Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)-They have already drafted an ordinance that clearly violates state law.

Their ordinance employs the now typical dishonest strategy embraced by several other anti-gun municipalities.

This strategy involves tortuously redefining broad park areas to fit within narrow exclusions tacked onto the new “Castle Doctrine/Concealed Carry Permitted in Parks” law. As a result greenways, hiking trails and entire parks are slated for impermissible gun bans.

While Orange County Commissioners believe themselves to be above state law, they will happily subject you to the wrath of their municipal ordinance if you dare lawfully defend yourself and your family within their parks; including a $500 fine, six months incarceration, and permanent loss of your Constitutional RIGHT to bear arms.

Thanks to the vigilance and quick reporting of a GRNC member we have an opportunity to make the voice of reason heard before this abomination is approved.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED: Attend Commissioners Meeting

Email Commissioners

Copy and paste email address list:

Temckee@co.orange.nc.us, syuhasz@co.orange.nc.us, bjacobs@co.orange.nc.us, gordonam@mindspring.com, vfoushee@co.orange.nc.us, phemminger@bellsouth.net, bpelissier@co.orange.nc.us

Deliver This Message

For email, use subject line: Comply with state law, do not ban guns in parks!

It has come to my attention that you intend to ban concealed carry permit holders from lawfully defending themselves in certain areas of Orange County parks. In order to do this you have planned to “redefine” certain park areas in an attempt to fit them under the narrow exclusions permitted under SL 2011-268.

This is clearly disrespectful and non-compliant with state law, and more troubling, a violation of our Constitutional rights to bear arms.

Why don’t you trust the citizens that elected you to responsibly defend themselves?

North Carolinian Concealed Handgun Permittees have shown themselves to be extremely responsible and are not a problem that you should be concerned about. Places within Orange County where citizens are not permitted to effectively defend themselves IS a problem that you should begin working to solve.

I will be following progress and will alert Grass Roots North Carolina if you make it necessary to do so.

Sincerely,

A Concerned NC voter

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- Greensboro Show:GRNC needs volunteers to host the tables at the next gun show in Greensboro.

It will be held this weekend Jan. 28th & 29th and YOUR help is needed. We need all the available volunteer workers we can find.

If you could spare a morning or afternoon on one of those days it would be greatly appreciated. If you have an articulate friend whom you would like to introduce to gun rights activism please invite her or him to work with us at the show. It is not necessary for that person to be a current member.

Volunteers please email Jed Norris at jednorris@bellsouth.net or call at 336-674-5347 with your preferred day and time(s) to be scheduled to work. Please respond directly to Jed Norris by clicking on the link rather than replying to this alert. This will assure that your note will not be delayed or lost in the shuffle.

Paul Valone Briefs Progress Saturday
Come on out and volunteer or at least drop by on Saturday morning from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. GRNC President Paul Valone will be at the GRNC table briefing members of the progress of the efforts to achieve restaurant carry.

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

RALEIGH, NC --(Ammoland.com)- Hunters, anglers and wildlife enthusiasts now have more ways than ever to receive the most up-to-date information about the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

Constituents can now “like” the Commission on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to see the latest news releases, view photos, get updates on fishing and boating, learn of new regulations or just find out about wildlife and the outdoors in North Carolina.

“For some people, social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook are a first stop to find information,” said Carolyn Rickard, the Commission’s public information officer leading the agency’s social media efforts.

“Providing information through these sites is just one more way we can keep people informed and up to date.”

The Commission also recently started a blog in December and made plans to expand its videos on its YouTube channel later this year.

“And we’re supplementing Facebook by providing mirror information on Google+,” Rickard said. “It’s not as big as Facebook now, but we anticipate Google+ growing as a social networking option because it’s tied in to Google’s search engine and maps, which businesses and schools need every day.”

Links to the Wildlife Commission’s social media options will be posted on the bottom, right corner of the agency’s newly redesigned website, www.ncwildlife.org.

The public also can go online to receive N.C. Wildlife Update, a periodic newsletter featuring season dates, bag limits, legislative updates and more — delivered to your Inbox from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

About the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
Since 1947, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has been dedicated to the conservation and sustainability of the state’s fish and wildlife resources through research, scientific management, wise use, and public input. The Commission is the state regulatory agency responsible for the enforcement of fishing, hunting, trapping and boating laws and provides programs and opportunities for wildlife-related educational, recreational and sporting activities. To learn more, visit www.ncwildlife.org.

Get N.C. Wildlife Update — news including season dates, bag limits, legislative updates and more — delivered to your Inbox from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Go to www.ncwildlife.org/enews.

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- Could Senate Republicans have prevented the murder of Danielle Watson?

Danielle was a manager at the Flying Biscuit Café. Last weekend, while closing the restaurant, she was murdered by an ex-con recently released after doing time for armed robbery.

In a classic application of “Dial 911 & Die!” Charlotte police botched their response to her fiancés 911 call, and never even discovered her body, stabbed and left behind a dumpster, until the next day. It was the second Charlotte restaurant murder in a single weekend, highlighting the need to pass House Bill 111, “Handgun Permit Valid in Parks & Restaurants.”

Right now, concealed handgun permit-holders are prohibited from protecting their families anywhere alcohol is “sold and consumed,” which includes many restaurants. This includes not only restaurant patrons, but also restaurant workers, since the only people exempt from the ban are restaurant “owners and lessees.” For full details, see GRNC president Paul Valone’s article at: http://exm.nr/StopRestaurantHomicide

How it should end
Now contrast this with another restaurant crime, only one week later. Just across the South Carolina border, in Spartanburg, Dante Lamont Williams and another man entered the Waffle House on Chesnee Highway, both armed with handguns. But when they held customers at gunpoint, a patron who was a concealed handgun permit holder shot Williams, killing him. The other robber fled, and innocent lives were saved.

Republicans do nothing
Despite passing in the House, however, the bill is languishing in the Senate Judiciary I Committee, where Republican Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (Guilford, Rockingham) has so far refused the bill a hearing on the premise that the topic doesn’t “poll well.” Meanwhile, as Republicans dither and fret about polls, restaurant workers are dying.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED:
Immediately email AND call

Republican leadership:

• Sen. Phil Berger, Senate President Pro Tem, at Phil.Berger@ncleg.net and (919) 733-5708
• Sen. Tom Apodaca, Senate Rules Chairman, at Tom.Apodaca@ncleg.net, and (919) 733-5745
• Sen. Buck Newton, Senate Judiciary Chairman, at Buck.Newton@ncleg.net, and (919) 715-3030

Deliver This Message

(use subject line: STOP RESTAURANT HOMICIDE)

Dear Senator:

While House Bill 111, “Handgun Permit Valid in Parks & Restaurants,” languishes in the Senate Judiciary I Committee, restaurant workers are dying. In a single weekend, recently, Charlotte experienced two such murders, including that of 25-year-old Danielle Watson, a manager who was closing the Flying Biscuit Café when she was murdered by Mark Cox, an ex-con just released after doing time for armed robbery.

Police botched the 911 response, only finding her body behind a dumpster the next day, but it is your chamber that is preventing restaurant workers like Danielle from defending themselves: The Flying Biscuit has an on-premise alcohol consumption permit, where everyone but the “owner or lessee” is prohibited from protecting themselves with firearms.

Now contrast this with another restaurant crime, only one week later. Just across the South Carolina border, in Spartanburg, Dante Lamont Williams and another man entered the Waffle House on Chesnee Highway. Both men were armed with handguns. But when they held customers at gunpoint, a patron who was a concealed handgun permit holder shot Williams, killing him. The other robber fled, and innocent lives were saved.

Despite what newspaper editorials claim, nobody is advocating “drunks with guns.” As you well know, under HB 111, concealed handgun permit-holders will still be prohibited from imbibing alcohol.

Stop being a slave to polls, and start leading. Pass HB 111 to STOP RESTAURANT HOMICIDE. I will be monitoring your actions via Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts.

Respectfully,

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- Crime has decreased in our great state everywhere that concealed carry was made legal 18 years ago. Unfortunately, that predictable improvement did not extend to areas like parks that remained off-limits to lawful self-defense.

Former Greenville Mayor Pat Dunn was an active member of NYC Mayor Bloomberg’s anti-gun organization, MAIG. One of her final acts was implementation of an over-reaching, anti-HB 650 gun ban in parks.

Dunn’s ban was so over-the-top it twisted the definition of “dog park” into “playground” ensuring that only defenseless dog-owners can run their pets off-leash in Greenville.

Dunn’s misguided ordinance will cost the City thousands of tax dollars to implement, will force Greenville to defend a host of clearly illegal laws, in addition to creating liability for assaults that may occur where effective defense has been unlawfully prevented.

WITN reports that the Greenville City Council is reconsidering these misguided laws over a weekend retreat: http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/137744963.html?storySection=comments.

Election of a new Mayor, Allen M. Thomas, as well as new City Council members brings hope that pro-freedom thinking may take hold within Greenville.

Let’s send this promising new Leadership our gun-owning, pro-self-defense, pro-personal responsibility vote of confidence!

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED:
Email Greenville Leaders

Contact the Mayor and new Greenville City Council
Copy and Paste email addresses:

amthomas@greenvillenc.gov, rglover50@suddenlink.net, ksmith@greenvillenc.gov, mercerc99@yahoo.com, mjoyner@clementins.com, dmitchell@greenvillenc.gov, info@MarionBlackburn.com

Deliver This Message

Dear Greenville Representatives,

Greenville residents and other North Carolinians are encouraged by reports that you will consider rescinding the misguided and clearly illegal ordinance that prevents law-abiding concealed handgun permittees from effectively defending themselves and their families within Greenville parks.

These citizens are among the most law-abiding in our state and deserve your encouragement and support. Areas in which they have been permitted to carry in our state have seen a more than 40 % decrease in crime since “shall issue” law passed in NC in 1995.

This clear decrease in crime has not happened in areas where lawful carry has remained banned, such as within parks. The Daily Reflector recently reported that according to Greenville Police Department data, officers responded to 39 criminal incidents in the city’s parks and recreational facilities in 2005, and 93 incidents in 2010 – the most recent year for which complete data are available.

Crime is decreasing in Greenville, as it is across the rest of our state, except for within those areas where law-abiding citizens are not permitted an effective means of self-defense.

Please do the right thing and respect the rights of your citizens to effectively defend themselves and their families everywhere in Greenville. Reduce the area of “criminal empowerment zones” that still exist, and that unwise leaders have sought to maintain.

I will be following progress through Grass Roots North Carolina.

Sincerely,

A concerned NC voter

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- Have You Defended Yourself With A Gun?

GRNC is seeking concealed handgun permit-holders who have used firearms in self-defense. This includes anyone who has fired, brandished or even referred to a firearm in order to deter a violent crime. If you prefer, your identity will be withheld. Send your stories directly to GRNC president Paul Valone at president@GRNC.org.

Mike Luo’s Crusade
Following an extensive interview between GRNC president Paul Valone and New York Times reporter Mike Luo, the Times is now trying to depict North Carolina’s population of concealed handgun permit-holders as rife with felons. To support his claims, Luo relies on flawed methodology, misuse of anecdotal data, and selectively ignored facts he learned during the interview. The current piece is at least the third time Luo has written biased and misleading articles on gun ownership.

Biased Anti-Gun NY Times Reporter Mike Luo

Figures lie…
Although Luo claims to have done data-matching between criminal databases and permit-holders, he admitted confirming only a dozen matches with the NC State Bureau of Investigation.

Data matching between large databases is subject to high rates of “false positives” depending on the number and type of parameters matched.

To quote one data mining whiz: “The problem is that if you’re trying to search a couple of large data sets for something that occurs infrequently, the number of true hits (if any) is likely to be far less than the number of false positives.”

…and liars figure
When asked whether Luo would confirm all matches with the SBI, or whether he would do statistical analysis of his data, determining what percentage of North Carolina permit-holders commit crimes, or whether he would simply provide misleading anecdotal examples as he did on a November 13, 2011 piece on restoration of gun rights for felons, Luo refused to answer.

