Grass Roots North Carolina Archives -

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NRA-ILA Picks Wrong Target

April 21, 2023

by John Richardson 2 Comments

The NRA-ILA is now headed by what I consider their third string quarterback. First, Wayne and company forced Chris Cox out for supposed disloyalty. Then his replacement Jason Ouimet left when he saw the writing on the wall. Now Randy Kozuch, an almost 30-year veteran of the NRA, was appointed as Executive Director of ILA by the Board of Directors on Monday He had been the interim head prior to Monday.

Yesterday, the NRA-ILA posted a release that claimed credit for getting North Carolina’s pistol purchase permit repealed and blasting other 2A groups for taking credit for it.

However, some other 2A groups in the state have instead continued to focus on seeking credit for the legislative victory. At least one group has gone so far as to try claiming exclusive responsibility for the passage and veto override of SB41.
Not only do these laughable claims dismiss over a decade of legislative repeal efforts by NRA members, gun owners, and other 2A groups, but they also create an unnecessary distraction. This is a time when Second Amendment expansion opportunities in North Carolina are possible, including NRA’s push for constitutional carry. We would hope that all pro-gun groups share that same enthusiasm to collectively fight for pro-gun legislation in North Carolina.

Now I don’t know if this was the work of Randy Kozuch as it reads more like something that Marion Hammer would put out. I do know that someone royally screwed up.

To paraphrase Jim Croce:

You don’t tug on superman’s cape
You don’t spit into the wind
You don’t pull the mask off that old lone ranger
And you don’t mess around with Paul Valone of GRNC

It is bad enough to take credit for another organization’s hard work. The NRA has done that time and again. However, it goes beyond the pale when you then dump on an all-volunteer, highly effective, state-level gun rights organization for having the temerity to claim credit for their actual accomplishments.

As anyone who knows Paul Valone would expect, he is not taking this lying down. He issued a point by point response last night.

Paul Valone is the honey badger of the gun rights community in North Carolina. While the NRA may still consider itself the 800 lb gorilla, “honey badger don’t care“.

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SHOT Show 2023 – It’s The People

January 29, 2023

by John Richardson

Seeing all the new products being released at SHOT Show is cool. Since I caught the SHOT Show crud during the show and not after it, I didn’t get to see as much as I usually did. Nonetheless, what I really enjoy most about going to the SHOT Show is reconnecting with old friends and making new ones.

I’m not the best at taking selfies but others are. I ran into Charlie Chambers who I first met at a Gun Rights Policy Conference at Range Day. He was there with Amanda Suffecool and Rob Campbell of Eye on the Target Radio. This was taken early in the day before the rain arrived and the wind picked up.

Then there are the people you run into in the Media Room. In this case it was Charlie Cook of Riding Shotgun with Charlie and John Petrolino of BearingArms.com. As Charlie noted, all three of us were recipients of the Second Amendment Foundation’s Ray Carter Blogger of the Year Award.

Thursday was interesting as lunch and then dinner ran the political spectrum from Right to Left. Lunch was with Paul Valone and his wife Lori of Grass Roots North Carolina along longtime GRNC volunteer Josette Chmiel. Paul is the author of the book Rules for Anti-Radicals which deals with defeating leftism.

Thursday evening I swung to the opposite end of the political spectrum when I had dinner with people from the Liberal Gun Club. Beyond the wonderful food at Bouchon, I had a great time reconnecting with Lara and Ed Smith and trainer/revolver guru Grant Cunningham. Grant was at the SHOT Show representing Lubriplate which makes non-toxic firearm lubricants (among many other things). It had been years since I had seen Grant face-to-face so it was really fun to catch up with him.

Finally, there is my old friend Michael Bane. I ran into him at Range Day where he introduced me to James Tarr. Later that evening, I had dinner with Michael and his “sweetie” along with Paul Erhardt and one person whose name I still don’t remember. The Complementary Spouse insisted I get a picture. Unfortunately, I forgot. Fast forward to Thursday when Michael was doing the giveaway for a customized Tisas 10mm 1911 at the SDS Imports/Tisas booth. His “sweetie” was kind enough to take this picture of us and the Complementary Spouse was pleased.

There were a lot more people I ran into at SHOT than I can name without leaving someone out. Despite coming down with the crud and missing a day of the show because I stayed in bed, it was a good trip and it was the people that made the trip.

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USPSA Match To Benefit Grass Roots North Carolina

August 28, 2022

by John Richardson

The Sir Walter Gun Club in Creedmoor, North Carolina is sponsoring an USPSA 8-stage match to benefit Grass Roots North Carolina. The range is located north of both Durham and Raleigh just off of Interstate 85 and US Hwy 15.

More details on the match and how to register are below:

SIR WALTER GUN CLUB- USPSA PISTOL MATCH TO BENEFIT GRNC

Once again the good people at Sir Walter Gun Club are providing their facilities and hosting a USPSA match to help and benefit GRNC. – Which we all know is especially needed at this time.

Registration link

Registration opens August 26th at 7am
Registration ends September 1st at 8:30pm

Match starts: September 03, 2022 @ 10:00 AM Match ends: September 03, 2022 @ 5:00 PMMany thanks to the fine folks at Sir Walter Gun Club for their support of GRNC and our 2nd Amendment rights… Sir Walter Gun Club 2507 Hester RoadCreedmoor, NC 27522

USPSA Pistol Match to Benefit GRNC – 8 Stages $30.00 minimum donation. Jr. shooters are $20.00 NOTE: If you withdraw from the match before midnight on the Thursday before the match, you will be refunded your match fee less $1.00 to cover the credit card fees. No refunds will be given for withdrawals after that time or no shows at the match. USPSA level I match, with the following divisions: Limited, Limited 10, Open, Production, Single Stack, Revolver, Carry Optics, PCC

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Protest At Tillis’ Raleigh Office, June 24th

June 16, 2022

by John Richardson 3 Comments

Given Sen. Thom Tillis’ (R-NC) role in the GOP capitulation on gun control, Grass Roots North Carolina is holding a peaceful protest outside his Raleigh office on Friday, June 24th. They were able to get Stephen Willeford, the hero of the Sutherland Springs, Texas attack, to attend as the featured speaker. Mr. Willeford is now the National Spokesman for Gun Owners of America.

The event will be from 10am until 1pm outside the Terry Sanford Federal Building in Raleigh.

If you live in the Piedmont or can get to Raleigh on the 24th, please be there. Remember, it is politicians like Tillis who are the reason the GOP is known as “the stupid party”.

More details in the alert from GRNC below:

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Natasha Marcus Finds GRNC Takes No Prisoners

September 8, 2021

by John Richardson 2 Comments

You may remember NC State Senator Natasha Marcus (D-Mecklenburg). She is the senator who contended that North Carolina’s pistol purchase permit system was not racist despite its origins and its disparate impact on African-Americans. In her floor debate, she also made the claim that the law stopped more than 2,300 permits from being issued in her county despite having passed a NICS check.

It was an outrageous claim and not surprising coming from someone proudly claiming to be a member of Moms Demand Action.

Using both FOIA requests and multiple letters to Sen. Marcus, Grass Roots North Carolina found that her claims were, as the saying goes, made out of whole cloth. In other words, she made it up.

Grass Roots North Carolina is now asking that she receive formal discipline by the North Carolina Senate for her false claims.

From GRNC:

Group Demands Disciplinary Action

Against Sen. Natasha Marcus

NC State Senator propagates falsehood during floor

debate over purchase permit repeal bill

[Raleigh] Grass Roots North Carolina today demanded disciplinary action by Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger against Mecklenburg County Senator Natasha Marcus after finding conclusive documentation that during the Senate floor debate over House Bill 398 (“Repeal Purchase Permits”), Marcus falsely claimed to have proof that repealing the purchase permit system would result in handguns purchased by unqualified buyers who pass the FBI computerized background check but otherwise “failed the permit application.”

