weakening Amendments!

On Wednesday, HB 937, “Amend Various Firearm Laws” which contains; restaurant carry, provisions for guns in locked vehicles on college campuses, carry in assemblies for which admission is charged, and a “cleanup” of parks carry language, passed from the House Judiciary A Subcommittee. It is now calendared for a vote on the House floor on Tuesday, April 30. Attacks by anti-gun leftists, narrowly fended off in the committee, will likely be tried again when the bill hits the floor.

Anti-gun treachery you can expect

Numerous anti-gun amendments were attempted in committee, principally by Reps. Deborah Ross (D-Wake, 0-star) and Darren Jackson (D-Wake , GRNC 0-star) . Although all anti-gun amendments failed in committee, they will try again when the bill hits the floor, so here they are:

Protecting rapists instead of students: Both UNC lobbyist Andrew Moretz and NCSU police chief Jack Moorman testified to the committee in opposition to allowing concealed handgun permit-holders to keep guns on college campuses, but neglected mentioning the high rate of violent crime on those campuses. In fact, Moorman apparently prefers to protect rapists rather than students, since the morning after he testified against self-protection on campuses, a student was dragged into bushes and raped outside the “Free Expression Tunnel.” Lest you assume Rep. Bob Steinburg (R-Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, ****) supports the bill, he introduced an amendment which would have undermined the deterrent effect of guns on campus by requiring guns be kept in locked compartments within vehicles.

“Poison pill” amendments to restaurant carry: Although at least 43 states have some type of restaurant carry (including laws recently passed in Georgia, Arizona, Tennessee, Virginia, and Ohio) Reps. Ross and Jackson remain committed to stopping you from protecting your family in restaurants. If they can’t remove it entirely, they will use “poison pill” amendments to induce the NC Restaurant & Lodging Assoc., which is currently neutral on the bill, to oppose it.

In committee, Jackson first tried to require restaurants to post signs saying they either allow or prohibit concealed carry, claiming this would “allow restaurants to choose” while actually denying restaurant owners the choice of simply not getting involved in the debate at all by posting nothing. When restaurant association representative Frank Gray stated his opposition, the amendment failed. Next, Jackson tried requiring servers to act as cops by asking patrons whether they were “packing,” and demanding permit-holders to qualify to law-enforcement marksmanship standards.

“Yellow Star” Jackson: Reminiscent of Nazi’s use of the yellow star inscribed with “Jude,” Jackson then introduced an amendment to brand permit-holders by requiring their status to be displayed on drivers’ licenses, so that every time you have to present an ID, you would be “outted.” This amendment also failed.

Lies about concealed handgun permit-holders: North Carolinians “Against Gun Violence” director Gail Neely stood before the committee to slander permit-holders, citing long-since discredited claims from “New York Times” reporter Michael Luo that permit-holders are criminals. But most telling, Neely perjured herself to the committee by regurgitating a study which she claimed dealt with concealed handgun permit-holders, despite the fact that GRNC President Paul Valone had two weeks prior produced a copy of the study for her (and the audience of an ACLU forum) demonstrating that her claims were clearly false.

Remind legislators: Not only restaurant patrons are disarmed under current law, but also employees. In February, a Charlotte-area Red Lobster employee was shot during an armed robbery, adding yet another to the long list of restaurant victims like Danielle Watson, the Flying Biscuit Cafe manager brutally stabbed to death and left behind a dumpster.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!

THANK LEADERSHIP & REMIND THEM YOU WILL ACCEPT NO WEAKENING AMENDMENTS: Call AND email Speaker Thom Tillis (R-Mecklenburg, ****) at Thom.Tillis@ncleg.net 919-733-3451 and House Majority Whip Ruth Samuelson (R-Mecklenburg, ****) at Ruth.Samuelson@ncleg.net and 919-715-3009.

EMAIL FENCE-SITTING HOUSE REPS: Use the copy and paste list below to bury anti-gun and fence-sitting representatives in an avalanche of input which clearly demonstrates you will not tolerate attempts to undermine the interests of gun owners.

