Last week, the North Carolina General Assembly and Governor Pat McCrory (R) took several important steps to protect your Right to Keep and Bear Arms and hunting heritage.
On June 4, Governor Pat McCrory (R) signed Senate Bill 234 into law, which establishes a Hunting Heritage Apprentice Permit. Sponsored by state Senator Buck Newton (R-11), this law will allow prospective hunters to try hunting before completing a hunter education course. Apprentice hunters would be required to be supervised by an adult who has a valid North Carolina hunting license. We thank Senator Newton for introducing this legislation, as well as Governor McCrory for signing it into law. This law is effective on July 1.
In addition, on June 5, the House Judiciary Subcommittee B approved an amended version of Senate Bill 443, legislation that seeks to prohibit the destruction of firearms. Introduced by state Senator Andrew Brock (R-34), S 443 requires law enforcement to sell, trade or exchange the firearms to a Federal Firearms License (FFL) holder, maintain them for training or experimental purposes, or turn them over to a museum or historical society. These steps shall only be taken after the firearm is no longer needed for criminal proceedings, or if all attempts at locating the lawful owner have been exhausted. This measure then passed in the state House on Thursday by a 98-16 vote and will now return to the state Senate for a concurrence vote.
Finally, the NRA continues to work closely with the North Carolina Senate to ensure passage of House Bill 937, the comprehensive Right-to-Carry reform bill passed by the House in early May.
Please keep an eye out for future updates on this legislation, as we anticipate movement on this bill in the near future.