FOIA requests to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff Office (MCSO) now conclusively demonstrate that the numbers claimed by Marcus are false, demonstrating that she mislead her colleagues and constituents alike during debate over the bill.

Below is the letter delivered today to Sen. Berger demanding formal disciplinary action under Article II, Section 20 of the North Carolina Constitution. Copies of the letter from MCSO documenting the falsehood as well as the legal memo from GRNC Director of Legal Affairs Ed Green are available upon request.

———————————–

September 8, 2021

The Honorable Phil Berger, President Pro Tempore

16 West Jones Street, Room 2007

Raleigh, NC 27601

Dear Senator Berger:

Grass Roots North Carolina has now received conclusive proof that in the August 18, 2021 Senate floor debate over House Bill 398 (“Repeal Purchase Permits”), Sen. Natasha Marcus used false information to attack the bill.

As documented in the recording we have posted at https://www.grnc.org/hb-398-audio, Marcus claimed background checks for pistol purchase permits (PPPs) are supposedly superior to those conducted under the FBI’s National Instant Background Check System (NICS), saying:

“In Mecklenburg County, in the last fiscal year, over 2,300 permit applications passed the NICS background check but failed the permit application. So if this bill passed, all 2,300 plus of those applicants will now have a new unrestricted pass to purchase a handgun…”

That assertion is false. As outlined in the attached letter from Mecklenburg County Sheriff Office Public Information Manager Janet Parker in response to a FOIA request by GRNC Director of Legal Affairs Ed Green, the number of permit denials claimed by Marcus is not of people who passed NICS but were denied by Sheriff Garry McFadden; in fact, it represents all permit denials for the fiscal year 2021, including those denied via NICS.

When questioned on the source of her information, Marcus failed to provide the data for eight days, claiming that her unspecified “source” was gathering documentation. Only in response to my open letter to the Senate did she claim the information was provided by Permitium, LLC lobbyist Andy Munn in a series of text messages for which she provided screen images.

When called out publicly, Marcus doubled down on her claim, saying:

“You will see that the texts confirm exactly what I said on the floor: More than 2,300 permits were denied in Mecklenburg County during the last fiscal year due to issues that became apparent AFTER the applicant had passed a NICS check. This proves that the permit check system is neither duplicative nor unnecessary. It is an important tool to keep handguns away from dangerous and unstable people and it saves lives. Your efforts to eliminate it are reckless.”

But referencing the number of denials claimed (2,379) to have passed NICS but “failed the permit application”, MCSO’s Public Information Manager responded:

“The number of PPP application denials in your request appears to represent the total number of denials (or very close to the actual total) for the entire fiscal year, including denials based on NICS disqualifiers. MCSO does not keep records distinguishing reasons for denial contained within NICS and reasons for

denial outside of NICS. Nor does the MCSO keep easily accessible records that indicate all of the reasons for a PPP application denial when there are multiple reasons for denying a single application.”

Facts about Mecklenburg County pistol purchase permit denials:

MCSO does not keep the statistic claimed by Marcus: Permitium lobbyist Andy Munn could not tell Marcus how many passed NICS but failed the application because MCSO does not enter or store that information.
Marcus’ claim covers all denials, including those stopped by NICS: The total number of denials was 2,378 including those stopped by NICS – one less than Marcus claimed “passed the NICS background check but failed the permit application.”
The denials do not mean 2,378 people couldn’t purchase handguns: Some reasons for denial, such as failure to pay the permit fee or sign the release, or failure to provide previously requested documentation, were probably cured in a subsequent application that resulted in issuance of a PPP.
Denials included 426 who weren’t residents of Mecklenburg County: These applicants were likely eligible to own firearms but simply applied in the wrong county.

Sen. Marcus should be held to account:

Because effective public policy relies on accurate, honest information, propagating false information to colleagues and constituents represents serious misconduct, particularly when the falsehoods are uttered in a floor debate to mislead legislative colleagues with respect to legislation under debate.

Accordingly, please consider this a request by Grass Roots North Carolina for Senate leadership to formally discipline Senator Natasha Marcus as authorized under Article II, Section 20 of the North Carolina Constitution, the authority for which is outlined in a January 9, 2008 North Carolina House of Representatives memo entitled “Authority of Legislative Bodies to Discipline Members.”

Respectfully,

F. Paul Valone

President, Grass Roots North Carolina

Executive Director, Rights Watch International

Radio host, Guns, Politics and Freedom

Uncategorized

Vote On H398 Is Wednesday

May 2, 2021

by John Richardson 1 Comment

It finally looks like the North Carolina pistol purchase permit will be on its way out. A vote in the NC House is scheduled for Wednesday, May 5th.

Of course, I fully expect Gov. Roy Cooper (D-NC) to veto H398 if it passes the North Carolina General Assembly. An override will depend upon whether Democrats want to defend a racist, Jim Crow-era law that has been shown still to discriminate against African-Americans.

As Grass Roots North Carolina says in the alert, now is the time to put on and keep up the pressure.

Call your own representative, Democrat or Republican, and demand they pass this bill. If you don’t know who your representative is, use this tool.

Email every House Republican. Their email addresses are in the alert. You may need to copy the email addresses into your word processor and convert the “;” into a “,” depending upon your email program. I’d also suggest pasting them in as a BCC. Two minutes of copy and paste is all it takes. I just did it.

If you are not on the Grass Roots North Carolina email alert list, you need to be! Go here to sign up.

Uncategorized

NC’s Pistol Purchase Permit May Be Eliminated

April 21, 2021

by John Richardson 4 Comments

That 1919 remnant of the Jim Crow era, North Carolina’s pistol purchase permit, may finally be on its way out. The North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association has finally endorsed its elimination and the House Judiciary 4 Committee voted out a bill that would do away with it.

Research published in the North Carolina Law Review showed that African-Americans were three times as likely to be denied than whites. This comes from a study of permits issued in Wake County where Sheriff Gerald Baker (D-Wake) is facing lawsuits for refusing to issue permits “due to COVID”.

This is not a done deal and I fully expect Gov. Roy Cooper (D-NC) to veto it. The law was intended to deny constitutional rights to African-Americans and its practice still does. Let him veto it and then try and defend that!

Since this is not a done deal, Grass Roots North Carolina is calling people to contact first Republicans and then later Democrats to pass this bill.

House Committee Passes Purchase Permit Repeal

Thanks to Reps. Jay Adams, Hugh Blackwell, Keith Kidwell, and George Cleveland, today the NC House Judiciary 4 Committee passed H398, a full repeal of North Carolina’s Jim Crow-era pistol purchase permit (PPP) law – a law which not only allows some urban sheriffs to obstruct people from buying handguns for self-protection, but to this day also disproportionally denies minorities the ability to buy handguns for self-defense.

Not only are Republicans on board with repealing the racist law, but now the NC Sheriffs’ Association has joined them in supporting repeal. And who does that leave still supporting racist gun control? Democrats.
Said GRNC president Paul Valone:
“We are encouraged to see that the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association now agrees to bring gun purchases in North Carolina into the 21st Century by eliminating our Jim Crow-era permit system and requiring background checks at the point of sale. Given that a recent UNC School of Law paper found that in Wake County, black applicants are being denied permits three times more often than whites, it is clear that racism in issuing permits continues to this day. Consequently, we are calling upon Democrat legislators to join in repealing this racist law.”

Presuming the PPP repeal passes the General Assembly, anti-gun Democrat Governor Roy Cooper will certainly veto it. Because Republicans don’t have the 6/10 majority in either chamber that is required to over-ride Cooper’s veto, at least some Democrats will have to vote to over-ride.

Will Democrats do the right thing, or will they be the only ones left clinging to racist gun control? Please note that this message goes to Republicans.

Very soon, we will issue another alert with a message for Democrats.

