North Carolina Industry Alert: N.C. General Assembly Overrides Gov. Cooper's Veto, Pistol Purchase Permit Repealed

The North Carolina General Assembly took the steps needed to override Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of Senate Bill 41. The Senate's 30-19 vote and the House's 71-46 vote were enough to surpass the required 3/5 majority for a veto override. The NSSF-supported Senate Bill 41 repeals the state’s 104-year-old requirement for citizens to obtain a pistol purchase permit from their local sheriff before they can legally purchase a handgun from a federally licensed firearm retailer.

Given the advances in technology and the background check process, a permit to purchase a pistol is not only redundant, but unnecessary. The FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System, also known as NICS, provides an up-to-date, almost instant, background check for firearm retailers on those customers wishing to purchase a firearm. The NICS system is used across the country to verify that firearms sold at retail are only transferred to those in good standing with the law.

NSSF^® thanks the legislators who stood strong on this issue and voted in support of this legislation, along with the numerous industry members who made their voices heard by contacting their elected officials in favor of Senate Bill 41. The new law takes effect immediately.