How Luo creates a false impression
The plural of “anecdote” is not “data”: By pulling a small number of anecdotes rather than verifying all of the data, Luo hopes to paint a false portrait of NC concealed handgun permit-holders as criminals.

Selective data: Luo has a reputation among researchers for cherry-picking research to support his assertions, and for failing to disclose the gun-related leanings of researchers he cites.

The Charlotte Observer fell over itself to propagate Luo’s deceptive story

The Charlotte Observer ran this insult to their gun-owning readership as front page news!

GRNC president Paul Valone responds

“What The New York Times recently published is a biased ‘hit piece’ designed to undermine the unerringly successful expansion of concealed carry laws. By cherry-picking anecdotes from error-prone data matching, reporter Michael Luo creates a false impression of widespread abuse by concealed handgun permit-holders. Luo admits not bothering to confirm more than a handful of the matches found, so given the small data set used, the number of “false positives” may well exceed the number of accurate matches.

“Even Luo’s claim of 2,400 crimes by permit-holders – which includes DUI convictions and relatively minor misdemeanors – represents only a tiny fraction (0.6%) of the 395,251 concealed handgun permits approved since 1995. Moreover, data from other states reveals that few permit revocations result from misuse of firearms.

“As Luo was told during the interview (but chose to ignore), when Grass Roots North Carolina helped draft the state’s concealed handgun law in 1995, we gave law enforcement officials the tools for permit revocations by attaching concealed handgun permit information to the state drivers’ license database. Any concealed handgun permit-holder arrested for a crime would be immediately identified as such.

“Furthermore, nothing in the law prevents the North Carolina Department of Justice from doing checks on permit-holders to ensure they remain in compliance with the law, nor would we oppose such an effort. If the state fails to avail themselves of those tools, the problem lies not within the concealed handgun law, but instead within its enforcement.”

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED:

Leave Website Comments: Leave comments on both the New York Times and Charlotte Observer websites

• NYT:http://tiny.cc/t9wpo
• Charlotte Observer: http://tiny.cc/uhq04

Use Paul Valone’s response to guide your comments

Write Letters to the Editor

Write letters to the Editor of both newspapers

• You can submit a letter to the Charlotte Observer here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2008/08/05/108022/write-the-forum.html
• You can submit a letter to the New York Times here: http://www.nytimes.com/content/help/site/editorial/letters/letters.html

Use the suggested text below to guide your letters.

Deliver This Message

Dear Editor,

I was very disappointed by Mike Luo’s one-sided and flagrantly misleading article that you recently and irresponsibly published. This article was an affront to millions of law-abiding North Carolinian gun owners.

It is telling that Luo claims to provide a “detailed look” at concealed carry in our state, but doesn’t bother to go even to the minimal extent of comparing handgun permittees to the NC population at large.

If he had been interested in the truth he would have learned, and could have responsibly communicated to your readers, that North Carolinians with concealed handgun permits are orders of magnitude less likely to be convicted of crime than is the general population.

According to Luo’s own numbers, out of 240,000 permittees only 2400 were convicted of felonies and misdemeanors over the last five years. This is a rate of 1 % in five years, or 0.2 % per year. For NC in general from 2005 to 2010 (the latest information available from DOJ) there was a yearly average of 5333 felonies (not including misdemeanors) committed per 100,000 in population, a rate of 5.3 % per year.

Luo’s type of politically-motivated yellow journalism has become all too common. Shame on you for participating in his disservice to your readers, and for delivering his insult to hundreds of thousands of law-abiding NC concealed handgun permittees.

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Lawsuit Pending For Winston-Salem NC Gun Ban

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- GRNC seeking resident plaintiffs!

GRNC has just received legal analysis of Winston-Salem’s park ban, and the situation is even worse than originally thought. It is best we inform you of these developments as rapidly as possible – particularly because we need to immediately recruit Winston-Salem residents as plaintiffs!

WINSTON-SALEM PARK BAN VIOLATES STATE LAW!

You can find the law here: Winston-Salem Park Ordinance.

Specific problems include deliberate over-reaching by the City Council under Sec. 38-10 (a) (1): “Athletic facility means a building, structure or place including a walking trail, greenway and body of water such as a lake for engaging in sporting events, recreational activities, fitness or physical training”.

They plan to designate not only greenways and walking trails (both impermissible) but even whole lakes as “athletic facilities”.

Under (a) (2): “Playground means a piece of land used for and usually equipped with facilities for recreation especially by children including the adjoining area and shelter used by children for respite, eating and playing sedentary games.”

Since when are “sedentary games” and areas for eating “athletic facilities”?

Under subsection (d), they cite a long list of state parks allegedly containing “recreational facilities.” Under the statute, they need to specifically list each of the “recreational facilities” where concealed carry is banned — again, a violation of state law!

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED:

Contact the Mayor and City Councilors of Winston-Salem, NC. If you have already emailed, contact them again!

Cut and paste email list: danbesse@danbesse.org, vivianb@cityofws.org, denisea@cityofws.org, robertc@cityofws.org, derwinm@cityofws.org, mollyl@cityofws.org, wandam@cityofws.org, jamestjr@cityofws.org, allenj@cityofws.org

Deliver This Message

City of Winston-Salem Representatives,

It is clear from your November 21st meeting that your City Attorney rewrote city ordinances not to comply with state law (HB 650, Castle Doctrine and Concealed Carry Permitted in Parks), but to take every opportunity to “not comply” with this important freedom-promoting new legislation.

The predictable result is an intentionally over-reaching ordinance that is in clear violation of state law.

You want to ban legal carry on greenways, walking trails, and lakes, none of which can reasonably be described as “athletic facilities”. If you attempt such a ban you will violate state law and subject your city to the consequences.

Even more outrageous is your intention to ban within areas intended for eating and playing sedentary games. Considering these areas as “athletic facilities” is absurd.

Your ordinance is illegal, irrational, unjustifiable and a clear example of disrespect for both state law and the Constitutional rights of free Americans.

It must be rescinded immediately.

I will be following progress through Grass Roots North Carolina.

Sincerely,

A concerned NC voter

GRNC is preparing to take appropriate legal action and needs to identify local plaintiffs

• Plaintiffs are currently needed for actions within Winston-Salem, Kernersville, Greenville and Smithfield. Please contact alert@grnc.org.
• Other municipalities may be added.
• Everyone should carefully monitor municipal ordinances, particularly those recently enacted.
• Any restrictions beyond “a playground, an athletic field, a swimming pool, or an athletic facility” should be immediately reported to alert@grnc.org.

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- They’re angry that their “right” to infringe your rights have been taken by HB 650.

The Winston-Salem town council expressed outrage during their November 21st meeting that our state Assembly has “usurped” their “right” to disarm law-abiding citizens within city parks.

THE TOWN’S DISCUSSION WAS LACK OF GOVERNMENT REASON IN ACTION:

HB 650 was called “Objectionable”, “Unacceptable”, “Unforgivable”.

The same broken record reason for banning carry in parks was offered by Police Chief Scott Cunningham: “When a weapon is present the situation could escalate – to a fatal incident instead of bumps and bruises”.

Chief Cunningham also stated that Winston-Salem concealed carry permittees are, “very much law-abiding.”

What the Chief didn’t say is that there is no evidence that a permittee has been violent anywhere in NC. City Councilor Vivian H. Burke encouraged Winston-Salem citizens to “Occupy Raleigh” to protest HB 650. Mayor Allen Joines characterized HB 650 as having, “taken away the ability of city government to regulate its own affairs.”

It is clear that the Winston-Salem Mayor and City Council need a strong dose of reality-inducing reason to understand that the Second Amendment trumps any of their ordinances, and that it is they who serve at the Assembly’s pleasure.

And we are just the people to administer this badly-needed medicine.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED:

Contact the Mayor and City Councilors of Winston-Salem, NC.

Cut and paste email list: danbesse@danbesse.org, vivianb@cityofws.org, denisea@cityofws.org, robertc@cityofws.org, derwinm@cityofws.org, mollyl@cityofws.org, wandam@cityofws.org, jamestjr@cityofws.org, allenj@cityofws.org

Deliver This Message

City of Winston-Salem Representatives,

It is clear from your November 21st meeting that your City Attorney rewrote city ordinances not to comply with state law (HB 650, Castle Doctrine and Concealed Carry Permitted in Parks), but to take every opportunity to “not comply” with this important freedom-promoting new legislation.

The resulting ordinance is an unreasonable infringement of Second Amendment rights that conflicts with the very intent of the new state law to provide state-wide uniformity. It also sends a troubling message of willful lack of cooperation with state government, under which you serve.

HB 650 was intended to increase the ability of law-abiding permittees to defend themselves and their families when visiting North Carolina parks. The need for citizens to be able to effectively defend themselves in Winston-Salem parks was made clear by Chief Scott Cunningham’s admission that crime is a problem in these areas. The severity of these problems across our state was made clear earlier this month by the brutal murder of Leroy Staton in Greenville’s Jaycee park. Based upon these established facts, your criticism of the Assembly’s enactment of HB 650 is inappropriate.

Chief Cunningham’s claim that disagreements will escalate to homicide is unreasonable: across the state over 330,000 permittees have had 16 years of opportunity to become violent and have not. The Chief’s concern is similar to those expressed earlier against “shall issue” laws; there was to be “blood in the street” and “lead flying through the air”. These fears have not been realized and, like concern of disagreements escalating to shoot-outs, are unjustified. The Chief himself admits that, “Concealed carry permittees are very much law-abiding.” Why do you mistrust them?

Your ordinance is illegal, irrational, unjustifiable and a clear example of disrespect for both state law and the Constitutional rights of free Americans.

It must be rescinded immediately.

I will be following progress through Grass Roots North Carolina.

Sincerely,

A concerned NC voter

GRNC is preparing to take appropriate legal action and needs to identify local plaintiffs.

• Plaintiffs are currently needed for actions within Winston-Salem, Kernersville, Greenville and Smithfield. Please contact alert@grnc.org.
• Other municipalities may be added.
• Everyone should carefully monitor municipal ordinances, particularly those recently enacted.
• Any restrictions beyond “a playground, an athletic field, a swimming pool, or an athletic facility” should be immediately reported to alert@grnc.org.

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- The city council of Fayetteville NC claims to have been caught off guard by the implementation of HB 650 on Thursday, December 1st, so claims Mayor Tony Chavonne. So they meet tonight to consider the issue.

To give a flavor of the inclination of the city, Recreation Director Michael Gibson claims to respect the rights of lawful gun ownership, but illustrates a complete ignorance of the total lack of problems everywhere that legal concealed carry has been implemented by stating that he believes allowing it in areas where adults and children are together is “not a great idea” and that it makes him “uneasy.”

J.D. Pone, chairman of the Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission, makes no bones about his opposition. Pone says that he wished the city could continue to have a blanket ban on guns in all parks.

Yesterday’s Fayetteville Observer says: The item is on Monday’s consent agenda, which is reserved for noncontroversial items that require no discussion. On the night of meetings, council members can request to have items taken from the consent agenda for a debate and a separate vote.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED:

• Attend the meeting at 7:00 pm tonight.
• Contact the Mayor and City Councilors of Fayetteville, NC.
• Cut and paste email list: mayor@ci.fay.nc.us dhaire2@nc.rr.com kbates05@nc.rr.com kdavy@ci.fay.nc.us askia25@aol.com Bobbyhurst@aol.com wjlcrisp@aol.com vapplewhiteccd7@yahoo.com tmohn@aol.com jarp@ci.fay.nc.us

Deliver This Message

City of Fayetteville Representatives,

HB 650 was intended to increase the ability of law-abiding permittees to defend themselves and their families when visiting North Carolina parks. The need for citizens to be able to effectively defend themselves in Fayetteville’s parks has been played out in parks the state over such as earlier this month in Greenville by the brutal murder of Leroy Staton in Jaycee Park.

I urge you to remove all bans of lawful concealed carry in Fayetteville parks in the spirit if not the letter of HB 650.

I will be following progress through Grass Roots North Carolina.

Sincerely,

A concerned NC voter

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- In a classic example of “Pass the Buck,” Greenville Mayor Pat Dunn blames city attorney for over-reaching parks gun ban.