EMAIL ALL NC HOUSE REPUBLICANS:  Please note that the large number of Republican recipients may require you to break up your message into multiple groups.
CALL YOUR NC HOUSE REP:  You can find your NC House rep by going to:

https://ncleg.gov/FindYourLegislators

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

Copy each block of address and paste into an email

Edward.Goodwin@ncleg.gov; Larry.Yarborough@ncleg.gov; Steve.Tyson@ncleg.gov; Jimmy.Dixon@ncleg.gov; Bobby.Hanig@ncleg.gov; Matthew.Winslow@ncleg.gov; John.Bell@ncleg.gov; Chris.Humphrey@ncleg.gov; Pat.McElraft@ncleg.gov; Phil.Shepard@ncleg.gov; Carson.Smith@ncleg.gov; Frank.Iler@ncleg.gov; Charles.Miller@ncleg.gov; Ted.Davis@ncleg.gov; William.Brisson@ncleg.gov; Donna.White@ncleg.gov; Larry.Strickland@ncleg.gov;

Erin.Pare@ncleg.gov; Diane.Wheatley@ncleg.gov; John.Szoka@ncleg.gov; Brenden.Jones@ncleg.gov; Graig.Meyer@ncleg.gov; John.Sauls@ncleg.gov; Jamie.Boles@ncleg.gov; Howard.Penny@ncleg.gov; Mark.Brody@ncleg.gov; Jon.Hardister@ncleg.gov;

John.Faircloth@ncleg.gov; Dennis.Riddell@ncleg.gov; Jerry.Carter@ncleg.gov; Ben.Moss@ncleg.gov; Wayne.Sasser@ncleg.gov; David.Willis@ncleg.gov; Dean.Arp@ncleg.gov; Pat.Hurley@ncleg.gov; Lee.Zachary@ncleg.gov; Jeff.Zenger@ncleg.gov; Donny.Lambeth@ncleg.gov; Harry.Warren@ncleg.gov; Julia.Howard@ncleg.gov; Allen.McNeill@ncleg.gov; Sam.Watford@ncleg.gov; Larry.Potts@ncleg.gov; Kristin.Baker@ncleg.gov; Dudley.Greene@ncleg.gov; Hugh.Blackwell@ncleg.gov; Destin.Hall@ncleg.gov; Mitchell.Setzer@ncleg.gov; Sarah.Stevens@ncleg.gov

Kyle.Hall@ncleg.gov; Ray.Pickett@ncleg.gov; Jeffrey.Elmore@ncleg.gov; Grey.Mills@ncleg.gov; Jason.Saine@ncleg.gov; John.Bradford@ncleg.gov; John.Torbett@ncleg.gov; Dana.Bumgardner@ncleg.gov; Kelly.Hastings@ncleg.gov; Tim.Moore@ncleg.gov; David.Rogers@ncleg.gov; Jake.Johnson@ncleg.gov; Tim.Moffitt@ncleg.gov; Mark.Pless@ncleg.gov; Mike.Clampitt@ncleg.gov; Karl.Gillespie@ncleg.govsomebody@ncleg.net

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

Suggested Subject: “Repeal our racist pistol purchase permit law”

Dear NC House Representative:

As stated by NC Sheriffs’ Association Executive Director Eddie Caldwell in the Judiciary 4 Committee, the association now supports the repeal of our Jim-Crow era pistol purchase permit system. Describing recent improvements to North Carolina reporting to the computerized National Instant Background Check System (NICS), Caldwell described the archaic and racist permit law as “duplicative.”

A recent UNC Law School paper noted that in Wake County alone, from 2015 to 2020, black applicants were denied permits at a rate three times that of whites, demonstrating that racism in the permit law continues to this day. In early 2020, Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker decided to stop issuing permits altogether in violation of G.S. 14-404(f), which requires permits to be issued to qualified applicants within 14 days. In other urban North Carolina counties, permits are still being delayed by weeks, even months.

Finally, purchase permits remain valid for 5 years, raising the possibility that an individual could obtain a permit, commit a crime and then, once disqualified from buying a firearm, use the 5-year-old permit to bypass NICS.

I strongly urge you to support the repeal of our archaic, racist, and obstructionist pistol purchase permit law. I will be monitoring this issue through Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts.

Respectfully,

Uncategorized

NC Republicans Waffle on Pistol Purchase Permit Fix

April 5, 2021

by John Richardson 1 Comment

In a year in which we saw the state of Iowa ditch their requirement for a pistol purchase permit, the Republicans in the North Carolina General Assembly still are kowtowing to the NC Sheriffs Association. Certain sheriffs in North Carolina have been obstructing the issuance of pistol purchase permits since the beginning of the pandemic.

A simple bill, HB 398, would provide citizens of a county an alternative where their sheriff has been one of these obstructionists. It simply allows them to apply for a permit in an adjoining county. So, for example, a citizen of Wake County, where Sheriff Gerald Baker has been such an obstructionist that he is being sued in US District court, could apply for a permit in one of the seven adjoining counties. This bill is a mere tweak to a Jim Crow law that should have been ditched years ago. Notwithstanding that the sheriffs of the seven largest counties in the state are all African-American who you would think would want such a racist law abolished, the NC Sheriffs Association seems to be objecting to such a fix. That has the GOP in the General Assembly – or some of them – caving.

Grass Roots North Carolina has fought the issue for over 20 years. They just issued an alert after HB 398 was removed from a hearing calendar.

NC SHERIFFS EFFECTIVELY SAY ‘POUND SAND’

In the early months of the pandemic, GRNC began receiving complaints of abuse of the NC pistol purchase permit system by sheriffs in Wake and Mecklenburg counties and elsewhere. Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker even tried to stop issuing permits altogether…until GRNC and two other organizations sued him. Yet despite even this, purchase permit and concealed handgun applicants are reporting multi-month delays in scheduling appointments for permits.

NC Sheriffs effectively say ‘pound sand’ GRNC has been trying to repeal the Jim Crow-era purchase permit law for 20+ years, even getting a repeal through the NC Senate in 2014. Unfortunately, each time we have encountered opposition from the powerful NC Sheriffs Association (NCSA).

In the interest of getting permits into the hands of applicants until we can fully repeal the law, Representative Jay Adams (R-Catawba, GRNC ****) introduced HB 398, a simple bill to at least allow applicants to apply in counties adjoining their county of residence if their own sheriff is being obstructionist.

The bill was calendared for a hearing last Wednesday…until, apparently, the Sheriffs’ association objected to even that minor change. Then Judiciary 4 Committee Chair Hugh Blackwell (R-Burke) pulled it from the calendar at the last minute, claiming leadership planned to “improve” the bill, but not telling anyone what the “improvements” might be, suggesting that Republicans might once again be caving to the NCSA.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!

With the crossover deadline little more than a month away, your IMMEDIATE action is crucial. Please send three emails and make three phone calls:
CALL AND EMAIL: NC House Speaker Tim Moore at: (704) 739-1221 (919) 733-3451 Tim.Moore@ncleg.gov

CALL AND EMAIL: NC House Rules Chair Destin Hall at: (919) 733-5931 (919) 733-5931 Destin.Hall@ncleg.gov

CALL AND EMAIL: NC House Judiciary 4 Committee Chair Hugh Blackwell at: (919) 733-5805 (919) 733-5805 Hugh.Blackwell@ncleg.gov

CONTACT INFO Tim.Moore@ncleg.gov; Destin.Hall@ncleg.gov; Hugh.Blackwell@ncleg.gov

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

Suggested Subject: “Enough is enough: Pistol permit obstruction must stop!”

Dear :[Speaker Moore/Rep. ___:]
You must stop obstruction of NC pistol purchase permits and the resulting denial of citizens’ rights by returning House Bill 398 to the House calendar for immediate action.

