RALEIGH -- ******
CORRECTION
A front-page story Friday about proposed gun legislation misattributed a comment made in a meeting. Rep. Larry Hall cited the number of motor vehicle thefts annually in North Carolina.
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RALEIGH -- There could be more guns in parks, restaurants and workplaces under a pair of bills state legislators are considering.
Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is something lawmakers have just begun to consider.
One bill would make it legal for people with concealed handgun permits to take their weapons into restaurants and parks. The other would allow gun owners to lock their weapons in their cars while they're at work. And a bill filed Thursday by Youngsville Republican Rep. Glen Bradley would exempt from all federal regulation any firearm, accessory and ammunition made and kept in North Carolina.
The proposals are among several bills introduced into the General Assembly this session that would expand the rights of gun owners. A House bill is under consideration that would allow legislators and other elected officials who have concealed-carry permits to take their handguns with them anywhere in the state, except where prohibited by federal law. Earlier this week, the Senate approved a "castle doctrine" bill that would give additional legal protection to those who use deadly force against intruders threatening their homes, vehicles or businesses.
Additional legislation that some gun advocates would like to see introduced this session includes eliminating the requirement that county sheriffs issue concealed-carry permits after federal background checks are performed, and allowing concealed handguns on college campuses.
Gun advocate hopeful
Grassroots North Carolina has pushed for a castle doctrine law for several years - taking credit for helping to defeat Lexington Democrat Rep. Hugh Holliman last year because the group blamed the former House majority leader for stifling a previous attempt. The organization also supports the bills allowing firearms in parks, restaurants and secured in cars at work.
Grassroots North Carolina isn't taking a position on the armed politicians bill, because it only applies to a select group rather than to everyone. But Paul Valone, president of the organization, is optimistic that all the gun bills will pass this session. "I think they have a good chance," Valone said.
Roxanne Kolar, executive director of North Carolinians Against Gun Violence, said her group is concerned that with the change in leadership in the General Assembly the state will follow a pro-gun momentum emerging elsewhere.
"The trend tends to be states passing weakening of concealed-carry laws in public places, neighborhood parks, family restaurants," Kolar said. "It's part of a campaign to weaken existing laws and have concealed-carry with no prohibitions anywhere."
Workplace violence has become a widely recognized concern across the country because of well-publicized assaults in many communities. The most recent numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show there were 420 fatal workplace shootings in 2009 nationwide, and 16 in North Carolina. Homicide is the leading cause of death on the job for women, and 77 percent of workplace homicides are committed with firearms, according to a coalition of domestic violence groups.
Workplace violence
In 2006, a man held a hostage at gunpoint at the Caterpillar plant in Clayton while searching the plant for his estranged girlfriend. In 2009, a man shot and killed his girlfriend in the parking lot of a Fuquay-Varina day care. Also in 2009, a man looking for his estranged wife barged into a nursing home in Carthage and shot to death eight people before a police officer wounded him. Last year, a man shot and killed his girlfriend, a cashier at a Super Target in Apex, and then killed himself.
A House subcommittee took its first look at the parks and restaurants and the locked-in-a-trunk bills on Wednesday, hearing from the bills' sponsors and advocates on both sides of gun control. The handful of lawmakers present asked polite but probing questions as they prepared to debate the issues in more detail next week.
Rep. Jeff Barnhart, a Cabarrus County Republican, said that a woman threatened by an estranged spouse or boyfriend might need quick access to a weapon at work.
A skeptical Rep. Bill Faison, Democrat from Orange County, asked why someone threatened with a firearm at work wouldn't just jump in his car and drive away rather than grab a gun from the car and confront the assailant. Barnhart said it was more likely that someone would need a weapon when driving to or from work. Rep. Mark Hilton, a Catawba Republican, said the law would also make it convenient for hunters to leave their rifles locked up when going to a store or other business.
Chamber opposed
But the N.C. Chamber of Commerce and the N.C. Retail Merchants Association oppose the bill. Andy Ellen of the merchants group pointed out that employers have a legal obligation to provide a safe environment under federal law.
John Goodman, director of governmental affairs for the Chamber of Commerce, said many of its members are concerned about the legislation. He said a major employer might have more than 4,000 people working in a single place. Having the potential for lots of guns spread across a parking lot would present a challenge for a company's security officers.
The N.C. Assisted Living Association is also opposed to the bill. Valone pointed out in a later interview that the bill exempts businesses from civil liability for allowing firearms onto their premises. He noted that a federal appellate court ruled in 2009 that a law in Oklahoma allowing employees to have guns at work in their locked vehicles was valid. And he said employees have a Second-Amendment right to have firearms in their cars, which are their own property.
The other bill is meant to change North Carolina law that prohibits carrying a concealed handgun into an establishment where alcohol is sold or consumed, and declares parks off-limits. The proposal would not change a condition of concealed handgun permits that prohibits the consumption of alcohol while a permit-holder is armed. Restaurants could still ban firearms.
Parks leader worried
Mike Waters, executive director of the N.C. Recreation and Park Association, said guns don't mix with parks.
"We're just afraid it's an accident that could be waiting to happen," Waters said.
Kolar, the gun-control advocate, said her organization in a recent poll found North Carolinians favor keeping gun laws as they are. Valone said Grassroots North Carolina is considering pursuing an effort to eliminate the requirement that county sheriffs determine applicants are of good moral character before authorizing concealed-weapons permits. The federal computerized background check is sufficient, he said.
Valone said he has also conferred with a student group that favors allowing students to carry concealed weapons on college campuses. He said he supports the idea, but thinks that group - Students for Concealed Carry on Campus - should take the lead in pursuing legislation.