Those who have contacted Greenville representatives about their over-reaching and illegal parks ban have all received the same canned response from Mayor Dunn: “Please know that the city council has instructed the City Attorney to rewrite city ordinances to comply with state law.”

GREENVILLE REPRESENTATIVES ARE MISREPRESENTING BOTH HB 650 AND THEIR RESPONSE TO IT!

• HB 650 was intended to uniformly permit carry in parks state-wide.
• HB 650 does not require Greenville to ban guns in parks.
• The most expedient way to “comply” with HB 650 is by simply rescinding laws banning carry in parks.
  Media reports combined with the over-reaching nature of their ban makes it clear the instructions were to ban everywhere possible.
• This type of comprehensive ban is inconsistent with the intent of HB 650 to provide state-wide uniformity.
• Twisting the off-leash dog-park into a “playground” to implement a ban is a direct violation of state law.
• Telling gun owners a half-truth about “rewriting to comply” instead of the whole truth of “rewriting to ban everywhere and still comply” is dishonest and disrespectful.

THE GREENVILLE PARK BAN DOES NOT COMPLY WITH STATE LAW AND MUST BE RESCINDED!

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED:

Contact the Mayor and City Councilors of Greenville, NC.
Cut and paste email list: pdunn2@suddenlink.net, athomasemail@gmail.com, bryantkittrell@kittrellandarmstrong.com, ksmith@greenvillenc.gov, rglover50@suddenlink.net, info@marionblackburn.com, mjoyner@clementins.com

Deliver This Message

City of Greenville Representatives,

According to Mayor Dunn, the City Council instructed the City Attorney “to rewrite city ordinances to comply with state law [HB 650, Castle Doctrine and Concealed Carry Permitted in Parks].” The part left out of this is that the instructions were to ban lawful carry everywhere conceivably permissible.

The resulting ordinance is an unreasonable infringement of Second Amendment rights that conflicts with the very intent of the new state law to provide state-wide uniformity. It also sends a troubling message of willful lack of cooperation with state government.

The effort made to indiscriminately ban carry everywhere possible has predictably led to an over-reaching ordinance that violates state law. The classification of the off-leash dog park as a “playground” in order to implement a ban is a clear example of the attempt to circumvent state law that characterizes the entire ordinance.

HB 650 was intended to increase the ability of law-abiding permittees to defend themselves and their families when visiting North Carolina parks. The need for citizens to be able to effectively defend themselves in Greenville was made clear earlier this month by the brutal murder of Leroy Staton in Jaycee park.

There has been no attempt made by Greenville city government to justify why the Constitutional rights of citizens should be limited in Greenville parks. Thus it is clear that the new ordinance is nothing more than an autocratic and tyrannical effort to deprive citizens of freedom.

As you know, the simplest and most cost-effective way to comply with state law is by reversing current bans.

Your ordinance is illegal, irrational, unjustifiable and a clear example of disrespect for both state law and the Constitutional rights of free Americans.

It must be rescinded immediately.

I will be following progress through Grass Roots North Carolina.

Sincerely,

A concerned NC voter

GRNC is preparing to take appropriate legal action and needs to identify local plaintiffs

• Plaintiffs are currently needed for actions within Kernersville, Greenville and Smithfield. Please contact alert@grnc.org.
• Other municipalities may be added.
• Everyone should carefully monitor municipal ordinances, particularly those recently enacted.
• Any restrictions beyond “a playground, an athletic field, a swimming pool, or an athletic facility” should be immediately reported to alert@grnc.org.

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

New GRNC Weapons Help Defend Your Gun Owner Rights

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- Gun rights supporters: We have some exciting news in this GRNC Update.

If nearly 18 years of defending the Second Amendment have taught GRNC leadership anything, it is that we must consolidate our wins. GRNC-led passage of House Bill 650 will dramatically improve your ability to defend your family.

Beyond even one of the strongest Castle Doctrine laws in the country, concealed carry and municipal and state parks, and other improvements, the NC Wildlife Resources Commission affirmed that the bill facilitates both concealed and open carry in most state game lands.

But just as GRNC killed the “Rapist Protection Act” in 2000 and then “mopped up” by decimating the so-called “Million” Mom March in North Carolina, we must now leverage our victory and continue the push to roll back decades of encroachment on our freedoms.

In coming months, you will see dramatic changes as we increase the size and impact of Grass Roots North Carolina – the gun rights organization which you have made the most vocal in the state. New, vibrant media, new tools for activating nearly 400,000 North Carolina gun owners.

But the most important element is you. Without your help – not somebody else’s – we will not be able to effectively defend your rights.

GRNC WEBSITE
Many of you have asked for an updated GRNC web site. Now you have it. With menus that provide ready access to vital information, easily accessible legislative alerts, searchable content, and the ability to contact GRNC leadership on vital issues, the new site equips you to defend against new and insidious threats to your rights.

As always, check: www.GRNC.org

You will find the new site features easily accessible legislative alerts displayed on the home page together with drop down menus giving ready access to GRNC’s many entities and services such as the GRNC Legislative Action Team, GRNC Political Victory Fund, “Remember in November” project, membership forms and questions, and far more.

To give gun owners a better idea of GRNC’s nearly 18-year string of victories, other sections feature videos of notable speakers and events, video and audio clips of GRNC interviews, GRNC-PVF radio spots attacking anti-gun candidates, and photos of events such as the GRNC Solidarity March, GRNC “Million” Mom Countermarch, and more.

Because the site is still under construction, gun rights supporters should check back often for new features. A discussion forum will follow soon. If you find “glitches,” please contact: webmaster@GRNC.org

GRNC ‘YouTube’ CHANNEL
For gun owners increasingly active with social media, GRNC has also started a YouTube channel available at: www.youtube.com/user/GRNCFFE%20%20

Beyond GRNC media interviews and events, we will soon introduce issue-specific videos to promote the gun rights agenda, so bookmark it for future reference.

GRNC ON FACEBOOK
And as a reminder, you can become even more in touch with the Second Amendment community by via GRNC’s Facebook page, which is now linked to the home page of the new site or available at: www.facebook.com/pages/Grass-Roots-North-Carolina-GRNC/146962105319196

There you will find not only the ability to communicate with other North Carolina gun rights supporters, but GRNC alerts and updates, information about gun shows GRNC works, and even the occasional (when he can overcome social media phobia) comment by GRNC president Paul Valone.

Find Your Representatives

• NC STATE House & Senate: http://www.grnc.org/contact_reps.htm
• FEDERAL Congressman: http://www.house.gov/writerep/
• FEDERAL Senators: http://www.senate.gov/

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- Now Greenville Mayor Pat Dunn leads a swan song cynical over-reach to circumvent HB 650. Apparently she refuses leave without also leaving her anti-freedom mark!

In violation of both the letter, and more importantly, spirit of the new state law that uniformly permits concealed carry within all North Carolina parks, the Greenville City Council, under out-going Mayor Pat Dunn, recently passed draconian legislation that mandates posting against carry in 25 broad areas and numerous sub-regions of Greenville parks - including a clear over-reaching ban in the city’s dog park!

• Dunn’s membership in New York City Mayor Bloomberg’s strident anti-gun MAIG organization was bad enough.
• Now, adding insult to injury, she seeks to make a final parting assault on lawful carry within Greenville’s recreational facilities.
• All this effort to disarm the law-abiding when violent crime in Greenville parks is a clear and present danger.
• Just last week Leroy Staton was brutally murdered in Jaycee Park. A park that will now be posted in seven areas.
• Every Greenville area that can be spun as a playground, an athletic field, a swimming pool, or athletic facility (and others that cannot) will be posted against lawful concealed carry.
• This type of exhaustive “kitchen sink” approach to bans is exactly what HB 650 was intended to prevent.
• This indiscriminate ban is clearly a cynical attempt to flout both state law, and Second Amendment rights.
• Such unreasonable and arrogant attempts to deprive free North Carolinians of their rights cannot and will not be tolerated!

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED:

Contact

• Contact Mayor Pat Dunn, Mayor-Elect Allen Thomas, and the City Councilors of Greenville, NC.
• Tell them that Greenville, NC refuses to become a defenseless small-town image of NYC, Washington DC and Chicago.
• All of which are represented by MAIG members,
• All of which disarm the law-abiding to the benefit of violent criminals.
• Tell them to rescind their illegal ordinance!

Cut and paste email list:

pdunn2@suddenlink.net, athomasemail@gmail.com, bryantkittrell@kittrellandarmstrong.com, ksmith@greenvillenc.gov, rglover50@suddenlink.net, info@marionblackburn.com, mjoyner@clementins.com

Deliver the message below:

Deliver This Message

Greenville City Representatives,

It has come to my attention that you intend to ban guns within extensive areas under city control in response to recent ratification of HB 650, “Castle Doctrine and Concealed Carry Permitted in Parks”.

You should be aware that, although this new law does permit posting against concealed carry in certain clearly and very narrowly-defined areas, your recently-passed anti-gun ordinance is overly-broad and violates both the letter, and more importantly the spirit of this new, freedom-promoting state law.

In particular, banning of carry within the city’s off-leash dog park, that cannot be reasonably considered a “playground” is clearly in violation of state law. This also makes it clear that the ordinance was prepared to indiscriminately ban otherwise lawful carry within every region of Greenville that can be construed, however torturously, to be permissible under HB 650.

HB 650 was intended to create statewide uniformity in the regulation of legal carry. Your ordinance is a clear and cynical attempt to thwart this effort, and therefore must be rescinded immediately.

North Carolinian Concealed Handgun permitees have shown themselves to be extremely responsible and are not a problem that you should be concerned about. Places within Greenville where citizens are not permitted to effectively defend themselves IS a problem that you NEED TO BEGIN working to solve.

A clear example of the need for law-abiding Greenville citizens to be permitted effective means of self-defense is the this week’s brutal murder of Leroy Staton in Jaycee Park, a small facility within which you intend to post seven separate areas.

I insist that you abandon plans to disarm responsible permit holders, and immediately rescind your illegal ordinance.

I will be following progress through Grass Roots North Carolina.

Sincerely,

A concerned NC voter

GRNC is preparing to take appropriate legal action and needs to identify local plaintiffs

• Plaintiffs are currently needed for actions within Kernersville, Greenville and Smithfield. Please contact alerts@grnc.org.
• Other municipalities may be added.
• Everyone should carefully monitor municipal ordinances, particularly those recently enacted.
• Any restrictions beyond “a playground, an athletic field, a swimming pool, or an athletic facility” should be immediately reported to alerts@grnc.org.

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- As we have been apprising you, the city of Garner has plans to abridge your right to self protection in city parks as recognized by HB 650.

Like a number of towns, Garner appears to be planning to use a broad interpretation of a loophole in the new law which allows a town to post “recreation areas.”

By employing this tactic, Garner would severely hamper your ability to protect yourself and your family within parks and sporting areas.

When the will of the people and the authority of the law have spoken in a manner not to their liking, expect power hungry local politicians to do one of two things. They will either ignore the law or they will twist it into a tortured interpretation to mean whatever they want it to.

As you have undoubtedly seen before, this does not necessarily have to be the final word. When you speak with one strong voice, they will hear you. As it has been said, when you turn up the heat they see the light.

You will need to attend their next meeting on Tuesday, November 22. Contact Sean Sorrentino, who will be coordinating our efforts in Garner at sean@seansorrentino.com for more information.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED:

Contact

Email AND CALL the following people:

• Mayor Ronnie S. Williams – 919-773-4404; rwilliams@garnernc.gov
• Mayor Protem Kathy Behringer – 919-772-3515; kbehringer@garnernc.gov
• Council Member Ken Marshburn – 919-662-0902; kmarshburn@garnernc.gov
• Council Member Jackie Johns, Sr. – 919-772-0929; jjohns@garnernc.gov
• Council Member Gra Singleton – 919-772-0924; grantraceysingleton@earthlink.net
• Council Member Buck Kennedy – 919-624-3696; bkennedy@garnernc.gov

Deliver the message below:

ATTEND the meeting on November 22 at Garner Town Hall, Building B in the Council Meeting Room.

• Bring polite but pointed signs with the themes that
• Concealed handgun permit-holders have proven themselves responsible; and…
• People should be able to protect their families.