Using COVID-19 and increased permit applications as an excuse, sheriffs in Wake and Mecklenburg counties, among others, are obstructing pistol purchase permits and concealed handgun permits, often taking months to schedule appointments for applications, even in the face of multiple lawsuits filed by Grass Roots North Carolina and others.
For years, sheriffs have objected to repealing our Jim Crow-era pistol purchase permit law – a racist law passed to prevent minorities from buying guns for self-protection. Now we are encountering resistance even to a small and simple change which would allow permit applicants to bypass obstructionist sheriffs by applying in adjacent counties.

Enough is enough. Citizens have been denied their right to purchase handguns for self-protection for entirely too long. In the 2020 elections, gun voters supported you because they expect you to protect and defend the Second Amendment.

It is now time for you to do what we elected you to do by passing House Bill 398. Additionally, please advise me of your position on this issue. I will be monitoring your actions through Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts.
Respectfully,

The official state motto of North Carolina is Esse Quam Videri. Translated from the Latin it means “To be rather than to seem.” The Republicans in the General Assembly always say they support the Second Amendment and gun rights. If so, now is the time for them to be rather than to seem!

Uncategorized

Sheriff Gerald Baker Allowed To Slow Walk Permits

October 22, 2020

by John Richardson 1 Comment

Wake County Superior Court Judge Bryan Collins has denied Grass Roots North Carolina’s ~~lawsuit~~ motion for temporary restraining order against Wake Sheriff Gerald Baker over dragging his feet on the processing of pistol purchase and concealed handgun permits. The law states that the sheriff must issue pistol purchase permits within 14 days but Baker’s office has been taking much longer.

From CBS17 in Raleigh:

Superior Court Judge Bryan Collins wrote that the sheriff’s office continues to insure that permits are properly processed to prevent convicted felons and other non-qualified persons from obtaining handguns, while also complying with Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive orders concerning the pandemic, a release from the sheriff’s office said.
The court also said that the manner in which the sheriff’s office processes applications for the permits was not unreasonable.
“I’m very pleased with ruling rendered by Judge Collins,” Baker said in the release. “As I’ve stated before, I will continue to ensure and protect the Second Amendment rights of all qualified citizens, while continuing to protect the safety and welfare of my staff, Wake County citizens and the jail residents housed in the Wake County Public Safety Center, during this pandemic.”

If this judge rings a bell in your memory, it is because he is the same judge who tried to strike down voter-passed amendments to the North Carolina constitution that mandated voter-ID and capped the income tax. Collins argument was that both constitutional amendments were invalid because the General Assembly was gerrymandered. Interestingly, he did not declare that every other law passed by the General Assembly was similarly invalid.

The North Carolina Court of Appeals overturned this ruling in September. That decision concluded:

We conclude that the superior court erred in holding that our General
Assembly lost its power granted by our state constitution, while retaining other powers, simply because a federal court had determined that the maps contained too many majority-minority districts, such that some members elected to that body were from districts that were illegally gerrymandered based on race. It is simply beyond our power to thwart the otherwise lawful exercise of constitutional power by our legislative branch to pass bills proposing amendments. Accordingly, we reverse the order of the superior court and declare the challenged constitutional amendments duly ratified by the people to be valid.

One other note here – Judge Bryan Collins is the husband of NC Appeals Court Judge Allegra Collins who was elected in 2018. I would presume the judicial ethics would force her to recuse herself from any case decided by her husband.

Are You Registered To Vote?

October 8, 2020

by John Richardson

If you are a gun owner and are not registered to vote, why the hell not? The rest of us can only do so much to preserve your rights while you freeload.

I can’t speak for other states but tomorrow is the last regular day to register to vote in North Carolina. You can also do it in person if you early vote. If you live here and aren’t registered to vote, do it! It is so damn easy to register now that not being registered to vote is downright pathetic. Unlike when I marched myself down to the Guilford County Courthouse on my 18th birthday in 1975, you can do it online at the DMV!

If you think you are registered but aren’t sure, you can check it here.

Now if you are trying to figure out who is pro-gun and who is anti-gun, Grass Roots North Carolina – Political Victory Fund can help. To save you the hassle of actually following a link and looking it up, every one of their recommendations is below. GRNC-PVF makes recommendations and not endorsements.

They didn’t make a recommendation in Commissioner of Agriculture race so I’ll do it – Steve Troxler (R-NC) is the incumbent and is running against Jenna Wadsworth (D-NC). Wadsworth, you may remember, posted a TikTok where she smirked about President Trump contracting COVID-19. She took it down but it went viral anyway. I believe she passed it off as a spur of the moment thing but, as someone noted on Twitter, the lighting was perfect and she had her “warpaint” on.

