This week was the crossover deadline for the North Carolina General Assembly, which means that most bills which have not passed a chamber are now dead for the remainder of the 2017 session. While most of the substantive pro-gun reforms that NRA has reported on have not passed out of either chamber, we have received firm commitments from legislators in both chambers that we will still be able to promote a strong legislative agenda. Several firearm-related bills that made minor pro-gun changes to existing law have advanced, and those remain viable to be amended into more robust bills which will improve our Right to Keep and Bear Arms in North Carolina. Further, House Republican Leadership has committed to working with NRA to amend legislation and make it exempt from the crossover rules.
Additionally, House Bill 559, which would make a number of improvements to the Outdoor Heritage Act that was passed in 2015, was amended in committee and passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday with a strong, bipartisan 102-17 vote. As introduced, the bill would remove the prohibition on hunting migratory birds on Sunday, and allowed the Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) to establish rules for such activity on both private and public lands. The amended version of the bill would require a study by WRC to determine the impact this change would have in a number of areas. HB 559 does still expand the hunting of game, other than migratory birds, on Sundays to include public lands. Currently, Sunday hunting is only allowed on private lands. HB 559 has been sent to the Senate for further consideration. Please contact your state Senator and urge them to support HB 559! Click the “Take Action” button below to contact your state Senator in support of HB 559!
Also, please contact your state Representative and state Senator and urge them to work with NRA to ensure solid, pro-gun reforms are passed this legislative session. Our legislative priorities for this year are to establish Permitless/Constitutional Carry in North Carolina, and to repeal the outdated, inefficient Pistol Purchase Permit (PPP) system and have North Carolina rely on the far more efficient National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) that is utilized in the majority of the states.
Be sure to stay tuned to www.nraila.org and your email inbox for the latest alerts and action items on legislation which could affect your Second Amendment rights in North Carolina.
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