Deliver This Message

Dear Council Member:

I am writing to urge you to respect my right to self protection in city parks. The new law laid out in HB 650 mandates that you do so. It has been established that predators and other violent felons target defenseless citizens in places where the law abiding are not allowed their God given right to self protection.

In the years since its passing, the Concealed Carry law has shown those exercising that right to be sane, sober and law-abiding. Examine the facts rather than fabricated worst case scenarios and you are bound to reach the same conclusion. I will be monitoring your actions via Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts.

Respectfully,

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- KERNERSVILLE PARKS RESTRICTIONS
On Monday, GRNC reported that just before the election, the Kernersville Board of Aldermen snuck through a last minute gun ban in public parks which not only prohibits guns in the narrowly-defined “recreational facilities” within parks which may still be posted under the provisions of recently-passed House Bill 650, but also included walking and running trails - a clear violation of state law.

Gun rights supporters responded in force yesterday, electing at least two new pro-gun aldermen, removing anti-gun incumbent Bob Prescott, and prompting remaining incumbents Dana Jones and Tracy Shifflete to contact a GRNC representative to say they want to “fix” the problem. What they are willing to do remains to be seen, but suffice to say that your calls and e-mails delivered our message. We will keep you apprised of progress.

Please note, only 42 votes separated the 4 lowest vote getters in the Prescott race. More than likely YOUR votes made the difference.

EXPANDED CARRY ON STATE GAME LANDS
Yesterday, Gordon Meyers, Director of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, stated that restrictions on both open and concealed carry in game lands would be lifted in accordance with section 14 of HB 650, and that carry would be permitted not only in state parks, but also game lands managed by the state but owned by the US Forest Service and others.

Section 14 of HB 650 says: “…it shall be lawful for a person to carry any firearm openly, or to carry a concealed handgun with a concealed carry permit, at any State-owned rest area, at any State-owned rest stop along the highways, and at any State-owned hunting and fishing reservation.”

We are gratified to see NCWRC take an expansive stance on interpreting the new language.

IMPORTANT CAVEATS
A limited number of game lands are exempted from the new law. According to NCWRC: “These exempted game lands are not state-owned game lands, but are lands enrolled in the WRC game lands program and owned by corporate entities, federal agencies, or other entities which requested the exemptions.”

For a list of exempted game lands, as well as firearms law on game lands in general, go to: www.ncwildlife.org/Licensing/Regulations/FireArmsandConcealedCarry.aspx

FIREARMS DISCHARGE ON GAME LANDS IS STILL PROHIBITED: Beyond the taking of game, you may NOT discharge firearms in these areas, and one expert advises that rattlesnakes you may encounter are protected species and may not be shot or otherwise destroyed. GRNC has won the right to defend yourself in these areas, but YOU must keep it by using and carrying firearms responsibly.

For information on rules governing firearms on game lands and other areas, go to:

• http://www.ncwildlife.org/Licensing/Regulations.aspx
• http://www.ncwildlife.org/Hunting/LawsSafety.aspx
• http://www.ncwildlife.org/Boating/LawsSafety/BoatingRegulations.aspx

Next Steps

Thanks to your calls and e-mails, GRNC is busy expanding firearms carry throughout the state. The next step?

Restaurant carry! Keep the pressure on!

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

N. C. Wildlife Resources Commission

RALEIGH, NC --(Ammoland.com)- The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is alerting hunters that they may encounter sick or diseased deer afflicted with hemorrhagic disease.

Two closely related viruses — epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) virus and bluetongue virus — cause hemorrhagic disease and both are spread by biting flies, called midges.

The Commission is asking hunters to report any sightings of the disease, which has no human health implications but is one of the most significant infectious diseases of white-tailed deer in North Carolina. Hemorrhagic disease should not be confused with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), which is a distinctly different disease that occurs in members of the deer family. Extensive monitoring since 1999 has yielded no evidence of CWD in North Carolina and strict regulations are in place to prevent the introduction of this disease.

Symptoms of hemorrhagic disease in deer vary widely. Some diseased animals will exhibit no symptoms. Some may appear bloated, very thin and weak, while others suffering from the disease for longer duration may drastically lose weight.

They also may have foot, mouth and internal lesions. High fever associated with the disease can make deer thirsty, so dead and dying deer are often found near water. Hunters may observe cracked or sloughing hooves on harvested deer, which is another classic symptom of the disease.

Outbreaks of this deer disease are seen almost every year somewhere within the state and across the Southeast. The last major outbreak in North Carolina was in 2007, and other notable outbreaks occurred in 1939, 1955, 1961, 1971, 1976, 1988, 1994, 1999, 2000 and 2002. In years with severe hemorrhagic disease outbreaks, deer mortality in some localized areas can be as high as 30 percent. However, in most instances mortality is much lower.

This year, extremely dry conditions during the summer followed by heavy rainfall from Hurricane Irene created ideal conditions for the proliferation of midges, possibly causing the spread of the disease.

To report sightings of symptomatic deer, or dead and dying deer, contact the Division of Wildlife Management at (919) 707-0050 or wrccomments@ncwildlife.org.

When people report sightings, it allows Commission biologists to determine what areas of the state are experiencing outbreaks and the extent of those outbreaks. It also gives biologists opportunities to obtain tissue and blood samples for virus isolation by veterinarians at the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS) in Athens, Ga. Reported occurrences are summarized annually and sent to SCWDS where the occurrence and outbreak extent is monitored collectively for all states.

Commission biologists have observed outbreaks of the disease this year in deer across North Carolina — the most prevalent in the northeastern part of the state in and around Halifax, Edgecombe, Northampton, Bertie and Gates counties. Evidence of the disease also was documented in the western part of the state in Cherokee and Yancey counties.

Because the disease cannot spread to humans, hunters should not worry about dressing deer or eating venison. Deer that recover from an episode of hemorrhagic disease develop immunity to future outbreaks.

Learn more about hemorrhagic disease at www.ncwildlife.org.

About the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
Since 1947, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has been dedicated to the conservation and sustainability of the state’s fish and wildlife resources through research, scientific management, wise use, and public input. The Commission is the state regulatory agency responsible for the enforcement of fishing, hunting, trapping and boating laws and provides programs and opportunities for wildlife-related educational, recreational and sporting activities. To learn more, visit www.ncwildlife.org.

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- Did you hear the one about the city council that refused to take a stand on an abridgment of your rights and put off the vote until after the next election?

Well, we wish we were telling you a joke, but unfortunately this is all too serious. The city of Garner is planning to do just this under the guise of studying the issue.

Strangely enough the study period seems to end after the upcoming election; because a future meeting afterward is when they plan the vote on their ordinance which will attempt a flanking movement on the new law allowing concealed carry in parks.

With that in mind, it is imperative that you force them to take a position so their constituents may vote accordingly. Sending those planning to vote for this anti-freedom ordinance will have a chilling effect on others thinking of doing likewise.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED:

Contact the following people:

• Mayor Ronnie S. Williams – 919-773-4404; rwilliams@garnernc.gov
• Mayor Protem Kathy Behringer – 919-772-3515; kbehringer@garnernc.gov
• Council Member Ken Marshburn – 919-662-0902; kmarshburn@garnernc.gov
• Council Member Jackie Johns, Sr. – 919-772-0929; jjohns@garnernc.gov
• Council Member Gra Singleton – 919-772-0924; grantraceysingleton@earthlink.net
• Council Member Buck Kennedy – 919-624-3696; bkennedy@garnernc.gov

Deliver the message below:

Dear Council Member:

It is time to take a stand one way or the other. I wish you to respect my right to self protection in parks as well as other places. Now it is time to let everyone know where you stand. Not after the election. Such political tricks will not be allowed. If you are comfortable and unashamed with your position, then go public with it.

I hope that you will respect my right to self protection in what are often dangerous locations, but equally important is that you must let me know if you respect my rights on this matter. I will be monitoring your actions via Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts.

Respectfully,

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- A great deal has been written about HR 822, a national reciprocity bill currently under consideration in Congress.

Some organizations are all for it and others fear and oppose it.

Many others, like GRNC, have remained on the sidelines.

One’s position seems to depend on how much one wants the federal government – even when well-intentioned – to be involved. Some like NRA want everything driven from the federal level, others are not nearly so trusting.

After being asked repeatedly, GRNC is now prepared to state an opinion on HR 822. Here’s our best shot at a “fair and balanced” depiction of the issue.

• Do we think it is horrible? Probably not.
• Do we think it is a good idea?
• Knowing Congress, probably not.

What we do know is this: GRNC passed an excellent concealed carry reciprocity law which has thus far captured 37 states. With the recent passage of HB 650, it is improved to a straight recognition law which might capture more. Federal intervention it seems would only add extra risk to the equation. This might prove unacceptable for North Carolina.

We believe that this is a case where states rights would likely serve best. One important question to ask is this: What excessive “compromises” will the NRA accede to in order to capture the highly restrictive states which do not currently offer us reciprocity.

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

We may have more to lose than to gain through this legislation. For our money, we tend to support proven performance.

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- As we advised you a few days ago, Forsyth County Sheriff William Schatzman was requiring employment information on Concealed Carry applications.

Your voice has been heard. That information is no longer required.

While we would prefer its removal altogether, the fact that it has now been changed to optional is testimony to the power you exert when you speak with one voice.

Give yourselves a hand.

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- It is almost a theorem that no sooner is a good law passed than bad politicians will attempt to bypass it.

Such is the case with the new parks carry law. The latest entrant into the contest is the town of Garner. On Monday, October 3 the city council will hold a meeting to consider changes in local ordinances in response to the new law.

Among things being discussed are the following:

A modification of their discharge ban which may be a violation of state law GS 160A-189. Involvement of the UNC School of Govt. and the NC Recreation & Park Assoc., including their opinion that the definition of “recreational facilities” will likely be clarified in a court challenge

Interestingly enough they seem to want to abide by the law. It is concerning that they don’t simply take the law at face value rather than trying to reinterpret it first. In any case, they need to hear from you, especially if you live in Garner.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED:

Contact the following people:

• Mayor Ronnie S. Williams – 919-773-4404; rwilliams@garnernc.gov
• Mayor Protem Kathy Behringer – 919-772-3515; kbehringer@garnernc.gov
• Council Member Ken Marshburn – 919-662-0902; kmarshburn@garnernc.gov
• Council Member Jackie Johns, Sr. – 919-772-0929; jjohns@garnernc.gov
• Council Member Gra Singleton – 919-772-0924; grantraceysingleton@earthlink.net
• Council Member Buck Kennedy – 919-624-3696; bkennedy@garnernc.gov

Deliver This Message

Dear Council Members:

I urge you to respect the new law allowing law abiding citizens the right to self protection within parks. Concealed carry holders have repeatedly proven to be sane, sober and law abiding over the last 16 years that North Carolina’s CCW ordinance has been in force. Any concerns you have in regards to concealed carry in parks are totally unfounded. Not only have the “wild west” scenarios laid out by those unwisely opposing this law not materialized, but in fact everywhere this has been tried, crime has gone down.

Any move to limit my rights will factor into any spending decisions I may make in regards to your town. There will also be a toll to pay at the polls in the subsequent elections.

Respect my right to self protection in what are often dangerous locations. I will be monitoring your actions via Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts.

Respectfully,

Find Your Representatives

• NC STATE House & Senate: http://www.grnc.org/contact_reps.htm
• FEDERAL Congressman: http://www.house.gov/writerep/
• FEDERAL Senators: http://www.senate.gov/

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- RINO William T. Schatzman has taken it upon himself to unlawfully collect employment information as part of concealed handgun permit applications processed in Forsyth Co.

And we have patiently and politely asked him to stop breaking State Law multiple times and in multiple ways.

Our advice has fallen upon deaf, and apparently arrogant ears.

Now the gloves come off…

• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-415.14 is perfectly clear about what information is allowed to be collected in concealed handgun permit applications.
• Sheriff Schatzman (GRNC 0-star) has been unlawfully requiring applicants to provide employment information.
• The fact that such unauthorized collection of information violates State law had been made clear to the Sheriff more than once.
• The Sheriff has arrogantly chosen to ignore our requests to stop, and continues breaking State Law.

