A trio of Democratic lawmakers have filed a bill aimed at better tracking people with mental health problems who apply for concealed handgun permits.
House Bil 344 would set a deadline of 48 hours – not including weekends or holidays – for superior court clerks to report to the national background check system records of in- and out-patient involuntary commitments for mental health treatment, and involuntary commitment for susbstance abuse for those determined to be a danger to themselves or others. Also reported would be records of people found not guilty by reason of insanity or for those who are found mentally incapable to stand trial in a criminal case.
The bill would also require clerks report if someone has successfully petitioned to remove a previous legal barrier to purchasing, possessing or transferring a firearm.
Primary sponsors are Rep. Verla Insko of Chapel Hill, Rep. Paul Luebke of Durham and Rep. Rick Glazier of Fayetteville.
The federal background check system reportedly misses a large number of mental health records from the states.