CALL & EMAIL YOUR NC HOUSE REP: Let them know you expect them to vote against all weakening amendments and for final passage of HB 937. Find your rep HERE or by going to: http://www.ncleg.net/representation/WhoRepresentsMe.aspx

CONTACT INFORMATION

Use the ‘copy and paste’ email list below:

Alma.Adams@ncleg.net, Kelly.Alexander@ncleg.net, Nathan.Baskerville@ncleg.net, Larry.Bell@ncleg.net, Marcus.Brandon@ncleg.net, Becky.Carney@ncleg.net, Tricia.Cotham@ncleg.net, Carla.Cunningham@ncleg.net, Beverly.Earle@ncleg.net, Jean.Farmer-Butterfield@ncleg.net, Susan.Fisher@ncleg.net, Elmer.Floyd@ncleg.net, Valerie.Foushee@ncleg.net, Rosa.Gill@ncleg.net, Rick.Glazier@ncleg.net, Ken.Goodman@ncleg.net, Charles.Graham@ncleg.net, George.Graham@ncleg.net, Duane.Hall@ncleg.net, Larry.Hall@ncleg.net, Susi.Hamilton@ncleg.net, Edward.Hanes@ncleg.net, Pricey.Harrison@ncleg.net, Yvonne.Holley@ncleg.net, Verla.Insko@ncleg.net, Darren.Jackson@ncleg.net, Paul.Luebke@ncleg.net, Deb.McManus@ncleg.net, Mickey.Michaux@ncleg.net, Annie.Mobley@ncleg.net, Rodney.Moore@ncleg.net, Garland.Pierce@ncleg.net, Bobbie.Richardson@ncleg.net, Deborah.Ross@ncleg.net, Evelyn.Terry@ncleg.net, Paul.Tine@ncleg.net, Ken.Waddell@ncleg.net, Winkie.Wilkins@ncleg.net, William.Brisson@ncleg.net, Joe.Tolson@ncleg.net, Michael.Wray@ncleg.net, Marvin.Lucas@ncleg.net, Jim.Fulghum@ncleg.net, Paul.Stam@ncleg.net, Chris.Whitmire@ncleg.net, Joe.Queen@ncleg.net, Bob.Steinburg@ncleg.net

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

Suggested Subject: “Pass HB 937, “Amend Various Firearm Laws” WITHOUT amendments!”

Dear Representative:

I strongly urge you to support House Bill 937, “Amend Various Firearms Laws” by passing the bill without weakening amendments. Provisions for concealed handgun permit-holders to carry in restaurants are by no means untested. Among the forty-three states with some type of restaurant carry, in the last five years, it has passed in Georgia, Arizona, Tennessee, Virginia, and Ohio. In the twelve months after Virginia passed restaurant carry, violent crime in restaurants dropped by 5.2%. Moreover, the NC Restaurant & Lodging Association does not oppose the bill (although it does oppose “poison pill” amendments proposed by Representatives Darren Jackson and Deborah Ross.)

With respect to the limited measure for firearms in locked motor vehicles on college campuses, I am stunned by the hypocrisy of UNC and NCSU officials who testified against the measure in the House Judiciary A Subcommittee…just hours before yet another NCSU student was raped outside the NCSU “Free Expression Tunnel.” To deter violent sociopaths, it is time to deliver a message that campuses will no longer be “victim disarmament zones.”

I will be monitoring your actions via Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts, and rest assured I will hold legislators accountable for their votes.

Respectfully,

Uncategorized

GRNC On Passage Of HB 937 Out Of Committee

April 25, 2013 by

As I noted in the previous post, the North Carolina State House Judiciary A Committee passed an omnibus gun rights bill out of committee today. From the report below from Grass Roots North Carolina, the gun prohibitionists tried very hard to neuter the bill but ultimately failed.

From GRNC:

Restaurant Carry Passes Committee

After lengthy debate and after rejecting numerous anti-gun amendments, the NC House Judiciary A Committee today passed House Bill 937. The bill will now head to the House floor for a vote, likely next week.

  • In its present form, HB 937 would expand concealed carry into:


  • Restaurants;

  • Assemblies of people for which admission is charged;

  • College campuses (provided firearms are kept in locked vehicles); and

  • Parking lots of state office buildings.

HB 937 would also clean up flaws in the parks carry language passed in HB 650 under which municipalities continue to flout the law by banning guns in entire parks.

During sometimes rancorous debate, Representatives Darren Jackson (D-Wake , GRNC 0-star), Deborah Ross (D-Wake, 0-star) and others proposed amendments designed to be “poison pills” for the bill. All failed. Most surprising was an amendment by Rep. Bob Steinburg (R-Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, ****) who supported the bill, but objected to provisions allowing concealed handgun permit-holders to keep firearms in locked vehicles on college campuses.

Sponsors Jacqueline Schaffer (R-Mecklenburg, ****), Justin Burr (R-Montgomery, Stanly, ****), John Faircloth (R-Guilford, ****), and George Cleveland (R-Onslow, ****) did an outstanding job of defending the bill. Addressing the committee in favor of the bill were GRNC president Paul Valone, Director of Development Josette Chmiel, and representatives for the NRA and NCRPA.