GRNC-PVF Candidate Recommendations

IMPORTANT: Voter registration deadline is October 9Early voting opens on October 15
REGISTER TO VOTE:https://www.ncsbe.gov/registering/how-register CHECK YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION:https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/Note: There are numerous late surveys and corrected errors in this version, so please recheck any relevant GRNC-PVF candidate recommendations.The 2020 election is a referendum not only on the Second Amendment, but on diametrically opposed plans for the future of our Republic. Key to the outcome of that election is North Carolina, which is now regarded as a hotly contested “battleground state.” Translated, the future of our Republic is now in your hands. If you fail to vote; if you fail to bring like-minded people to the polls, control of the White House, Congress and the North Carolina General Assembly hangs in the balance.
Candidate recommendations versus evaluations: Below are recommendations for effective voting strategies by the Grass Roots North Carolina Political Victory Fund. Candidate recommendations, which are more limited than blanket “endorsements,” are not made in all races, only in races where a clear pro-gun candidate stands out or where strategic voting is necessary to keep anti-gun candidates out of office.
Recommendations differ from GRNC candidate evaluations. While the evaluations are intended to provide an objective measure of where candidates stand on Second Amendment issues, GRNC–PVF recommendations are analytical and therefore subject to interpretation. For a full explanation of GRNC’s objective star evaluations, go to: www.grnc.org/remember-in-november/grnc-candidate-evaluations-2020
Important note: Candidates who lack voting records or other history on Second Amendment issues and who fail to return GRNC’s candidate survey automatically receive a zero star evaluation (0) on the assumption that they are hiding their position from gun voters. Every election year, we receive complaints about ostensibly pro-gun candidates who receive zero star evaluations due to failure to return the survey.
Each candidate gets TWO chances to complete the GRNC survey: prior to the Primary Election, each is mailed to the address he or she registered with the State Board of Elections directing them to mail, fax, email, or complete the survey online; prior to the General Election, each gets an additional postcard directing them to complete the survey online. If they fail to return the survey twice, we cannot help candidates who will not help themselves.
INTRODUCTION
This guide estimates where candidates stand on gun issues by comparing their views with those of a control group of gun owners. As noted below, a “4-STAR” candidate agrees with the control group on at least 90% of gun issues, a 3-STAR agrees on at least 80%, a 2-STAR on at least 70%, a 1-STAR on at least 60%, and a 0-STAR candidate agrees on less than 60% of gun issues.
Registering & Voting:
Option 1: Register in-person at your county Board of Elections office or mail registration forms to the office by October 9. Forms are available at Board of Elections offices, county libraries, county offices or online at http://www.ncsbe.gov/ by clicking on “Voter Registration,” then “Updating Voter Registration” and then using the link for “North Carolina Voter Registration Application.”
(If you miss the Oct 9 deadline, one-stop registration and voting is available until Oct. 31)Option 2: You may register at DMV offices or other state agencies which dispense benefits (e.g. DSS, WIC, ESC, etc).
Note: If you are a DMV customer with a NC driver’s license or DMV-issued ID, you may now register to vote or change certain parts of your registration online. Using this service existing DMV customers may register to vote, update their voter registration address, or update their party affiliation. For information: www.ncsbe.gov/Voters/Registering-to-Vote
Option 3: You may register and vote on the same day at your county’s one-stop voting locations between October 15 and October 31.
Getting Voter Information:
Under the “Web tools” icon on the NCSBE home page at http://www.ncsbe.gov/ you will find links to look up your voter registration, one-stop voting site, election day polling place and provisional ballot. For early voting hours in your county, you may call your Board of Elections.
Important Deadlines for General Election:
October 9: Deadline for voter registration is 5 PM. If you miss the registration deadline you may still register and vote at the same time during the one-stop early voting period – October 15-31.October 15: “One-stop” voting/registration begins.October 27: Applications for absentee ballots must be received by 5 PM, but election board recommends earlier.October 31: “One-stop” voting/registration ends.November 3: Election Day, polls open 6:30 AM until 7:30 PM. (If you are in line by 7:30 PM, you can vote.)Deadline for absentee ballots: Voted absentee ballots (placed inside the container-return envelope) must be returned to county board of elections no later than 5 PM on Election Day. Absentee ballots received after 5 PM on Election Day will be timely only if received by mail no later than 5 PM on the 3rd day following date of election and postmarked on or before Election Day. Envelope may be mailed or delivered in person to county board of elections office or an open early voting site during early voting period. Only voter or voter’s near relative may return absentee ballot to board of elections.
GRNC-PVF CANDIDATE RECOMMENDATIONSKey to listings: Included in listings below are scores on GRNC’s candidate survey, pro-gun voting percentage, and GRNC star evaluation (0-star, *, **, ***, or ****, depending on how closely a candidate can be expected to agree with a control group of conservative gun owners). “NR” means the candidate failed to return GRNC’s survey which, for candidates without voting records, gives the candidate a 0-star (0) evaluation. See GRNC “Remember in November” candidate evaluations for a complete explanation.
Important notes about candidate recommendations:
We cannot help candidates who will not help themselves: All candidates were mailed surveys to the address they registered with the State Board of Elections prior to the Primary Elections. Each who did not return the survey received a second mailing prior to the General Election. If the candidate refused to complete the survey both times and has no gun-related voting record, he or she received a GRNC 0-star evaluation and no GRNC-PVF candidate recommendation.Abbreviations: “NR” means “no response” to GRNC survey. “NV” is an incumbent who has not cast a gun vote.Races covered: With occasional exceptions, only contested races are covered. In districts where no clear gun rights supporter is running, no recommendation will be made.Interpreting a listing: Each listing contains the candidate’s GRNC star evaluation and the factor (e.g. votes, survey, etc.) which most closely represents the star evaluation. Occasionally, you will see voting records that don’t fully align with the star evaluation, possibly due to other metrics (e.g. bill sponsorship or recent deterioration in voting record). For a more complete analysis of a given candidate, see GRNC “Remember in November” candidate evaluations.GRNC-PVF recommendations are NOT “endorsements”: Recommendations are made SOLELY on Second Amendment stances. With rare exceptions, GRNC-PVF does NOT give blanket “endorsements” to candidates, nor do we study their stance on other issues.Errors: In covering 203 races and 409 candidates – including voting records, survey scores, bill sponsorship and leadership support – mistakes will occur. If you see an error, please report it to GRNC immediately.
FEDERAL RACES
U.S. PRESIDENT
GRNC-PVF recommends DONALD TRUMP (GRNC ***) for U.S. President. Under the Trump administration, the BATFE has rescinded restrictions on use of AR-15-type pistols, Trump added two conservative justices to the U.S. Supreme Court, and the U.S. pulled small arms out of the potentially disastrous restrictions of ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations). Despite Trump making sympathetic remarks on “red flag” gun confiscation, he withdrew support for proposed legislation when gun rights supporters objected. Trump’s only disappointing action was to direct the BATFE to regulate “bump stocks” as restricted Title II firearms. By contrast, challenger Joe Biden (GRNC 0-star) has a long history of supporting gun control (despite his claims to the contrary), including voting for the 1994 “assault weapon” ban and recently saying he would delegate his gun policy to virulently anti-gun Beto (“Hell yes, we’re going to take your AR-15”) O’Rourke. This race is critical for your Second Amendment rights, and any vote for a third party candidate is effectively a vote for Joe Biden. If you would like to see the full Biden/Harris gun control agenda, go to: https://joebiden.com/gunsafety/# . Although some may object that we didn’t recommend Libertarian Jo Jorgensen (survey 100%, ****), the reality is that Jorgensen has no chance of winning, and may siphon off votes from Trump, which only helps Biden.
U.S. SENATE
GRNC-PVF recommends Thom Tillis (GRNC ***) for U.S. Senate. So you hate Senator Thom Tillis? Stand in line. You probably don’t hate him as much as we do. But the upcoming Senate race isn’t about Thom Tillis; it is about potential left-wing control of the U.S. Senate which, right now, Las Vegas odds-makers are favoring Democrats to win. This is one of four pivotal races for control of the U.S. Senate. If we lose the Senate, rabidly anti-gun Sen. Chuck Schumer will be Senate Majority Leader, and the filibuster (which has been used to kill numerous gun control proposals) will end, ensuring leftist control of the chamber. Democrat challenger Cal Cunningham (GRNC 0-star) studiously avoided putting himself on record on gun issues while in the NC Senate, has repeatedly refused GRNC’s candidate survey, and is no friend of gun owners. Again, a protest vote against Tillis (however much he deserves it) will only serve to give Schumer and the Democrats an opportunity to end private gun ownership as we know it.
U.S. HOUSE
District 1: With only a 25% pro-gun voting record, incumbent Democrat GK Butterfield is a consistent opponent of gun rights, earning only GRNC’s lowest 0-star evaluation. Republican challenger Sandy Smith returned GRNC’s candidate survey with a perfect 100%, earning GRNC’s highest 4-star (****) evaluation. GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger SANDY SMITH.
District 2: The redrawing of this district was forced by leftist-initiated legislation and now unfortunately favors perennially anti-gun Democrat Deborah Ross (GRNC 0-star), who consistently opposed gun ownership while in the NC House. Unfortunately, neither Libertarian Jeff Matemu or Republican Alan Swain returned GRNC’s survey, giving them 0-star evaluations as well. There are no good options in this district, but GRNC-PVF recommends you vote for anybody BUT Deborah Ross. If it’s any help, Swain has on his website, “Alan proudly supports our Second Amendment. In Washington, Alan will fight to insure that the Constitutional rights of our citizens to bear arms are never infringed upon.”
