Under cover of Trump, the NCGA is plotting to do yet more damage. Six years of dominance apparently wasn’t long enough to complete their negative transformation of the state. They’re still plowing ahead, and conscientious citizens must not let Trumpian chaos enable the continued threat from Jones Street.
The fierce culture warriors of the NCGOP have torn our social fabric asunder, and their crusade continues. The House is gearing up to effect a radical increase in the presence of guns in our neighborhoods. Under a bill that’s already moving, people would be able to tote guns regardless of whether they had a permit. That means untrained cowboys roaming the streets. If the bill passes the House, it is guaranteed to soar through the fanatical Senate, and our communities will become less safe.
Right-wing culture warriors have always hated the universities. So the NCGA has multiple pending policies that would harm UNC again. Both chambers want to inflict yet another budget cut. These institutions cannot take another financial hit. Nor do they need the reputational blow of Dan Forest’s provocative and unneeded* “campus speech” bill. North Carolina protects hateful speakers! the headlines will scream. Prepare for #BoycottUNC.
Not content to pollute our intellectual environment, legislators stand ready to encourage more ecological degradation. Yet another “Regulatory Reform” bill is on its way. Someone really wants grocery bags to float like toxic tumbleweeds across our beaches, because the plastic bag ban is on the chopping block. The Senate budget would end energy research fund (knowledge is bad) and take a shot at wind energy (so is clean air). At least the first two proposals seem very likely to pass.
Is any of this as harmful as Trump? Remarkably, no. But it would still make us a dumber, dirtier, more dangerous place. Don’t get distracted and don’t let them get away with it.
*The First Amendment does not need Dan Forest’s help.
Alexander Jones is an original contributor to PoliticsNC.
According to news reports, the bill allows concealed guns to be carried anywhere it is now legal to carry a gun, and it lowers the age to 18 for one to receive a gun permit. Information was not clear on training, but I don’t think that there is any current requirement on that in NC. I can’t make sense out of what I read on the background check. Someone else may know more.
However, the legislation can no longer be considered unless the House Finance Committee adds some kind of monetary component, which I am sure they are quite capable of doing. The deadline passed for non-monetary (budget) legislation.
Here is the list of current bills in the Legislature that address guns, concealed carry, and other issues associated with that premise. H69 I believe is the one that is currently the hot fire issue at hand, although some of the others address things like carrying on member institutions of the UNC system.
As one who hold a modicum of tolerance on this forum that likewise possesses a favorable perspective of firearms, I can say with all candor they’ve gone too far. Even the phrase “Constitutional Carry” is misleading to an end. With all that is happening in this State, with all that needs to happen in this State, I can’t believe the amount of time that has been wasted, spent, and used to research, draft, and introduce the bulk of these pieces of legislation.
Clearly, we need better representatives who know how to listen and how to address problems that we face. But not this. This is an ingenious solution in search of a non-existent problem.
But, it’s done to appease someone. What I wonder is, how appeased those groups will be when they read the Omnibus Bills and discover that these same ‘pro-gun rights’ pundits plan to limit magazine capacity and make every gun owner procure liability insurance. Something they promised not to do on the one hand and something new on the other; a caveat to responsibility besides criminal sanction for the future.
Anyway, for your perusal.
H836, Filed NO CONCEALED GUN ON PRIVATE PROP/POSTING
H836, Edition 1 NO CONCEALED GUN ON PRIVATE PROP/POSTING REG.
H345, Filed OMNIBUS FIREARMS BILL.
H345, Edition 1 OMNIBUS FIREARMS BILL.
H588, Filed OMNIBUS GUN CHANGES.
H588, Edition 1 OMNIBUS GUN CHANGES.
H723, Filed GUN SAFETY ACT.
H723, Edition 1 GUN SAFETY ACT.
H746, Edition 2 OMNIBUS GUN CHANGES.
S634, Filed (= H566) PRIVATE PROTECTIVE SERVICES CHANGES.
S634, Edition 1 (= H566) PRIVATE PROTECTIVE SERVICES CHANGES.
H566, Filed (= S634) PRIVATE PROTECTIVE SERVICES CHANGES.
H566, Edition 1 (= S634) PRIVATE PROTECTIVE SERVICES CHANGES.
H69, Filed CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY ACT.
H69, Edition 1 CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY ACT.
H746, Filed OMNIBUS GUN CHANGES.
H746, Edition 1 OMNIBUS GUN CHANGES.
S344, Filed COMBINE ADULT CORRECTION & JUVENILE JUSTICE. S344, Edition 1 COMBINE ADULT CORRECTION & JUVENILE JUSTICE.
We need to pay for bill boards on every major highway entering NC from any connecting state that points out some of this, especially the gun legislation, which I fully expect to pass. The folly in Raleigh knows no bounds. I wonder when major corporations will find top level employees balking at transferring here, or hiring new ones a problem. The “social” climate of a city or state absolutely impacts on that level of employee, who usually has many options.
That ship sailed awhile ago.