NC House Overrides Governor's Veto, Ends Pistol Purchase Permit Requirement

Raleigh -- In a closely watched vote on March 29, 2023, the North Carolina House of Representatives
voted to override Governor Roy Cooper's veto of a bill that eliminates the requirement for pistol purchase
permits in the state.

The move has been seen as a significant victory for gun rights advocates, who have long argued that the permit requirement is an unnecessary burden on law-abiding citizens.

The bill, which had been passed by the Republican-controlled legislature in February, would allow anyone who is legally allowed to own a firearm to purchase a handgun without first obtaining a permit from their local sheriff's office. Proponents of the measure argued that the permit requirement did little to prevent gun violence and unfairly targeted law-abiding gun owners.

Governor Cooper, a Democrat, had vetoed the bill, arguing that it would make it easier for dangerous individuals to obtain firearms and could lead to an increase in gun-related violence. He also noted that the permit process, which includes a background check and a waiting period, was a valuable tool for law enforcement in preventing guns from falling into the wrong hands.

Despite Governor Cooper's concerns, the Republican majority in the House was able to muster the two-thirds majority needed to override the veto. The move was celebrated by gun rights advocates, who have long argued that the permit requirement infringes on their Second Amendment rights.

Critics of the bill, however, warned that the repeal of the permit requirement could have unintended consequences. They pointed out that the permit process was an important tool for preventing guns from falling into the wrong hands, and that eliminating it could make it easier for criminals and other dangerous individuals to obtain firearms.

The debate over the bill has been heated and divisive, reflecting the deep divisions that exist in North Carolina and across the country over gun rights and gun control. Proponents of the bill see it as a necessary step to protect individual freedoms, while opponents view it as a dangerous move that could lead to more gun-related deaths and injuries.

It remains to be seen what the long-term impact of the repeal of the pistol purchase permit requirement will be in North Carolina. Supporters of the bill believe that it will make it easier for law-abiding citizens to exercise their Second Amendment rights, while opponents fear that it could lead to an increase in gun violence. 

WNCtimes