Several bills proposed to loosen gun laws this year; but the main piece of gun legislation cleared the House on Thursday and is headed to the governor.
It would allow state lawmakers and other legislative employees to leave their guns locked in their cars while at the legislative building, and expands the places where people with permits to carry concealed handguns can bring their weapons.
The vote on HB650 was 80-39.
It would be lawful for permit-holders to bring their guns onto state court property and state parks if they keep them locked in their cars, and allows guns at state rest stops. Local governments could prohibit weapons from county recreation facilities.
The Senate removed a section of the bill that would have allowed concealed-carry permit holders to keep their guns locked in their cars on school property. The Senate also added wording to allow district attorneys, assistant district attorneys and their investigators to have the same authority as law enforcement officers to carry weapons.
The bill would also expand the so-called castle doctrine, which currently allows homeowners to shoot at intruders in their homes, so that they could also shoot intruders trying to get into their vehicle or workplace. The law would grant people in those situations the presumption that they shot because they had a reasonable fear of imminent death or serious injury; but that presumption could be rebutted at trial.
Comments
more guns, more shootings, more deaths - MORe funerals
June 17, 2011 - 2:38am — USA_TodayThis bill is clearly a nod to the funeral industry... they are likely to benefit from this bill.
lern to spel
June 17, 2011 - 2:28am — USA_TodaySharkOne: 'privelidge' is actually 'privilege'. Also, a right is not a privilege - if you think the 2nd amendment grants you a right to carry any weapon you want and kill anyone you want, then it is not a privilege.
of course, the 2nd amendment also a refers to a WELL-REGULATED militia.
the right to bear arms does not extend to all kinds of weapons, either. nor is it license for you to shoot or kill anyone you want.
thus, this is not an open-ended right that applies to any and all things weapons...
BTW, not that you can answer this, but what is the basis for your claim that the safest states are safest because of loose gun laws?
For example, states with a lot of gun crime tend to have an influx of guns from state with lax gun laws. There is a well-known flux of guns from the southeast to the northeast, for example - many guns used for crimes in the northeast were 'lawfully' obtained in southern states.
but, I digress into the world of facts... thus diverting from your fact-free talking points... For that, I must apologize. Gun rights advocates are well-known for their lack of attention to facts and data...
Safest States?
June 16, 2011 - 11:47pm — SharkOneStates with little or no gun control laws. We have the 2nd ammendment. Stop trying to take that priveledge away from us.
We need to kill these stupid restrictive "castle laws" in NC also. If you enter my house. I can shoot you.
Calm Down
June 16, 2011 - 2:45pm — Duke2013The GOP has always stood for less government regulation of the 2nd amendment, and you can't expect either party to completely abandon cultural issues when in power. We all know the economy is our most pressing issue, but the legislature doesn't have to put all other matters aside because of a recession. This law may move the state to the right (slightly) on gun laws, but will likely have little to no impact on your everyday life. It has garnered some bipartisan support and, in my opinion, seems to utilize common sense. The vast amount of attention this session HAS been on the proposed budget and how to spur economic growth.
Great! Now the economy will be fixed tomorrow, right?
June 16, 2011 - 2:05pm — rcampbellncSo happy that getting guns into more hands and more places will generate so much new revenue for the state that we'll be able to fix the budget woes. Should go a long way to addressing unemployment too, right? Special Interests never disappoint. Good job GOP - way to take care of those holding your leash.