North Carolina Nears Eliminating Pistol Purchase Permits

North Carolina’s General Assembly seems to be poised for repeal of the state’s 110-year old pistol purchase permit. However, how it does this remains a mystery.

House Republicans approved House Bill #50 in a party line vote on Wednesday to abolish the state’s pistol purchasing permit. Now, the Senate will approve the measure in a broader package.

Senate Bill 41 was also approved on a party line vote to repeal the permit which requires approval by each 100 county sheriffs. SB 41 provides measures for allowing concealed carry at religious services where there are charter or private schools. Also, it launches a two year firearm safe storage awareness program.

Senator Danny Britt (R-Robeson), sponsor of the Senate bill, claims that the vast majority of firearm sales in North Carolina are made through federally licensed dealers. However, they would still need to run checks through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which is managed by the FBI.

Supporters of the changes have voiced dissatisfaction at the slow pace of permit approvals, and supported repealing the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association.

Democrats argued that the bill would create an a “giant loophole” This would allow criminals to purchase handguns from private sellers, who do not have to perform background checks.

Senate 41’s provisions regarding safe storage awareness and concealed carrying at religious services has already passed the House as separate bills, with the support of Democrats. Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed similar legislation in order to repeal the pistol purchase license in 2021. “gun permit laws reduce gun homicides and suicides and reduce the availability of guns for criminal activity.”

The Senate Republicans hold the supermajority required to override the gubernatorial vote, while the House Republicans came just one vote short of the threshold in November.

Northampton County Rep. Michael Wray, the only Democratic cosponsor of HB 50, stated to the media that he voted no against the bill Wednesday after consulting with his district sheriffs.

Currently, SB 41 can be found in the Committee on Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House, while HB50 is still being referred to a Senate Committee.

House Speaker Tim Moore, R.Cleveland, told reporters recently that while he believes there should be continued discussions with Democrats to gain support for repealing the law, the lower chamber could just adopt SB 41.

The argument for repeal has been made by advocates who have pointed out that pistol purchase permits were originally implemented by Jim Crow Democrats to stop black residents from having legal access to firearms. They are also known as the permit law. “the Klan’s favorite law.”

North Carolina is the only state in the south that requires a permit to purchase a firearm.