District 3: In this race, incumbent Republican Greg Murphy (GRNC ****) garnered a respectable 88% pro-gun voting record while in the NC House. By contrast, Democrat Daryl Farrow refused to answer GRNC’s survey, indicating he doesn’t want you to know where he stands on guns and earning only GRNC’s lowest 0-star (0) evaluation. GRNC-PVF recommends GREG MURPHY.
District 4: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger ROBERT THOMAS (survey: 98%, GRNC ****) over virulently anti-gun incumbent Democrat David Price (voting record: 0%, GRNC 0-star).
District 5: Incumbent Republican Virginia Foxx scored 100% on GRNC’s candidate survey and garnered an overall 96% pro-gun voting record earning a GRNC 3-star (***) evaluation. Democrat challenger David Brown refused to return GRNC’s survey, indicating he doesn’t want you to know where he stands on guns and earning only GRNC’s lowest 0-star (0) evaluation. GRNC–PVF recommends VIRGINIA FOXX.
District 6: In a race for an open seat creating by forced redistricting, Republican Lee Haywood scored 95% on GRNC’s candidate survey, earning GRNC’s highest 4-star (****) evaluation while Democrat Kathy Manning refused to return GRNC’s survey, indicating she doesn’t want you to know where she stands on guns and earning only GRNC’s lowest 0-star (0) evaluation. GRNC–PVF recommends LEE HAYWOOD.
District 7: Incumbent Republican David Rouzer continues his 100% pro-gun voting record (GRNC ***). By contrast, Democrat Kyle Horton and Constitution Party challenger Christopher Ward both failed to return GRNC’s survey, earning the lowest 0-star evaluation. GRNC-PVF recommends DAVID ROUZER.
District 8: With a 100% survey score and 100% bill sponsorship (for national concealed handgun reciprocity), incumbent Republican Richard Hudson earned a GRNC 3-star evaluation (***). Challenging Democrat Patricia Timmons-Goodson refused to return GRNC’s survey, indicating she doesn’t want you to know where she stands on guns and earning only GRNC’s lowest 0-star (0) evaluation. GRNC–PVF recommends RICHARD HUDSON.
District 9: Incumbent Republican Congressman Dan Bishop (100% pro-gun voting record, GRNC ****) won his seat in a special election just last year and needs our help. Challenging Democrat Cynthia Wallace refused to return GRNC’s candidate survey, indicating she doesn’t want you to know where she stands on guns and earning only GRNC’s lowest 0-star (0) evaluation. GRNC-PVF recommends DAN BISHOP.
District 10: Incumbent Republican Patrick McHenry (93% pro-gun voting record, GRNC ***) has long supported gun rights. Challenging Democrat David Parker refused to return GRNC’s survey, indicating he doesn’t want you to know where he stands on guns and earning only GRNC’s lowest 0-star (0) evaluation. GRNC–PVF recommends PATRICK McHENRY.
District 11: In this open seat, left vacant when incumbent Mark Meadows became Donald Trump’s chief of staff, Republican Madison Cawthorn (GRNC survey 100%, ****) has distinguished himself as a conservative and gun rights supporter. Challenging Democrat Moe Davis refused to return GRNC’s survey, indicating he doesn’t want you to know where he stands on guns and earning only GRNC’s lowest 0-star (0) evaluation, while Libertarian Tracey DeBruhl scored only 74%, earning only two stars (**). GRNC–PVF recommends MADISON CAWTHORN.
District 13: As not only a congressman but also a gun shop owner, incumbent Republican Ted Budd is a gun rights stalwart whose 100% survey and 100% pro-gun voting record has earned GRNC’s highest 4-star (****) evaluation. But that means he is being targeted by national leftists. Challenging Democrat Scott Huffman refused to return GRNC’s survey, indicating he doesn’t want you to know where he stands on guns and earning only GRNC’s lowest 0-star (0) evaluation. GRNC-PVF strongly recommends TED BUDD.
N.C. STATE RACES
JUDICIAL RACES
GRNC-PVF recommends you vote for all of the following:
NC Supreme Court Chief Justice: PAUL NEWBY (R)NC Supreme Court Associate Justice (Seat 2 — Newby seat): PHIL BERGER JR. (R)NC Supreme Court Associate Justice (Seat 4 — Davis seat): TAMARA P. BARRINGER (R)Court of Appeals (Seat 4): APRIL C. WOOD (R)Court of Appeals (Seat 5): FRED GORE (R)Court of Appeals (Seat 6): CHRIS DILLON (R)Court of Appeals (Seat 7): JEFF CARPENTER (R)Court of Appeals (Seat 13): JEFFERSON GRIFFIN (R)
N.C. GOVERNOR
GRNC-PVF strongly recommends Republican challenger DAN FOREST (survey: 96%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun Democrat incumbent Roy Cooper (voting rate: 58%, GRNC 0-star). Over decades, Cooper has been a consistent enemy of gun rights, most recently vetoing HB 652, which would have expanded concealed carry into churches co-located with educational property. By contrast, Forest has consistently stood tall for the Second Amendment. Any vote for a third party candidate in this race should effectively be considered a vote for Cooper and against gun rights.
N.C. LT. GOVERNOR
GRNC-PVF strongly recommends Republican MARK ROBINSON (survey 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat Yvonne Lewis Holley (NC House voting record: 7%, GRNC 0-star). After Robinson’s impassioned speech against gun control to the Greensboro City Council went viral, GRNC awarded him an Honorary Life Membership. He currently serves as on the board of directors for the NRA and has made gun rights and freedom the centerpiece of his campaign.
N.C. ATTORNEY GENERAL
GRNC-PVF recommends Republican JIM O’NEILL (survey 92%, GRNC ****) over Democrat incumbent Josh Stein (NC Senate voting record: 38%, GRNC 0-star). Like Cooper, Stein has been a consistent enemy of the Second Amendment and must be removed.N.C. Secretary of StateGRNC-PVF recommends Republican E.C. SYKES (survey: 91%, GRNC ****) over incumbent Democrat Elaine Marshall (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).N.C. TREASURER
GRNC-PVF recommends incumbent Republican DALE FOLWELL (NC House voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat Ronnie Chatterji (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
N.C. SENATE
District 1: GRNC-PVF recommends incumbent Republican BOB STEINBERG (survey: 93%, voting record: 84%, GRNC ***) over Democrat challenger Tess Judge (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 2: GRNC-PVF recommends incumbent Republican NORMAN SANDERSON (100% voting record, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Libbie Griffin (survey: NR, 0-star) and Libertarian challenger Tim Harris (survey: 89%, ***).
District 4: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger SAMMY DAVIS WEBB (survey: 94%, GRNC ****) over Democrat incumbent Milton (Toby) Fitch (voting record: 9%, GRNC 0-star).
District 7: GRNC-PVF recommends incumbent Republican JIM PERRY (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Donna Lake (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 8: GRNC-PVF recommends incumbent Republican BILL RABON (vote: 100%, ***) over challengers Democrat David Sink (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star) and Libertarian Anthony Mascolo (Survey 97: ****).
District 9: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican MICHAEL LEE (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over incumbent Democrat Harper Peterson (0-star).
District 10: GRNC-PVF recommends incumbent Republican BRENT JACKSON (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Vernon Moore (survey: 36, GRNC 0-star).
District 11: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican LISA STONE BARNES (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Allen Wellons (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 12: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican JIM BURGIN (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger John Kirkman (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 13: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican DAN BRITT (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Barbara Yates-Lockamy (survey: NR, GRNC 0).
District 15: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger MARIO LOMUSCIO (survey: 98%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun Democrat incumbent Jay Chaudhuri (GRNC 0-star) and Libertarian Kat McDonald (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 17: GRNC–PVF recommends Republican challenger MARK CAVALIERO (survey: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat incumbent Sam Searcy (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star) and Libertarian Travis Groo (survey: 93%, ****).
District 18: In this open seat, GRNC-PVF recommends Republican LARRY NORMAN (survey: 100%, GRNC ****) over challengers Democrat Sarah Crawford (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star) and Libertarian Jason Loeback (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 19: GRNC–PVF recommends Republican former state senator WESLEY MEREDITH (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over incumbent Democrat Kirk DeViere (GRNC 0-star).
District 21: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger SEV PALACIOS (survey: 94%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun Democrat incumbent Ben Clark (voting record: 20%, GRNC 0-star) and Libertarian Ray Ubinger (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 22: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger RICK PADGETT (survey: 96%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun Democrat incumbent Mike Woodard (voting record: 0%, GRNC 0-star).
District 23: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger TOM GLENDINNING (survey: 97%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun Democrat incumbent Valerie Foushee (voting record: 0%, GRNC 0-star).
District 24: For this open seat, GRNC–PVF recommends Republican AMY GALEY (survey: 89%, GRNC ***) over Democrat JD Wooten (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 25: GRNC–PVF recommends Republican incumbent TOM McINNIS (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Helen Probst Mills (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 29: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican STEVE JARVIS (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Duskin Lassiter (survey: 67%, GRNC *).
District 30: PVF recommends incumbent Republican PHIL BERGER (voting record: 100%, GRNC ***) over Democrat challenger Wally White (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 31: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican JOYCE KRAWIEC (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Terri Elizabeth LeGrand (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 32: GRNC–PVF recommends Republican challenger VENK CHALLA (survey: 99%, GRNC ****) over incumbent Democrat Paul Lowe, Jr. (voting record: 50%, GRNC 0-star).
District 33: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican CARL FORD over Democrat challenger Tarsha Ellis (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 34: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican VICKIE SAWYER (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Barry Templeton (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 35: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican TODD JOHNSON (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Jose Santiago (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 36: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican PAUL R. NEWTON (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Marcus Singleton (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 41: GRNC–PVF recommends Constitution Party challenger CHRIS COLE (survey: 98%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun incumbent Democrat Natasha Marcus (voting record: 0%, GRNC 0-star). In 2018, Marcus made support for gun control the centerpiece of her campaign.