He may believe that Sheriffs can ignore and/or make new laws while enforcing those on the books. Schatzman needs to learn that EVERYONE in our State obeys the laws of North Carolina – or pays the price!

• Let’s remind this elected Public Servant who he serves.
• Remind him yet again that he has been willfully breaking State law.
• Let’s point-out that in-order to prevent similar rogue behavior in Florida the legislature passed a PERSONAL $5000 fine for similar preemption of firearms laws – we can do the same.
• And finally, that should he continue unlawful data collection our next step will be a boycott of Forsyth County businesses – by gunowners statewide.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED: Contact Schatzman via phone and email!

Try to call BETWEEN 9 and 10 am tomorrow (Friday, September 23) at (336) 917-7001, (336) 399-1442 and (336) 727-8070. If these times aren’t convenient for you, CALL WHEN YOU CAN!

Tell him to stop illegal collection of employment information as part of CHP applications.

Email the Sheriff at schatzwt@fcso.us.

Deliver the following message:

Sheriff Schatzman,

It has come to my attention that you have been willfully and unlawfully collecting employment information as part of concealed handgun permit applications in Forsyth County, NC.

As an elected Public Servant you have the same obligation to follow State law as do other citizens of North Carolina. Just because you were elected to enforce the law does not mean that you have somehow risen above it.

I strongly urge you to stop your unlawful data collection. As you may know, the State of Florida has enacted a PERSONAL $5000 fine for government officials who unlawfully preempt state firearms laws. Working with Grass Roots North Carolina I will happily advocate for similar legislation in our General Assembly if you choose to make this necessary.

If you do not immediately cease and desist your unlawful data collection, GRNC’s next step will be to implement a boycott of Forsyth Co. businesses by gun owners statewide.

I sincerely hope that you will not make this necessary, as it will be unpleasant to be forced to punish business owners by a rogue Sheriff that they may not have even voted for.

I will be following progress, and will work with Grass Roots North Carolina to initiate the steps outlined above if you make it necessary to do so.

Please don’t.

Sincerely,

A concerned NC voter

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- “The idea of a concealed-carry in an Applebee’s bothered people…” - Republican Speaker Thom Tillis, after restaurant carry language was removed from gun legislation which passed.

[Analysis] With HB 650 signed by the Governor and scheduled to become law on December 1, congratulations are due to all who responded to GRNC alerts by calling and e-mailing the NC General Assembly.

Thanks are also due volunteers of the Legislative Action Team for many hours spent at the legislature, our Director and Co-Director of Communications for dozens of alerts, often sent with little notice, to our Webmaster for alerts promptly posted, to gun show volunteers for alerts distributed to thousands of gun owners and to all others who helped win this crucial victory. Once again, you have demonstrated the value of an all-volunteer organization in defending our rights.

CHAMPS
As usual, politicians’ records are more checkered. Heroes of the General Assembly include Rep. Mark Hilton (R-Catawba, GRNC ****), who acted as primary sponsor for nearly all gun bills in the House; Sen. Buck Newton (R-Nash, Wilson, ****), who spent long hours restructuring bills to make them acceptable to leadership, and who delivered on committee hearings promised, House Rules Chairman Tim Moore (R-Cleveland, ****), for courage in giving hearings to bills not always favorably regarded by leadership, Sens. Debbie Clary (R-Cleveland, Rutherford, ****) and Andrew Brock (R-Davie, Rowan, ****), for working to support numerous pro-gun bills, Rep. George Cleveland (R-Onslow, ****) for his stalwart support in committee and during floor debates, Rep. Glen Bradley (R-Franklin, Halifax, Nash, ****) for introducing the “Firearms Freedom Act” and for supporting gun bills on the floor, and Rep. Kelly Hastings(R-Cleveland, Gaston, ****) for being the most tenacious Second Amendment supporter among incoming House freshman.

CHUMPS
House Majority Leader Paul (“Skip”) Stam (R-Wake, GRNC eval. under review) worked to weaken both Castle Doctrine and HB 650, and then paradoxically voted for final passage of both. From his proposed committee substitute for Castle Doctrine to apparently orchestrating the McGrady amendment, which removed language for guns in locked vehicles at places of employment from HB 650 (during which debate Stam employed the bizarre argument that he owns everything which crosses his property), to objecting in caucus to bringing gun bills to committee votes, Stam worked to undermine gun bills in the GOP caucus.

Beyond the usual anti-gun Democrats, others who worked to subvert your rights included Rep. Deborah Ross (D-Wake, 0-star), who tried to insert a “poison pill” into HB 111 for parks and restaurant carry, Rep. David Guice(R-Henderson, Polk, Transylvania, GRNC eval. under review) who weakened parks carry by exempting certain recreational facilities, and Rep. Chuck McGrady

(R-Henderson, GRNC eval. under review), who offered the amendment to remove guns in locked vehicles from HB 650. Perhaps most pathetic was Sen. Ellie Kinnaird

(D-Orange, Person, 0-star), who after initially being ruled out of order during the floor debate over HB 650, eventually managed to insert her usual anti-gun screed (albeit pointlessly) into the record, neatly lumping gun owners in with terrorists. Poor, old Ellie. She seems increasingly out of touch.

NC Senator Berger quickly forgot the pro gun voters who put him in office.

Disappointing
Frankly, we expected more from Republican leadership, specifically Speaker Thom Tillis (R-Mecklenburg, ****) and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger(R-Guilford, Rockingham, ****). But it quickly became apparent that support for gun rights voters who helped “bring ‘em to the dance” would be forthcoming only insofar as it could be done without sticking their necks out.

What resulted was a “thrust and parry” fencing match as we pressured chamber leaders to move gun legislation and they responded by adding and then removing bills from committee calendars, playing a “shell game” of inserting gun language into this or that bill, insisting on veto-proof majorities rather than simple majorities before bringing bills to the floor, and worst of all, removing items deemed “too controversial” from the legislation which passed.

What we got…and what we will
The result was, at best, half a loaf. We got the long-awaited Castle Doctrine, and somewhat weakened version of the parks carry GRNC has sought since 1997, and some other enhancements. Meanwhile, Tillis and Berger nixed guns in locked vehicles at places of employment, guns in locked compartments on educational property, and concealed carry in restaurants. The stated reason for the latter was poor polling on the topic.

Said Speaker Tillis to the Charlotte Observer: ““The idea of a concealed-carry in an Applebee’s bothered people…”

The good news is that HB 111 - which contains restaurant carry - passed the House and remains alive for consideration when the legislature convenes next year. GRNC will be working hard on a campaign to pass it. As an opening shot, we suggest gun rights supporters contact Senator Berger and Speaker Tillis and tell them that what “bothers” them are Republican leaders who more or less immediately forgot who put them there.

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- Celebrate by knowing you just won back a little piece of your freedom!

Generally, gun rights supporters can expect to get slammed in news interviews. At best, they might get a 15-second sound bite.

So imagine our surprise when WRAL reporter Stacy Davis contacted us to do a reasonably extensive piece on Castle Doctrine.

Then imagine our delight when the piece turned out to be well thought out and balanced, and even dispels common misconceptions about the topic.

HELP ENSURE PRO-GUN MEDIA LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE:

• View the complete article  and video by going to: http://www.wral.com/news/state/nccapitol/story/9805007/

Thank Stacy Davis and WRAL for the balanced piece:

• WRAL: http://www.wral.com/apps/feedback/feedback/?d_id_person=525
• Stacy Davis: http://www.wral.com/rs/bio/3463714/

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- Congratulations! Your calls and emails have proven once again the power you wield.

Despite an orchestrated effort by anti-gunners and their associates in the media to depict this bill as dangerous with little public support, HB 650 has been signed into law by Governor Beverly Perdue.

Once it became clear that all our provisions had to be included in one large gun bill, GRNC fought to include Castle Doctrine and Carry in Parks provisions in this bill.

Of course none of this would have been possible had GRNC not managed to remove former House Majority Leader Hugh Holliman from his position in the last election.

Holliman had blocked Castle Doctrine from coming to a vote for several years. The Parks Carry provision caps an effort GRNC spearheaded dating back to 1997.

You - our supporters - have accomplished a vast amount in this one session on the heels of your hard work in the last election.

GRNC rewards cooperation. In this spirit, Governor Perdue has managed to raise her GRNC star rating due to her timely signing of this valuable law.

Thank These People:

Rep. Mark Hilton – 919-733-5988, Mark.Hilton@ncleg.net
Sen. Buck Newton – (919) 715-3030, Buck.Newton@ncleg.net
Gov. Beverly Perdue – Phone: (800) 662-7952 or (919) 733-2391, Fax: (919) 733-2120, governor.office@nc.gov

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- We’ve respectfully asked the Governor to act quickly on HB 650, but that hasn’t happened.

Let’s push a little harder to finish this job that we’ve all worked so hard on.

There is no reason that HB 650 should not be signed. Let’s CALL the Governor and let her know that delays are unacceptable.

Here are some points to make, and respectfully ask the staff member you speak with to write them down and tell Governor Perdue:

• HB 650 has been stripped of “lightning rod” issues.
• It has been thoroughly vetted by parties affected.
• It passed both House and Senate with bipartisan support.
• It is supported by both GRNC and NRA.
• Signing the bill into law will strengthen the Governor’s pro-gun reputation.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED:

Contact
Make plans to Call Governor Perdue Monday morning at: (800) 662-7952 or (919) 733-2391.
Politely make the points detailed above and respectfully request that the Governor sign HB 650 into law without delay.

Find Your Representatives

• NC STATE House & Senate: http://www.grnc.org/contact_reps.htm
• FEDERAL Congressman: http://www.house.gov/writerep/
• FEDERAL Senators: http://www.senate.gov/

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

CCRKBA.org

BELLEVUE, WA – -(Ammoland.com)- In the shell game characterizing the North Carolina legislative process, a modified HB 650 passed the Senate Judiciary II Committee today and heads for the floor for its Second and Third Readings, quite probably tomorrow.

With the legislature likely to recess on Friday, time is short. YOU MUST RESPOND IMMEDIATELY.

In its current version, HB 650 contains Castle Doctrine, parks carry, enhanced concealed handgun reciprocity, improvements to our concealed handgun law, and far more.

Sadly, HB 650 – and your rights – face a threat not from legislators, but from the efforts of an organization ostensibly dedicated to defending the Second Amendment. Below is an open letter to North Carolina gun rights supporters – but equally vital to gun rights supporters everywhere – which explains the problem.

OPEN LETTER FROM PAUL VALONE AND ALAN GOTTLIEB:
IS SB 594 THE RIGHT BILL?

To: North Carolina Gun Rights Supporters

From: GRNC President F. Paul Valone
CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb

Members of the NRA recently received postcards urging them to call NC Senate leadership in support of Senate Bill 594, described in the postcard as “an emergency powers bill [to] ensure that our Right to Keep and Bear Arms cannot be suspended” during declared states of emergency.

But while North Carolina’s state of emergency law is indeed a problem, SB 594 is the wrong solution. Worse, it seems to be a short-sighted effort by the NRA to grab credit for what some would have you believe to be a victory.

Why? Because it would render moot – and cause the dismissal – of crucial litigation to expand recognition of the Second Amendment in the U.S. Supreme Court. The case is Bateman v. Perdue. Together with the Michael Bateman, Virgil Green, Forrest Minges, and the Second Amendment Foundation, GRNC is working with Alan Gura – the winner of DC v. Heller and McDonald v. Chicago – the cases which led the Supreme Court to affirm the individual right to keep and bear arms.

Although GRNC has made numerous entreaties to NRA representatives to back the Bateman case, they have apparently fallen on deaf ears. Just as the NRA tried to derail the DC v. Heller decision in its early stages through its attempts to repeal the DC gun ban, now it apparently wants gun owners to regard GRNC – the state’s most vocal and effective gun rights organization – as somehow “anti-gun” for realizing that SB 594 is a short-sighted and misguided vehicle to advance gun rights.

