Pistol permit system should stay in place

Editorial by Rocky Mount Telegram, June 6, 2015.

Legislation that would end North Carolina’s pistol permitting system is expected to come to a floor vote this week in the N.C. House.

The bill, which narrowly passed a House committee last week, would make it easier for more people to purchase handguns than under the state’s current system.

State law requires anyone wishing to buy a handgun to obtain either a pistol purchase permit from their local county sheriff or a state-issued concealed handgun permit. These permits exempt a handgun buyer from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System when they purchase a pistol from a federally-licensed firearms dealer.

While supporters of the measure say potential handgun buyers still would be required to undergo the national criminal background check, those checks are not run on sales or transfers between private individuals – which under current law require a pistol purchase permit, thus subjecting the potential buyer to a background check by the local sheriff’s office. Sales by unlicensed dealers who aren’t required to use the national background check – such as those at gun shows – also require a sheriff’s permit.

Background checks run by local sheriff’s offices draw from more information than checks run by the national system, and turn up past offenses from misdemeanors such as simple assault to stalking and domestic violence.

The N.C. Sheriff’s Association is fighting hard against the bill, correctly arguing that it will make it easier for guns to get into the hands of the wrong people.

While there is plenty of room for vigorous and far-reaching debate about whether to strengthen current gun laws, it is certainly not a time to be weakening them. Lawmakers should heed the advice of the state’s county sheriffs and defeat this bill.

http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/opinion/our-views/pistol-permit-system-should-stay-place-2899049