In testifying against the bill, North Carolinians “Against Gun Violence” director Gail Neely perjured herself to the committee by regurgitating a study which she claimed dealt with concealed handgun permit-holders, despite the fact that Valone had two weeks ago produced a copy of the study for her (and audience of an ACLU forum) demonstrating clearly that her claims were false.

Rep. Jackson introduced anti-gun amendment after anti-gun amendment in an attempt to “run the clock” on the bill until he was shut down by Committee Chair Rep. John Blust (R-Guilford, ****), who brought the bill to a vote.

Stay tuned for a detailed accounting of the committee action, including video.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!

CONTACT YOUR HOUSE REP: Tell him to pass HB 937 as is, without weakening amendments. Find your rep Here or copy and paste: http://www.ncleg.net/representation/WhoRepresentsMe.aspx

SUPPORT GRNC: Please help by joining or contributing at: http://www.grnc.org/join-grnc/join-grnc-online

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

Suggested Subject: “Pass HB937 As Is!”

Dear Representative:

I strongly urge you to not only vote for House Bill 937 (“Amend Various Gun Laws”), but to oppose any floor amendments intended to weaken the bill. The restaurant carry provisions of the bill are being practiced in forty-three states without serious problems. Virginia implemented restaurant carry two years ago, after which restaurant crime dropped by 5.2%.

Provisions for firearms in locked vehicles on campuses of higher learning is a modest first step aimed at reducing campus violence, deterring tragedies such as Virginia Tech and keeping thousands of lawful North Carolinians from becoming accidental felons.

I look forward to hearing of your support and will monitor this issue via Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts.

Respectfully,

Uncategorized

GRNC On New Bills In NC General Assembly

March 9, 2013 by

Two new bills and a resolution proposing a constitutional amendment have been introduced before the North Carolina House of Representatives in the past few days. All three are great for gun rights and Grass Roots North Carolina is asking people to write their legislators to support them.

From GRNC’s Alert:



Constitutional amendment, campus carry, & more…

SB 190: ‘Gun on Ed. Prop./Stored in Locked Car’

Drafted with assistance from GRNC and sponsored by Sen. Bill Cook (R-Beaufort, Camden, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, GRNC ****), SB 190 would allow concealed handgun permit-holders to keep firearms in locked motor vehicles on educational properties, further permitting their removal for defensive purposes. Although the bill is not the full campus carry bill which GRNC is shepherding (and which will soon be introduced), SB 190 would apply to all concealed handgun permit-holders, unlike other bills introduced to date. Beyond providing limited means for self-defense, it would prevent thousands of parents, taking children to school, from becoming accidental felons.

HB 246: ‘The Gun Rights Amendment’

First, let us note that the main mover behind the bill, Rep. Larry Pittman (R-Cabarrus, GRNC ****), is arguably the greatest patriot in the General Assembly. He is already being attacked for his patriotism, and we need to defend him.

HR 246 is admittedly a “hail Mary” pass. If passed, however, it would be the most comprehensive expansion of gun rights in North Carolina history. In addition to removing language from Section 30 of the North Carolina Constitution which says, “Nothing herein shall justify the practice of carrying concealed weapons, or prevent the General Assembly from enacting penal statutes against that practice”, it would expand concealed carry into restaurants, court buildings, assemblies for which admission is charged, and elsewhere.

HR 63: ‘Support Right to Bear Arms’

Sponsored by Rep. Michael Speciale (R-Beaufort, Craven, Pamlico, GRNC ****), HR 63 simply reaffirms the Second Amendment and North Carolina Constitution language on the individual right to keep and bear arms, notes that the Obama administration is proposing restrictions on that right, notes that gun control has not been found in studies to be effective, and passes on that purely symbolic reaffirmation to the North Carolina congressional delegation.

GRNC normally doesn’t expend resources on non-binding resolutions and, frankly, considered this so non-controversial we didn’t even issue an alert prior to its hearing in the House Rules Committee. But that was before North Carolinians “Against Gun Violence” rallied its radicals against the resolution, whining:

“Despite the rhetoric about ‘individual rights’ and gun laws being unconstitutional, five years of legal decisions show, legislators and activists should feel confident that a variety of smart laws are constitutional, desperately needed, and desired by the majority of North Carolinians!”

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!