Gun rights supporters have two choices:

Help the NRA achieve a narrow, short-sighted win by amending HB 650 or other gun bills to include language from SB 594, the now-dead “state of emergency” bill; or

Help Gura, SAF and GRNC expand the interpretation of the Second Amendment, which will not only render North Carolina’s state of emergency law unconstitutional, but will advance gun rights for everyone, everywhere.

Don’t support GRNC. Don’t support CCRKBA. Don’t support the NRA. SUPPORT THE SECOND AMENDMENT! And do so by helping Bateman v. Perdue expand your right to keep and bear arms.

Armatissimi e liberissimi,

F. Paul Valone
President, Grass Roots North Carolina

Alan M. Gottlieb
Chairman, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

Immediately all your state senator and tell him to pass HB 650 without amendments of any kind – especially to oppose efforts to add the contents SB 594; and

Immediately e-mail all members of the NC Senate with the message above.

CONTACT INFORMATION
You may find your NC STATE representative by going here:

http://www.grnc.org/contact_reps.htm

To e-mail all members of the Senate, use the following addresses:

Austin.Allran@ncleg.net, Tom.Apodaca@ncleg.net, Bob.Atwater@ncleg.net, Doug.Berger@ncleg.net, Phil.Berger@ncleg.net, Stan.Bingham@ncleg.net, Harris.Blake@ncleg.net, Dan.Blue@ncleg.net, Andrew.Brock@ncleg.net, Harry.Brown@ncleg.net, Peter.Brunstetter@ncleg.net, Debbie.Clary@ncleg.net, Daniel.Clodfelter@ncleg.net, Warren.Daniel@ncleg.net, Charlie.Dannelly@ncleg.net, Jim.Davis@ncleg.net, Don.East@ncleg.net, James.Forrester@ncleg.net, Linda.Garrou@ncleg.net, Thom.Goolsby@ncleg.net, Malcolm.Graham@ncleg.net, Rick.Gunn@ncleg.net, Kathy.Harrington@ncleg.net, Fletcher.Hartsell@ncleg.net, Ralph.Hise@ncleg.net, Neal.Hunt@ncleg.net, Brent.Jackson@ncleg.net, Clark.Jenkins@ncleg.net, Edward.Jones@ncleg.net, Ellie.Kinnaird@ncleg.net, Eric.Mansfield@ncleg.net, Floyd.McKissick@ncleg.net, Wesley.Meredith@ncleg.net, Martin.Nesbitt@ncleg.net, Buck.Newton@ncleg.net, Louis.Pate@ncleg.net, Jean.Preston@ncleg.net, William.Purcell@ncleg.net, Bill.Rabon@ncleg.net, Gladys.Robinson@ncleg.net, David.Rouzer@ncleg.net, Bob.Rucho@ncleg.net, Dan.Soucek@ncleg.net, Josh.Stein@ncleg.net, Richard.Stevens@ncleg.net, Jerry.Tillman@ncleg.net, Tommy.Tucker@ncleg.net, Don.Vaughan@ncleg.net, Michael.Walters@ncleg.net, Stan.white@ncleg.net

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

In sending e-mails, use the subject line: “Pass HB 650 without amendments”

Dear Senator:

I strongly urge you to vote for HB 650: “Amend Various Gun Laws/Castle Doctrine” and to oppose ANY AND ALL amendments to the bill, however well-intentioned they may appear. The present contents of HB 650 have been voted on — and passed – in various versions by both the Senate and House. The bill’s passage is long overdue.

Efforts to amend gun-related legislation to include the contents of SB 594: “Firearms/State of Emergency” are misguided and short-sighted. Such an amendment would render moot the Bateman lawsuit filed by numerous plaintiffs, including Grass Roots North Carolina and the Second Amendment Foundation, and argued by famed gun rights lawyer Alan Gura, to expand the US Supreme Court interpretation of the Second Amendment.

As always, I will be monitoring your actions via Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts

Respectfully,

With more than 650,000 members and supporters nationwide, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is one of the nation’s premier gun rights organizations. As a non-profit organization, the Citizens Committee is dedicated to preserving firearms freedoms through active lobbying of elected officials and facilitating grass-roots organization of gun rights activists in local communities throughout the United States. The Citizens Committee can be reached by phone at (425) 454-4911, on the Internet at www.ccrkba.org or by email to InformationRequest@ccrkba.org.

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- Media gun-grabbers are trying to increase the odds that you will by blitzing HB 650, “Amend Various Gun Laws/ Castle Doctrine”

A coordinated effort is underway by the North Carolina liberal media to make you a felon … by stripping out language from HB 650 – “Amend Various Gun Laws/ Castle Doctrine” that would enable concealed handgun permit-holders to lawfully keep a firearm locked in a vehicle on educational property.

You just might become a FELON if:

• You’ve ever borrowed your spouse’s car to take the kids to school and didn’t realize he or she had a gun anywhere in the vehicle; YOU ARE A FELON!
• If you ever drive on a street that crosses a college campus with your hunting rifle locked securely in the trunk, even if you never get out of the vehicle; YOU ARE A FELON!
• “If you ever drive onto any property owned by the University of North Carolina system – whether or not it has a campus on it (UNC owns large tracts of undeveloped land) and whether or not you even knew it was owned by UNC; YOU ARE A FELON!”

The gun-grabbers want your Second Amendment rights to be as infringed as possible, and they want you to be disarmed dependents of their nanny-state incapable of functioning normally when bearing arms.

Some Legislators are doing the right thing by standing on principle and resisting the media nonsense! They deserve and NEED our voices to join with theirs! WE NEED to fight in the media so that THEY can fight in the Assembly. Here’s a case in-point; Representative Kelly Hastings (R, GRNC-****) has commented on the Shelby Star piece (http://www.shelbystar.com/news/grounds-55867-guns-lawmakers.html) vigorously defending his position on HB 650 – he deserves our thanks, and some help to deflect the liberal Chicken Littles (join his comments first, and send him an email of support: Kelly.Hastings@ncleg.net).

We need to respond WITH AUTHORITY in two ways: by writing our own editorial letters; and by commenting on anti-gun pieces on newspaper websites. Let no anti-gun statement be made unopposed!

Here are points to make in letters and comments:

• Current laws make accidental felons out of thousands of people who unknowingly transit educational property (not all educational property comprises campuses – public streets run through some, such as Hillsboro St. in Raleigh).
• Where does mass-violence typically occur? Schools! Because they are ‘gun free zones’! See http://sn112w.snt112.mail.live.com/default.aspx?wa=wsignin1.0, and http://www.davekopel.com/2a/othwr/principal&gun.htm
• Clear evidence, from scholarly studies demonstrate ‘gun free zones’ attract violence, and ‘right to carry’ laws decrease it: See http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=272929
• Where are school shootings not a problem? ISRAEL, surrounded by violence and hostility, but where teachers AND STUDENTS are ENCOURAGED to carry concealed weapons! See http://www.canfirearms.ca/Skeeter/Lott/Lott1.html

What YOU can do…

• Monitor the Opinion pages of your local newspaper for pieces critical of HB 650 and weapons on educational property. RESPOND to editorials and letters – each and EVERY one!
• Monitor your local newspaper’s website for gun rights-related pieces, especially anti-HB 650 opinions, and comment on EVERY one!

We’ve won some battles, but the WAR is still in play. If we all do our part WE WILL WIN!

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED:
Write and Comment

• Write a letter to the Editor of your local paper in support of HB 650, Castle Doctrine protection for North Carolinians, and reduction of malicious gun-related entrapment laws.
• Register on the website of your local paper and monitor the Opinion and Editorial pages for content critical of Second Amendment Rights. Notify GRNC of any hostile content you encounter by email (alert@grnc.org), and respond to each item with a Comment. Use the points highlighted above to guide your responses.

This effort is significant, but if we want to keep and bear arms in North Carolina, we ALL need to ACT NOW!

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- Senators NEED TO SUPPORT THIS BILL WITHOUT ANY AMENDMENTS!

The political games being played in our General Assembly are becoming sillier by the hour, but this may work in our favor in-terms of getting desperately-needed Castle Doctrine and Carry in Parks legislation passed.

These laws have now been “hidden” in SB 679 to soothe gutless legislators worried that pro-gun laws “don’t poll well“.

Our Senators Need Some Reminding …

The RIGHT to Keep and Bear Arms is not subject to opinion polls. Castle Doctrine protection is LONG OVERDUE.

Gun-free zones are magnets for violent crime and only disarm law-abiding citizens that deserve an effective means of defense.

IMMEDIATELY CONTACT ALL MEMBERS OF THE NC SENATE

Contact

Email all members of the Senate (there are TWO address lists following the message).
Send TWO emails contacting half the Senators at a time (The list below is broken into two parts for convenient copy-and-paste addressing as emails to the entire Senate are now flagged as spam, and not delivered).

Deliver this message:

Dear Senator:

SB 679, “An Act To Amend The Castle Doctrine, To Allow Persons With Concealed Handgun Permits To Carry A Handgun in a Park…,” has become essential legislation. Please disregard misleading opinion polls and concentrate on restoring essential rights of law-abiding North Carolinians. Citizens need, deserve and have the right to effectively defend home and hearth, and themselves in parks that have become “gun-free zone” magnets for violent crime.

I urge you support and pass this important bill without ANY amendments, however well-intentioned they may appear. I will be monitoring the progress of SB 679 and your actions on this matter through the alerts of Grass Roots North Carolina.

Sincerely,

A Concerned North Carolina Voter

COPY AND PASTE CONTACT LIST EMAIL NOW!

Contact these Senators in your first email:

Austin.Allran@ncleg.net, Tom.Apodaca@ncleg.net, Bob.Atwater@ncleg.net, Doug.Berger@ncleg.net, Phil.Berger@ncleg.net, Stan.Bingham@ncleg.net, Harris.Blake@ncleg.net, Dan.Blue@ncleg.net, Andrew.Brock@ncleg.net, Harry.Brown@ncleg.net, Peter.Brunstetter@ncleg.net, Debbie.Clary@ncleg.net, Daniel.Clodfelter@ncleg.net, Warren.Daniel@ncleg.net, Charlie.Dannelly@ncleg.net, Jim.Davis@ncleg.net, Don.East@ncleg.net, James.Forrester@ncleg.net, Linda.Garrou@ncleg.net, Thom.Goolsby@ncleg.net, Malcolm.Graham@ncleg.net, Rick.Gunn@ncleg.net, Kathy.Harrington@ncleg.net

Contact these Senators in your second email:

Fletcher.Hartsell@ncleg.net, Ralph.Hise@ncleg.net, Neal.Hunt@ncleg.net, Brent.Jackson@ncleg.net , Clark.Jenkins@ncleg.net, Edward.Jones@ncleg.net, Ellie.Kinnaird@ncleg.net, Eric.Mansfield@ncleg.net, Floyd.McKissick@ncleg.net, Wesley.Meredith@ncleg.net, Martin.Nesbitt@ncleg.net, Buck.Newton@ncleg.net, Louis.Pate@ncleg.net, Jean.Preston@ncleg.net, William.Purcell@ncleg.net, Bill.Rabon@ncleg.net, Gladys.Robinson@ncleg.net, David.Rouzer@ncleg.net, Bob.Rucho@ncleg.net, Dan.Soucek@ncleg.net, Josh.Stein@ncleg.net, Richard.Stevens@ncleg.net, Jerry.Tillman@ncleg.net, Tommy.Tucker@ncleg.net, Don.Vaughan@ncleg.net, Michael.Walters@ncleg.net, Stan.white@ncleg.net

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- HB 650, the massive gun bill we have been telling you about is now passed in House Judiciary C Sub-Committee.

We now need you to contact the full House list to express your support for this important bill.

To recap:
HB 650 is a huge and aggressive bill, meaning it will be difficult to pass. But if passed, it will go far toward reversing the creeping encroachment on gun owners’ rights perpetuated in previous sessions of the legislature, including (but not limited to):

• Castle Doctrine (yet another vehicle for popular Castle Doctrine is now moving);
• Reducing penalties for carrying firearms on “educational property,” including a protection against accidentally becoming a criminal by requiring that offenders “knowingly” brought the gun onto educational property;
• Enabling concealed carry at events for which admission is charged;
• Reducing penalties for a host of minor (often inadvertent) gun violations;
• Adding protections for gun owners whose guns are confiscated pursuant to domestic protective orders;
• Improves concealed handgun reciprocity to straight recognition of out-of-state permits;
• Removes provisions for concealed handgun applicants under which sheriffs are conducting intrusive investigations of medical history; and
• Enabling employees to keep guns in locked vehicles at places of employment.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

CONTACT ALL MEMBERS of the NC House (copy and paste list below).

