Breaking : NC Gov Veto Spoils Pistol Purchase Permit Bill
Yesterday North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper vetoed House Bill 398. Even though the bill passed along party lines with a 27-20 vote, most expected Cooper’s veto. Unfortunately, gun owners in the state will still need to get a state-issued permit before purchasing a firearm.
Current North Carolina Law:
Currently, North Carolina law says the state will conduct a background check on the individual making a gun purchase. Then, the state issues the buyer a “purchase permit.” A Federal Firearms Dealer (FFL) can accept this state permit in place of a NICS background check. However, an FFL can also choose to conduct a NICS background check as well.
It may seem trivial, but it isn’t. North Carolina is one of the states that submit all criminal and mental health records to the FBI NICS background check system. This means the state and NICS systems contain the same information.
Overly Burdensome to the Purchaser:
So essentially, a gun buyer in North Carolina pays the state to conduct a background check. Then, they pay an FFL to conduct a second background check. Two background checks are burdensome and unnecessary, especially because both checks are pulling from the same information.
The state and the private FFL both have a monetary interest in conducting a background check. The ultimate loser is the gun buyer, who must absorb a higher price.
However, opponents of the bill, including Gov. Roy Cooper, have another interest in keeping the status quo beyond the revenue. Only FFL’s can conduct a NICS check. But, North Carolina’s “purchase permit” applies to ALL purchases, even private party sales.
Overly Burdensome to Law Enforcement:
Local Law-Enforcement supports the bill and cites that the requirement creates a burden for understaffed and underfunded departments. Currently, the state charges $5.00 for the purchase permit. However, representatives from local agencies stated that this fee isn’t sufficient to cover the manpower required to support the program.
Buyers often wait for appointments to obtain a purchase permit, while NICS checks at the FFL typically return results within minutes.
Again, laws like these only impact people who follow the law in the first place. People that follow the law are less likely to commit violent crimes using guns. On the other hand, Criminals are not likely concerned with “purchase permits” and NICS background checks.
Gun owners opposed to state or federally mandated universal background checks must remain engaged in politics. I, for one, hate talking about politics. However, if I am apathetic in the process, I somewhat forfeit my right to complain about the outcome.
What Do You Think?
I don’t live in North Carolina, so I am interested to hear about what native North Carolinians think about the veto of House Bill 398.
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I just moved from North Carolina back to Michigan in June. My last two purchases I didn’t have to get a “state permit” – but that may be simply because I have a concealed carry permit already.
This Governor ought to be recalled. He not only vetoed this bill but did terrible anti-capitalist things during the pandemic that bankrupted many small businesses in the state. California is recalling their fascist Governor and North Carolina should do the same.
The purchase permit is a hassle to get and a Jim Crow throw back. On the other side if you have a concealed carry permit in NC there is no background check needed at time of purchase. Long gun or pistol, just show your CCP and you are out in minutes. Works better than NICS instant check system that can take hours or days. I’m all about getting rid of the purchase permit as long as it don’t affect buying when showing a CCP.
The Governor is as anti-freedom as they come. He is in the Biden camp & is always going to side with them. My CCP renewal was last Nov/2020. I renewed weeks before the date, now it’s September 2021 & I still don’t have my renewed permit. ( I was told at the time they were 6 months behind) When my wife had a person on the phone in the Sheriffs office going over her renewal she gave them my permit # & the lady just said, “we are so far behind, he should be hearing something soon). I think our Liberal Democratic Sheriff is starting to complain about changing the law.
That governor don’t represent NC. NC is a red state. I want his election audited.
Our law enforcement is backlogged with stuff like this while crime runs unchecked.
I personally think it is fine. Issuing a state permit essentially clears a purchaser to make the purchase. A lot can happen between the permit issuance and the purchase time so an FFL check is a public safety valve sort of speak. One can believe in universal background checks and still be a staunch supporter of our 2nd amendment rights. I don’t believe a conflict exists under current practices as long as the process is available to all citizens equally and without bias