Red flag on guns

The House tentatively approved a bill that would let sheriffs know when a pistol permit application had been turned down in another county.

The legislation stems from a Guilford County case in which a man who was denied for mental problems went across the county line, bought a gun and killed himself.

Sheriffs would still set their own guidelines for pistol permits. A denial in one county would not necessarily mean a second denial in another.

But Rep. Joe Kiser, a Lincoln County Republican and former sheriff, said it would give sheriffs more information. (N&O)

"This would be a red flag to the other sheriffs in the state," said Rep. Ronnie Sutton, a Robeson Democrat who sponsored the bill. (AP)

Rep. Verla Insko, a Chapel Hill Democrat, is a co-sponsor.