NC Socialists won't give up on gun control

From the group, Grass Roots NC:

'GUN BUYER REGISTRATION ACT!'

THIS JUST IN FROM THE

'VICTIM DISARMAMENT SESSION'

In the 2005 session of the NC General Assembly, your overwhelming input was crucial in killing a bill GRNC dubbed "The Gun Buyer Registration Act." As is so often the case with gun control bills, however, the bill has risen from the dead this year as HB 1287, sponsored by the usual suspects: Reps. RONNIE SUTTON (D-Robeson, GRNC 1-star), PRICEY HARRISON (D-Guilford, GRNC 0-star), MAGGIE JEFFUS (D-Guilford, 0-star) and VERLA INSKO (D-Guilford, 0-star).

Ironically, although the bill is entitled "Report Denial of Some Pistol Permits," it actually registers ALL denials, even for the arbitrary reasons described below.

IF PASSED, HB 1287 WOULD:

* REGISTER anyone who is denied a pistol purchase permit by his sheriff into a DATABASE with the State Bureau of Investigation.

* Keep the denial in the SBI database for 8 YEARS.

* Require the denial to appear in all subsequent records checks.

SHERIFFS HAVE BROAD LATITUDE IN DENYING PERMITS:

Unlike concealed handgun permits, which are "sheriff shall issue," sheriffs have broad latitude in denying pistol purchase permits. Reasons for which sheriffs may deny permits under G.S. 14-404--beyond finding a criminal background--include:

* Limiting number of permits issued per year.

* Deciding that you are not of "good moral character."

Translation: Let's say you are a resident of Durham County, where the sheriff demands you bring someone to attest to your "character." Let's say you make the application but are unable (or unwilling) to provide the "character witness." Or perhaps you forgot that you had already been issued as many purchase permits as the sheriff decides you ought to have, and you submit another. Congratulations. In either case, you would now be enshrined in the SBI database.