District 43: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican KATHY HARRINGTON (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger William Young (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 44: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican TED ALEXANDER (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger David Lee Lattimore (survey: 58%, GRNC 0-star).
District 45: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican DEANNA BALLARD (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Jeanne Supin (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 46: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican WARREN DANIEL (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****), who has been a leader for your rights in the Senate, over Democrat challenger Michael Barrick (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 47: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican RALPH HISE (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat David Wheeler (survey: 42%, GRNC 0-star).
District 48: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican CHUCK EDWARDS (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Brian Caskey (survey: 35%, GRNC 0-star).
District 49: For this open seat, GRNC–PVF recommends Republican BOB PENLAND (survey: 97%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Julie Mayfield (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 50: For this open seat, GRNC–PVF recommends Republican KEVIN CORBIN (NC House voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat Victoria Fox (survey: 72%, GRNC **).
N.C. HOUSE
District 1: For this open seat, GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican ED GOODWIN (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Emily Bunch Nicholson (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 2: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican LARRY YARBOROUGH (voting record: 85%, GRNC ***) over Democrat Cindy Deporter (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 3: For this open seat, GRNC-PVF recommends Republican STEVE TYSON (survey: 82%, GRNC ***) over Democrat Dorothea D. White (survey: 67%, GRNC *).
District 4: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican JIMMY DIXON (voting record: 96%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Christopher Schulte (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 5: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger DONALD KIRKLAND (survey: 88%, GRNC ***) over anti-gun incumbent Democrat Howard Hunter (voting record: 11%, GRNC 0-star).
District 6: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican BOBBY HANIG (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Tommy Fulcher (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 7: For this open seat, GRNC-PVF recommends Republican MATTHEW WINSLOW (survey: 95%, GRNC ****) over Democrat Phil Stover (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 8: GRNC–PVF recommends Republican challenger TONY MOORE (survey: 90%, GRNC ****) over incumbent Democrat Kandie Smith (voting record: 0%, GRNC 0-star). Smith also signed a national leftist petition to defund police.
District 9: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican PERRIN JONES (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Brian Farkas (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 10: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican JOHN BELL (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Carl Martin (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 12: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican CHRIS HUMPHREY (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Virginia Cox-Daugherty (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 13: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican PATRICIA (PAT) MCELRAFT (voting record: 92%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Buck Bayliff (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 14: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican GEORGE CLEVELAND (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Marcy Wofford (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star). Cleveland is a gun rights stalwart and one of few legislators in the NC House with a perfect 100% on all gun rights measures.
District 15: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican PHILLIP SHEPARD (voting record: 95%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Carolyn Gomaa (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 16: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican CARSON SMITH (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Debbi Fintak (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 17: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican FRANK ILER (voting record: 85%, GRNC ***) over Democrat challenger Tom Simmons (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 18: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger WARREN KENNEDY (survey: 95%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun Democrat incumbent Deb Butler (voting record: 0%, GRNC 0-star).
District 23: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger CLAIBORNE HOLTZMAN (survey: 82%, GRNC ***) over anti-gun Democrat incumbent Shelly Willingham (voting record: 11%, GRNC 0-star) and Green Party challenger Abbie (Bud) Lane (survey: 84%, GRNC ***).
District 24: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger MICK RANKIN (survey: 94%, GRNC ****) over Democrat incumbent Linda Cooper-Suggs (voting record: NV%, survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 25: GRNC–PVF recommends Republican challenger JOHN CHECK (survey: 97%, GRNC ****) over incumbent Democrat James Gailliard (voting record: 0%, GRNC 0-star) and Libertarian Nick Taylor (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 26: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican DONNA WHITE (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Linda Bennett (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).District 27: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger WARREN SCOTT NAIL (survey: 93%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun incumbent Democrat Michael Wray (voting record: 33%, GRNC 0-star).
District 28: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican LARRY STRICKLAND (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Corey Stephens (survey: 35%, GRNC 0-star).
District 30: GRNC-PVF recommends Libertarian challenger GAVIN BELL (survey: 100%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun incumbent Democrat Marcia Morey (voting record: 0%, GRNC 0-star). Morey is the one of the main architects anti-gun legislation in the NC House.
District 31: GRNC-PVF recommends Libertarian challenger SEAN HAUGH (survey: 96%, GRNC ****) over incumbent Democrat Zack Hawkins (voting record: 0%, GRNC 0-star).
District 32: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger DAVID WOODSON (survey: 82%, GRNC ***) over anti-gun incumbent Democrat Terry Garrison (voting record: 0%, GRNC 0-star).
District 35: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger FRED VON CANON (survey: 92%, GRNC ****) over incumbent Democrat Terence Everitt (voting record: 0%, GRNC 0-star) and Libertarian Michael Nelson (survey: 100%, GRNC ****).
District 37: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger ERIN PARE (survey: 100%, GRNC ****) over incumbent Democrat Sidney Batch (voting record: 0%, GRNC 0-star) and Libertarian Liam Leaver (survey: 96%, GRNC ****). Batch also signed the national leftist petition to defund police.
District 38: For this open seat, GRNC-PVF recommends Republican KEN BAGNAL (survey: 82%, GRNC ***) over Democrat Abe Jones (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star) and Libertarian Richard Haygood (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 40: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger GERARD FALZON (survey: 81%, GRNC ***) over anti-gun incumbent Democrat Joe John (voting record: 0%, GRNC 0-star).
District 41: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger SCOTT POPULORUM (survey: 92%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun incumbent Democrat Gale Adcock (voting record: 11%, GRNC 0-star) and Libertarian candidate Guy Meilleur (survey: NR, 0-star).
District 43: For this open seat, GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger DIANE WHEATLEY (survey: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat Kimberly Hardy (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 44: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger HEATHER HOLMES (survey: 100%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun incumbent Democrat Billy Richardson (voting record: 0%, GRNC 0-star).
District 45: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican JOHN SZOKA (voting record: 91%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Frances Vinell Jackson (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 46: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican BRENDEN JONES (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Tim Heath (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 48: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger JOHNNY BOYLES (survey: 91%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun incumbent Democrat Garland Pierce (voting record: 15%, GRNC 0-star).
District 49: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger DAVID ROBERTSON (survey: 92%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun incumbent Democrat Cynthia Ball (voting record: 0%, GRNC 0-star) and Libertarian Cap Hayes (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 51: GRNC-PVF recommends incumbent Republican JOHN SAULS (voting record: 86%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Jason Cain (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 52: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican JAMIE BOLES (voting record: 95%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Lowell Simon (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 54: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger GEORGE GILSON, JR. (survey: 100%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun incumbent Democrat Robert Reives, II (voting record: 11%, GRNC 0-star).
District 55: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican MARK BRODY (voting record: 98%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Gloria Harrington Overcash (survey: 88%, GRNC ***).
District 57: GRNC–PVF recommends Republican challenger CHRIS MEADOWS (survey: 87%, GRNC ***) over incumbent Democrat Ashton Clemmons (voting record: 0%, GRNC 0-star).
District 59: GRNC-PVF recommends incumbent Republican JON HARDISTER (voting record: 98%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Nicole Quick (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 60: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger FRANK RAGSDALE (survey: 84%, GRNC ***) over anti-gun incumbent Democrat Cecil Brockman (voting record: 7%, GRNC 0-star).