DELIVER THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE:

Dear Representative:

I am writing to urge your support of HB 650, “Amend Various Gun Laws.” It is vital that this important bill become law. It will provide such needed measures as Castle Doctrine. It will provide for the defense needs of our citizens as well as providing important legal protections.

I will be following the progress of this bill with great interest through the alerts of Grass Roots North Carolina.

Sincerely,

A Concerned North Carolina Voter

CONTACT THESE LEGISLATORS

Larry.Bell@ncleg.net, William.Brisson@ncleg.net, Garland.Pierce@ncleg.net, Ray.Rapp@ncleg.net, Winkie.Wilkins@ncleg.net, Michael.Wray@ncleg.net, Bill.Faison@ncleg.net, Rick.Glazier@ncleg.net, Frank.Iler@ncleg.net, Joe.Tolson@ncleg.net, Edith.Warren@ncleg.net, Bill.Cook@ncleg.net, Nelson.Dollar@ncleg.net, Jean.Farmer-Butterfield@ncleg.net, Mike.Hager@ncleg.net, Dewey.Hill@ncleg.net, Carolyn.Justice@ncleg.net, James.Langdon@ncleg.net, Marvin.Lucas@ncleg.net, William.McGee@ncleg.net, Marian.McLawhorn@ncleg.net, Gaston.Pridgen@ncleg.net, William.Wainwright@ncleg.net, Harry.Warren@ncleg.net, Kelly.Alexander@ncleg.net, Marilyn.Avila@ncleg.net, Jeff.Barnhart@ncleg.net, Hugh.Blackwell@ncleg.net, John.Blust@ncleg.net, Jamie.Boles@ncleg.net, Glen.Bradley@ncleg.net, Bill.Brawley@ncleg.net, Larry.Brown@ncleg.net, Rayne.Brown@ncleg.net, Harold.Brubaker@ncleg.net, Justin.Burr@ncleg.net, George.Cleveland@ncleg.net, Jeff.Collins@ncleg.net, Jim.Crawford@ncleg.net, Bill.Current@ncleg.net, Leo.Daughtry@ncleg.net, Jimmy.Dixon@ncleg.net, Jerry.Dockham@ncleg.net, Elmer.Floyd@ncleg.net, Dale.Folwell@ncleg.net, Phillip.Frye@ncleg.net, Mitch.Gillespie@ncleg.net, David.Guice@ncleg.net, Kelly.Hastings@ncleg.net, Mark.Hilton@ncleg.net, Mark.Hollo@ncleg.net, Bryan.Holloway@ncleg.net, Julia.Howard@ncleg.net, Pat.Hurley@ncleg.net, Dan.Ingle@ncleg.net, Linda.Johnson2@ncleg.net, Bert.Jones@ncleg.net, Jonathan.Jordan@ncleg.net, Ric.Killian@ncleg.net, Stephen.LaRoque@ncleg.net, David.Lewis@ncleg.net, Danny.McComas@ncleg.net, Darrell.McCormick@ncleg.net, Pat.McElraft@ncleg.net, Grey.Mills@ncleg.net, Tim.Moffitt@ncleg.net, Tim.Moore@ncleg.net, Bill.Owens@ncleg.net, Shirley.Randleman@ncleg.net, Efton.Sager@ncleg.net, Ruth.Samuelson@ncleg.net, Norman.Sanderson@ncleg.net, Mitchell.Setzer@ncleg.net, Tim.Spear@ncleg.net, Paul.Stam@ncleg.net, Edgar.Starnes@ncleg.net, Fred.Steen@ncleg.net, Sarah.Stevens@ncleg.net, Michael.Stone@ncleg.net, Thom.Tillis@ncleg.net, Roger.West@ncleg.net, Marcus.Brandon@ncleg.net, John.Faircloth@ncleg.net, Ken.Goodman@ncleg.net, Charles.Graham@ncleg.net, Susi.Hamilton@ncleg.net, Craig.Horn@ncleg.net, Chuck.McGrady@ncleg.net, Frank.McGuirt@ncleg.net, Rodney.Moore@ncleg.net, Tom.Murry@ncleg.net, Phil.Shepard@ncleg.net, John.Torbett@ncleg.net

Find Your Representatives: NC STATE House & Senate: http://www.grnc.org/contact_reps.htm

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- The Federal government has steadily expanded its misuse of the Commerce Clause of the Constitution to the point that States Rights have become next to meaningless.

It’s time to stop the cancerous growth of Federal Bureaucracy and HB 241, North Carolina Firearms Freedom Act will help begin to do this.

This important new legislation is similar to the Montana Firearms Freedom Act enacted in 2009. It will allow North Carolinians to manufacture and sell firearms and ammunition for use within our State without having to bow to and comply with onerous (and expensive) Federal restrictions.

In addition to representing an important “shot in the arm” to shooting enthusiasts within our State, this law has important implications for redeeming States Rights. This represents an important first step in restoring Federal respect of the Ninth and Tenth Amendments to the Constitution.

This legislation is a win for freedom and needs all the support we can muster!

HB 241 will receive a hearing next week, and so we need to voice support NOW!

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

CONTACT ALL MEMBERS of the NC House Judiciary A Committee.

COPY & PASTE CONVENIENCE LIST
(pick the method that works for your email program)

(comma-separated)

John.Blust@ncleg.net, Martha.Alexander@ncleg.net, Hugh.Blackwell@ncleg.net, Jim.Crawford@ncleg.net, Bill.Faison@ncleg.net, Larry.Hall@ncleg.net, Julia.Howard@ncleg.net, Darren.Jackson@ncleg.net, Ric.Killian@ncleg.net, Chuck.McGrady@ncleg.net, Grey.Mills@ncleg.net, Shirley.Randleman@ncleg.net, Deborah.Ross@ncleg.net

(semicolon-separated)

John.Blust@ncleg.net; Martha.Alexander@ncleg.net; Hugh.Blackwell@ncleg.net; Jim.Crawford@ncleg.net; Bill.Faison@ncleg.net; Larry.Hall@ncleg.net; Julia.Howard@ncleg.net; Darren.Jackson@ncleg.net; Ric.Killian@ncleg.net; Chuck.McGrady@ncleg.net; Grey.Mills@ncleg.net; Shirley.Randleman@ncleg.net; Deborah.Ross@ncleg.net

(space-delimited)

John.Blust@ncleg.net Martha.Alexander@ncleg.net Hugh.Blackwell@ncleg.net Jim.Crawford@ncleg.net Bill.Faison@ncleg.net Larry.Hall@ncleg.net Julia.Howard@ncleg.net Darren.Jackson@ncleg.net Ric.Killian@ncleg.net Chuck.McGrady@ncleg.net Grey.Mills@ncleg.net Shirley.Randleman@ncleg.net Deborah.Ross@ncleg.net

DELIVER THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE:

Dear Member of House Judiciary Subcommittee A:

HB 241, North Carolina Firearms Freedom Act, will soon be heard by your committee. This is important freedom-promoting legislation that will strengthen the rights of all North Carolinians.

I urge you to support the Constitutions of North Carolina and of the United States of America by supporting HB 241.

Sincerely,

A Concerned Voter

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Sustainable Forestry Initiative

WASHINGTON --(Ammoland.com)- The Land Trust of Tennessee, the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust and Wildlands Network received a Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) conservation grant today in support of their work to help private landowners and government agencies in the southeastern United States protect special forest sites though working-forest conservation easements.

The three non-profit conservation organizations were awarded a total of $65,000 over two years to work with hardwood forest owners, government agencies and SFI program participants to encourage owners to consider easements, and to offer advice and technical assistance.

“The SFI program is helping us equip landowners and public agencies with the information and expertise they need to protect more forests through conservation easements,” said Camilla Herlevich, Executive Director of the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust.

“We welcome the opportunity to be part of this creative collaboration,” said Doug Rodman, Middle Tennessee Project Manager of the Land Trust of Tennessee. “Working-forest conservation easements yield so many benefits – they protect biodiversity, reduce habitat fragmentation, improve air and water quality and increase carbon storage.”

Project activities will include community education and outreach workshops, training and technical assistance, and production of materials showing the value of easements. Other project partners are the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission; and The Nature Conservancy – North Carolina Chapter, along with SFI program participants, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation and Resource Management Service LLC.

A working forest conservation easement is a voluntary contract between a landowner and a land trust, government agency or other qualified organization in which the owner places permanent restrictions on future uses of the property to protect forest resources, while still managing it responsibly. It can result in potential tax benefits for the landowner, who still owns the property.

“Easements are one of the voluntary market-based tools we promote in the SFI standard to broaden the practice of sustainable forestry,” SFI President and CEO Kathy Abusow said. “This partnership also builds on standard requirements that help to conserve biodiversity and wildlife habitat, protect special spaces and encourage community involvement in sustainable forest management.”

“Conservation easements are a great business solution for forest landowners,” said Ron Sutherland, Science Director of Wildlands Network. “By promoting connectivity, they can help to sustain wildlife for the long term.”

Last year, SFI Inc. created the Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant program to build upon the more than $1.2 billion SFI program participants have contributed for research activities, including forestry research, science and technology since 1995.

The SFI 2010-2014 Standard is based on 14 core principles that promote sustainable forest management, including measures to protect water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk, and Forests with Exceptional Conservation Value, and encourages community involvement. The SFI program is the only forest certification standard in North America that requires participants to support and engage in research activities to improve forestry forest health, productivity and sustainable management of forest resources.

About the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. (www.sfiprogram.org)
SFI Inc. is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization, and is solely responsible for maintaining, overseeing and improving the internationally recognized Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) program. Across North America, more than 180 million acres are certified to the SFI forest management standard, making it the largest single forest standard in the world. SFI chain-of-custody certification tells buyers the percentage of fiber from certified forests, certified sourcing and/or post-consumer recycled content. The SFI program’s unique fiber sourcing requirements promote responsible forest management on all suppliers’ lands. SFI Inc. is governed by a three-chamber board of directors representing environmental, social and economic sectors equally.

About The Land Trust for Tennessee (www.landtrusttn.org/)
The Land Trust of Tennessee is a private non-profit organization that works to protect the unique character of Tennessee’s natural and historic landscapes and sites for future generations. Since 1999, they have worked with private landowners to protect nearly 60,000 of land throughout Tennessee. Conservation easements are their primary tool for the permanent protection of working lands, natural resources, wildlife habitat, recreational lands and open space.

About the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust (www.coastallandtrust.org/)
The North Carolina Coastal Land Trust was formed in 1992 to enrich the coastal plain communities of the state through conservation of natural areas and working landscapes, education and the promotion of good land stewardship. Since its inception, the Coastal Land Trust has protected over 47,000 acres/19,000 hectares of barrier island beaches, riparian corridors, and other special natural areas.

About Wildlands Network (www.twp.org/)
Wildlands Network is restoring, protecting and connecting the best wild places throughout North America because people need nature, and nature needs space to survive. It is connecting the biggest parks and healthiest conservation lands to create Wildways© landscapes that are large enough to sustain wildlife for the long-term.

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- HB 650 Yesterday, HB 650 received its second hearing in the NC House Judiciary C Committee, with supporters and opponents falling along straight party lines.

Stalled by persistent questioning by anti-gun Democrats Joe Hackney (D- Chatham, Moore, Orange, GRNC 0-star), Verla Insko (D-Orange, 0-star), Jennifer Weiss (D-Wake, 0-star) and Pricey Harrison (D-Guilford, 0-star), the bill did not yet get a vote. Committee chairman Jonathan Rhyne (R-Lincoln, ****) promised a vote during the next committee meeting on Wednesday, June 1.

