RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina lawmakers have made it easier to buy a gun in our state Wednesday.
Senators voted to override Governor Roy Cooper's veto of Senate Bill 41 Tuesday. It later went to the House where they voted to override the bill as well -making it a law - marking the first time the legislature successfully overrode Cooper's veto since 2018.
The bill eliminates the need for a local sheriff to issue a permit before someone can buy a handgun.
Bill supporters say the sheriff screening process is no longer necessary in light of updates to the national background check system.
Cooper and Democratic lawmakers warned the repeal would allow more dangerous people to obtain weapons through private sales, which do not require a background check, and limit law enforcement’s ability to prevent them from committing violent crimes.
Monday night, Gov. Cooper tweeted the following:
Hours after children were shot to death in their school, NC GOP leaders announced a vote to eliminate strong NC background checks and make it easier for dangerous people to buy guns and take them on some school grounds. Outrageous. I am mourning the loss of these children and school staff. Parents woke up fearful. Children woke up anxious. We don’t need to live this way and our kids don’t need to die this way. Lawmakers should stop going backward and start moving forward on gun safety.
But bill supporters say the sheriff screening process to buy a pistol is no longer necessary in light of significant updates to the national background check system, and that the permit requirement didn’t serve as a crime deterrent.
The enacted bill also would allow guns on some school properties where religious services are held.
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