District 63: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican STEPHEN ROSS (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Ricky Hurtado (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 65: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican JERRY CARTER (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Amanda Joann Bell (survey: 52%, GRNC 0-star).
District 66: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger BEN MOSS (survey: 95%, GRNC ****) over incumbent Democrat Scott Brewer (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****). Although Brewer’s voting record might make him appear pro-gun, in truth the only bill he voted on, HB 652, was destined to fail due to a veto by Gov. Roy Cooper. Several Democrats in marginal districts undoubtedly got a “pass” from Democrat leadership to vote for a bill they knew would fail.
District 69: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican DEAN ARP (voting record: 95%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Pam De Maria (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 70: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican PAT HURLEY (voting record: 94%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Susan Lee (Susie) Scott (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 73: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican LEE ZACHARY (voting record: 85%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger William Stinson (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 74: For this open seat, GRNC–PVF recommends Republican JEFF ZENGER (survey: 96%, GRNC ****) over Democrat Dan BesseLeGrand (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 76: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican HARRY WARREN (voting record: 91%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Al Heggins (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 78: GRNC–PVF reluctantly recommends incumbent Republican ALLEN RAY MCNEILL (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Jim Meredith (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star). We say “reluctantly” because despite voting right, McNeill has been the semi-official mouthpiece for the NC Sheriffs Association, for whom he has repeatedly weakened pro-gun legislation.
District 79: GRNC–PVF strongly recommends incumbent Republican KEITH KIDWELL (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat Nick Blount (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star). Even as a freshman, Kidwell has stood tall in defending the Second Amendment.
District 81: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican LARRY POTTS (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Robert Lewis Jordan (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 82: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican KRISTIN BAKER (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Aimy Steele (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 83: GRNC–PVF strongly recommends incumbent Republican LARRY PITTMAN (voting record: 95%, GRNC ****), who frequently sponsors pro-gun legislation and is a leader for your rights, over Democrat challenger Gail Young (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 84: GRNC–PVF strongly recommends incumbent Republican JEFFREY C. MCNEELY (voting record: 100%, GRNC ***) over Democrat challenger Gayle Wesley Harris (survey: NR, 0-star). Appointed mid-term, McNeely has quickly become a vocal advocate for the Second Amendment.
District 86: With reservations due to recent decline in voting record, GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican HUGH BLACKWELL (voting record: 74%, GRNC ***) over Democrat challenger Cecelia Surratt (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 87: GRNC–PVF strongly recommends incumbent Republican DESTIN HALL (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Corie Schreiber (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star). Hall is a consistent Second Amendment supporter who occasionally leads on gun issues.
District 88: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger DAVID TONDREAU (survey: 81%, GRNC ***) over anti-gun incumbent Democrat Mary G. Belk (voting record: 0%, GRNC 0-star).
District 89: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican MITCH SETZER (voting record: 98%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Greg Cranford (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 90: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican SARAH STEVENS (voting record: 93%, GRNC ***) over Democrat challenger Beth Shaw (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 91: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican KYLE HALL (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Rita Cruise (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 93: GRNC-PVF recommends Republican challenger RAY PICKETT (survey: 88%, GRNC ***) over incumbent Democrat Ray Russell (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****). Although Russell’s voting record might make him appear pro-gun, in truth the only bill he voted on, HB 652, was destined to fail due to a veto by Gov. Roy Cooper. Several Democrats in marginal districts undoubtedly got a “pass” from Democrat leadership to vote for a bill they knew would fail. Moreover, Russell told GRNC representatives, in person (and with considerable hostility), that he voted for the bill only because it contained an unrelated measure for EMTs. Ironically, while claiming to support first responders, Russell also signed the leftist national petition to defund police.
District 96: GRNC–PVF strongly recommends incumbent Republican JAY ADAMS (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Kim Bost (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star). Adams is a longtime gun rights supporter who routinely sponsors pro-gun legislation. Bost is a leftist who touts gun control in her platform, including mandatory gun registration.
District 97: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican JASON SAINE (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Greg McBryde (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 98: GRNC-PVF strongly recommends challenger John R. Bradford III (voting record: 96%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun incumbent Democrat Christy Clark (voting record: 0%, GRNC 0-star). Bradford is a pro-gun Republican running to regain the seat he lost to Clark in 2018. Clark is a Michael Bloomberg “Mom’s Demand Action” gun control activist who has sponsored numerous anti-gun bills in the NC House. She needs to be removed ASAP. To understand Clark’s ideology, understand that not only does she support disarming you, she recently signed a national petition to defund police.
District 99: GRNC-PVF recommends challenger RUSSELL ROWE (survey: 96%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun incumbent Democrat Nasif Majeed (voting record: 0%, GRNC 0-star).
District 100: GRNC-PVF recommends challenger KALLE THOMPSON (survey: 96%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun incumbent Democrat John Autry (voting record: 0%, GRNC 0-star).
District 102: GRNC-PVF recommends challenger KYLE KIRBY (survey: 92%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun incumbent Democrat Becky Carney (voting record: 12%, GRNC 0-star).
District 103: GRNC–PVF recommends Republican challenger BILL BRAWLEY (voting record: 87%, GRNC ***) over Democrat incumbent Rachel Hunt (voting record: 0%, 0-star). Brawley is attempting to regain the seat he lost to Hunt in 2018. Hunt is a leftist who also signed the national petition to defund police.
District 104: GRNC–PVF strongly recommends Republican challenger DON POMEROY (survey: 100%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun incumbent Democrat Brandon Lofton (voting record: 0%, GRNC 0-star). Pomeroy is a longtime gun rights supporter who will stand for the Second Amendment in the NC House.
District 105: GRNC–PVF recommends Republican challenger AMY BYNUM (survey: 99%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun incumbent Democrat Wesley Harris (voting record: 0%, GRNC 0-star).
District 107: GRNC–PVF recommends Republican challenger RICHARD RIVETTE (survey: 99%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun incumbent Democrat Kelly Alexander (voting record: 15%, GRNC 0-star).
District 108: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican JOHN TORBETT (voting record: 98%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Daniel Caudill (survey: 52%, GRNC 0-star).
District 109: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican DANA BUMGARDNER (voting record: 98%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Susan Maxon (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 110: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican KELLY HASTINGS (voting record: 97%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Christy McCleary (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 111: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican TIM MOORE (voting record: 96%, GRNC ***) over Democrat challenger Jennifer Childers (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 112: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican DAVID ROGERS (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Ed Hallyburton (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 113: GRNC–PVF recommends incumbent Republican JAKE JOHNSON (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over Democrat challenger Sam Edney (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star).
District 115: GRNC–PVF recommends Republican challenger MARK CRAWFORD (survey: 97%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun incumbent Democrat John Ager (voting record: 11%, GRNC 0-star).
District 116: GRNC–PVF recommends Republican challenger ERIC BURNS (survey: 95%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun incumbent Democrat Brian Turner (voting record: 32%, GRNC 0-star).
District 117: For this open seat, GRNC–PVF recommends Republican TIM MOFFITT (voting record: 96%, GRNC ****) over Democrat Josh Remillard (survey: NR, GRNC 0-star). Moffit is a pro-gun legislator who previously served in the NC House.
District 119: GRNC-PVF recommends challenger MIKE CLAMPITT (voting record: 100%, GRNC ****) over anti-gun incumbent Joe Sam Queen (voting record: 29%, GRNC 0-star). Although Queen tried to disguise himself by voting for a pro-gun bill he knew would fail, he has repeatedly voted against gun rights, helped the state’s main gun control organization raise money to attack your rights, and recently signed the leftist national petition to defund police. In previous terms in the NC House, Clampitt garnered a 100% pro-gun voting record and will support your rights.IMPORTANT: Voter registration deadline is October 9Early voting opens on October 15This message, supporting the candidates listed above, is authorized and paid for solely by the Grass Roots North Carolina Political Victory Fund. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee. For more information, check www.GRNC.org