For SB 190: ‘Gun on Ed. Prop./Stored in Locked Car’

Contact members of the Senate Rules Committee, to which the bill has been referred

Thank Sens. Bill Cook & Andrew Brock for their leadership on this issue

For HB 246: ‘The Gun Rights Amendment’

Contact members of the House Rules Committee and ask them for a committee hearing. Note: Please bear in mind that Rules Chair Tim Moore has been a consistent friend of gun owners. Please treat him accordingly

Thank Rep. Pittman for his patriotism

For HR 63: ‘Support Right to Bear Arms’

HR 63 passed the Rules Committee on Tuesday and is now headed to the House floor. To counter an organization so antithetical to freedom that it feels compelled to put the words “individual rights” in quotes, immediately contact your House rep and tell them to vote for HR 63.

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR SB 190
Senate Rules Committee:

Chairman: Sen. Tom Apodaca

Vice Chairman: Sen. Peter S. Brunstetter

Members: Sen. Chad Barefoot, Sen. Dan Blue, Sen. Andrew C. Brock, Sen. Harry Brown, Sen. Ben Clark, Sen. Kathy Harrington, Sen. Ralph Hise, Sen. Brent Jackson, Sen. Clark Jenkins, Sen. Wesley Meredith, Sen. Martin L. Nesbitt, Jr., Sen. E. S. (Buck) Newton, Sen. Bill Rabon, Sen. Josh Stein

Copy and paste email list: Tom.Apodaca@ncleg.net, Peter.Brunstetter@ncleg.netChad.Barefoot@ncleg.net, Dan.Blue@ncleg.net, Andrew.Brock@ncleg.net, Harry.Brown@ncleg.net, Ben.Clark@ncleg.net, Kathy.Harrington@ncleg.net, Ralph.Hise@ncleg.net, Brent.Jackson@ncleg.net, Clark.Jenkins@ncleg.net, Wesley.Meredith@ncleg.net, Martin.Nesbitt@ncleg.net, Buck.Newton@ncleg.net, Bill.Rabon@ncleg.net, Josh.Stein@ncleg.net

Members of the Senate Rules Committee:

SB 190: “Gun on Ed. Prop./Stored in Locked Car” deserves a committee hearing. Often, bills referred to the Rules Committee are sentenced by leadership to death. However, SB 190 is reasonable and moderate legislation which will not only serve to deter violent predators but will protect thousands of parents, who keep firearms in their vehicles and take their kids to school, from the risk of being prosecuted as accidental felons.

I strongly urge you to either give SB 190 a hearing in the Rules Committee, or re-refer it to a Judiciary Committee. Please advise me of your position on this issue. I will be monitoring committee actions via Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts.

Respectfully,

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR HB 246
House Rules Committee

Chairman: Rep. T. Moore

Vice Chairman: Rep. Burr

Vice Chairman: Rep. Stam

Members: Rep. Blust, Rep. Boles, Rep. Brandon, Rep. Brisson, Rep. Carney, Rep. Daughtry, Rep. Farmer-Butterfield, Rep. Floyd, Rep. L. Hall, Rep. Hamilton, Rep. Hastings, Rep. Holloway, Rep. Jackson, Rep. Johnson, Rep. Lewis, Rep. Moffitt, Rep. Saine, Rep. Samuelson, Rep. Starnes, Rep. Stone, Rep. Torbett

Copy and paste email list: Tim.Moore@ncleg.net, Justin.Burr@ncleg.net, Paul.Stam@ncleg.net, John.Blust@ncleg.net, Jamie.Boles@ncleg.net, Marcus.Brandon@ncleg.net, William.Brisson@ncleg.net, Becky.Carney@ncleg.net, Leo.Daughtry@ncleg.net, Jean.Farmer-Butterfield@ncleg.net, Elmer.Floyd@ncleg.net, Larry.Hall@ncleg.net, Susi.Hamilton@ncleg.net, Kelly.Hastings@ncleg.net, Bryan.Holloway@ncleg.net, Darren.Jackson@ncleg.net, Linda.Johnson2@ncleg.net, David.Lewis@ncleg.net, Tim.Moffitt@ncleg.net, Jason.Saine@ncleg.net, Ruth.Samuelson@ncleg.net, Edgar.Starnes@ncleg.net, Michael.Stone@ncleg.net, John.Torbett@ncleg.net

Members of the House Rules Committee:

HB 246: “The Gun Rights Amendment” deserves a committee hearing. Often, bills referred to the Rules Committee are sentenced by leadership to death. But concealed handgun permit-holders have spent eighteen years proving themselves sane, sober and law-abiding. It is time for legislative leadership to stand up to the media and the anti-gun left by expanding concealed carry and making North Carolina a model for the nation.

Please advise me of your position on this issue. I will be monitoring committee actions via Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts.

Respectfully,

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR HR 63

Contact your House rep and tell them to vote for HR 63.

Find your NC House rep by going to: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/representation/WhoRepresentsMe.aspx