Amendments to the bill are flying fast and furious as various groups make requests of sponsors Mark Hilton, (R-Catawba, ****), Stephen LaRoque (R- Greene, Lenoir, Wayne, ****), George Cleveland (R-Onslow, ****) and Kelly Hastings (R- Cleveland, Gaston, ****).

In its present form, some reductions in penalties for carriage on educational property have been eliminated, but provisions remain for keeping firearms in locked compartments, as well as requirements for prosecutors to prove that the gun was “willfully and intentionally” carried onto education property.

As an example of the time-delaying tactics used against HB 650 by the left, during discussion of a section to bring NC gun laws into compliance with federal law, Insko blurted out: “I don’t know what this means. Does this mean I can have anthrax in North Carolina?”

Meanwhile, Hackney harped on firearms within cars on private property (to which Hilton responded that private property rights do not reach into the vehicle of the gun owner); while Weiss continued to press on the provision permitting “firearm” purchases in non-contiguous states, focusing on how it might allow handgun purchasers to bypass NC law even after it was pointed out to her that interstate handgun purchases are impossible because they are prohibited by federal law.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED: Contact

CONTACT ALL MEMBERS of the NC House Judiciary C Committee. Thank Republicans for their support, but remind them you expect an expeditious vote on HB 650 to allow the bill to make the looming June 9 “crossover deadline.” Tell Democrats to stop stalling and bring the bill to the vote it deserves.

CONTACT YOUR NC HOUSE REP: In anticipation of the imminent vote on HB 650 before the full chamber of the NC House, tell your house rep to support HB 650 WITHOUT WEAKENING AMENDMENTS. To find your house rep, go to: http://www.grnc.org/contact_reps.htm

Contact These Legislators

Email these legislators:

Convenience copy and paste lists

REPUBLICANS:

Tim.Moore@ncleg.net, Johnathan.Rhyne@ncleg.net, Rayne.Brown@ncleg.net,
George.Cleveland@ncleg.net, Jimmy.Dixon@ncleg.net, Jonathan.Jordan@ncleg.net

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

Dear Representative:

Thank you for your support of HB 650, “Amend Various Gun Laws.” It is vital that you continue to press this forward to meet the looming June 9 crossover deadline. This is a very important bill in its present form and one that you must carry forward to the goal line.

Keep up the good work and never let up the pressure. Don’t believe the lies and rigged polls from the opponents of freedom. I will be following the progress of this bill with great interest through the alerts of Grass Roots North Carolina.

Sincerely,

A Concerned North Carolina Voter

DEMOCRATSDEMOCRATS:

Joe.Hackney@ncleg.net, Pricey.Harrison@ncleg.net, Verla.Insko@ncleg.net, Bert.Jones@ncleg.net, Annie.Mobley@ncleg.net, Jennifer.Weiss@ncleg.net

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

Dear Representative:

It is vital to the safety and freedom of North Carolinians that you quit stalling and bring HB 650, “Amend Various Gun Laws” to a vote in House Judiciary Sub Committee C. I urge your SUPPORT of this important bill. Basically I am asking you to get out of the way of freedom.

I will be following the progress of this bill with great interest through the alerts of Grass Roots North Carolina.

Sincerely,

A Concerned North Carolina Voter

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- Represent GRNC at the Next Winston/Salem Gun Show

GRNC needs volunteers to host the tables at the next Winston/Salem Gun Show to be held the weekend of May 28 & 29 in the Education Building at the LJVM Coliseum.

This is an essential outreach to promote GRNC. It’s also an opportunity to connect with fellow pro-freedom citizens! Volunteer some time, it is a rewarding experience.

Please set aside a couple of hours to help. If you have an outgoing and articulate friend whom you would like to introduce to gun rights activism please invite her or him to work with us show weekend whether or not that person is a current member.

Volunteer: Volunteers please call or text Robert Speight at 336-687-9101.

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- On Thursday, SB 560, “Sport Shooting Range Protection” passed out of the Senate Judiciary II Committee thanks largely to the efforts of sponsor Sen. Andrew Brock (R- Davie, Rowan, GRNC ****) and committee chairman Sen. Buck Newton (R- Nash, Wilson, ****), both of whom deserve an immediate e-mail of thanks.

SB 560 is intended to close loopholes in our existing range protection law by extending the existing “grandfather” protection against noise and environmental complaints to ranges forced to relocate due to rezoning, annexation, condemnation or development.

A SMALL DARK CLOUD
After complaints that a range relocating to a different county might supersede existing ordinances, committee members of both parties, unfortunately, offered an amendment under which ranges which relocate to different counties may only do so if they meet the requirements of the new county. GRNC will work to remove the restriction. It should be noted that Sen. Newton argued vehemently against the amendment as just another anti-gun action.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED
Contact: Things are moving fast in this session of the legislature. SB 560 could get a vote as early as TUESDAY. Immediately do the following two things:

CONTACT YOUR NC STATE SENATOR: Let them know they must vote for SB 560. To find who represents you, go to: http://www.grnc.org/contact_reps.htm. Deliver the message below.

THANK SENS. BROCK AND NEWTON: These gents are fighting for your rights. Let them know you appreciate it by contact them at: Andrew.Brock@ncleg.net, Buck.Newton@ncleg.net

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE TO YOUR SENATOR

Dear Senator ____________:

I am writing to express my support for SB 560, “Sport Shooting Range Protection.” Encroaching development is quickly eliminating ranges for sport shooters. It is vital and fair that this bill be enacted to protect existing ranges.

I urge you to vote for SB 560 and use all of your influence to help pass this important bill. I will be following the progress of SB 560 through the alerts of Grass Roots North Carolina.

Sincerely,

A Concerned North Carolina Voter

Find Your Representatives

• NC STATE House & Senate: www.grnc.org/contact_reps.htm
• FEDERAL Congressman: www.house.gov/writerep/
• FEDERAL Senators: www.senate.gov/

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- HB 650 On Wednesday, the NC House Judiciary C Committee took on House Bill 650, “Amend Various Gun Laws.”

Thanks to the efforts of Sponsors Mark Hilton (R-Catawba, GRNC ****), Steven LaRoque (R-Greene, Lenoir, Wayne, ****), George Cleveland (R- Onslow, ****) and Kelly Hastings (R- Cleveland, Gaston, ****), plus the leadership of Rules Chairman Tim Moore (R- Cleveland, ****) and Speaker Thom Tillis (R-Meckleburg, ****), the bill is likely to receive a committee vote next Wednesday.

Gun rights supporters should immediately e-mail these courageous legislators with thanks.

HB 650 is a huge and aggressive bill, meaning it will be difficult to pass. But if passed, it will go far toward reversing the creeping encroachment on gun owners’ rights perpetuated in previous sessions of the legislature, including (but not limited to):

• Castle Doctrine (yet another vehicle for popular Castle Doctrine is now moving);
• Reducing penalties for carrying firearms on “educational property,” including a protection against accidentally becoming a criminal by requiring that offenders “knowingly” brought the gun onto educational property;
• Enabling concealed carry at events for which admission is charged;
• Reducing penalties for a host of minor (often inadvertent) gun violations;
• Adding protections for gun owners whose guns are confiscated pursuant to domestic protective orders;
• Improves concealed handgun reciprocity to straight recognition of out-of-state permits;
• Removes provisions for concealed handgun applicants under which sheriffs are conducting intrusive investigations of medical history; and
• Enabling employees to keep guns in locked vehicles at places of employment.

FIRST COMMITTEE FIGHT
As Chairman Moore brought up the bill, Rep. Hilton pointed out that it simply attempted to mirror and conform with federal law. Opposition was brought by the usual leftists, including Joe Hackney (D- Chatham, Moore, Orange, GRNC 0-star), Verla Insko (D-Orange, 0-star) and Jennifer Weiss (D-Wake, 0-star). Reps. Hilton, Cleveland, Hastings and Jonathan Jordan (R- Ashe, Watauga, ****) did an outstanding job of defending it. Thanks also go to Chairman Moore for allowing GRNC president Paul Valone to dispel numerous misconceptions regarding state and federal gun laws.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

Contact

E-MAIL THANKS to Reps. Hilton, Tillis, Moore, Hastings, LaRoque and Cleveland using the following e-mail addresses: Mark.Hilton@ncleg.net; Thom.Tillis@ncleg.net; Tim.Moore@ncleg.net; Kelly.Hastings@ncleg.net; Stephen.LaRoque@ncleg.net; George.Cleveland@ncleg.net

CONTACT JUDICIARY THE C COMMITTEE MEMBERS as listed below and urge them to support HB 650, pointing out that they MUST attend the meeting on Wednesday to vote for the bill. Johnathan Rhyne, Jr. – 919-733-5782, Johnathan.Rhyne@ncleg.net; Rayne Brown – 919-715-0873, Rayne.Brown@ncleg.net; Jimmy Dixon – 919-715-3021, Jimmy.Dixon@ncleg.net; Bert Jones – 919-733-5779, Bert.Jones@ncleg.net; Jonathan C. Jordan – 919-733-7727, Jonathan.Jordan@ncleg.net

SEND US YOUR STORIES: By reducing the number of “no carry” zones, including accidentally carrying firearms onto “educational property” (including places that are not even campuses), the bill seeks to allow law-abiding gun owners to remain law abiding. To support the bill, please send examples of when you accidentally violated gun laws despite your best efforts. All stories will be de-identified before distribution. Send them directly to Paul Valone at President@GRNC.org

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

Dear Representative:

I am writing to express my support for HB 650, “Amend Various Gun Laws.” Your support is instrumental in passing the many important measures in this sweeping bill. In order to achieve this, it is vital that you attend the Judiciary Sub Committee C meeting on Wednesday and give your full support to HB 650.

I will be eagerly awaiting a positive outcome for this bill Wednesday and will be tracking its progress through the alerts of Grass Roots North Carolina.

Sincerely,

A Concerned North Carolina Voter

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- The fate of pro-gun bills such as HB 111, the parks and restaurants bill, and the Castle Doctrine will be discussed this week by NC Senate leadership.

As you have likely heard, many polls are being crafted to misrepresent public opinion on CCW in parks and restaurants.

So it is vital that they hear from you that this is a priority. If HB 111 is to pass before intended adjournment on July 1, they must begin moving it now. See the important points that you need to make below:

Permit-Holders Proven Responsible
According to the NC State Bureau of Investigation, 336,743 concealed handgun permits have been approved, yet only 1007 (0.29% — less than 1/3 of a single percent) have been revoked for any reason, with most revocations unrelated to guns.

Although the SBI doesn’t track reasons for revocation, evidence from elsewhere suggests the vast majority of revocations are for reasons unrelated to guns. In Florida, for example, where 1,935,222 permits were issued, only 168 (.009%) were revoked due to misuse of firearms.

As in the 37 other states with concealed handgun laws, North Carolina permit-holders have a 16 year track record of proving themselves sane, sober and law-abiding.

“Wild west” predictions of “shootings at traffic lights” by the law’s opponents have proven false in North Carolina as in all of the 37 states which have adopted such laws.

Why Parks?
State parks: Although violent crime overall has dropped by 27.7% since inception of concealed carry, ostensibly “gun free” state parks have not benefited from the deterrence effect of the law, experiencing only an estimated drop of 8.93%, including an estimated 72 violent crimes and 1278 property crimes.

Municipal parks: Violent crime rates for municipal parks are not tracked by the State Bureau of Investigation, but urban settings and frequent news reports of rapes, murders and assaults suggests a much higher rate and number of violent crimes, perhaps numbering in the thousands.

Deterrence effect: Controlled, multi-variate studies of concealed handgun permit laws around the country show they deter murder, rape and aggravated assault.

Net benefit: Beyond allowing joggers, hikers and families enjoying North Carolina’s state and municipal parks to protect themselves against violent predators, HB 111 is likely to create a drop in crime by deterring criminals who search for unarmed victims.

Why Restaurants?
Restaurant carry is not untested: Even The New York Times admits that at least 39 states (by some counts, 40 states) permit concealed carry in restaurants.

Even a simple buffet restaurant is off limits to concealed carry if it has an on-premises alcohol consumption permit. When concealed handgun permit-holders go to such restaurants, they and their families are unprotected not only there but also in surrounding neighborhoods and parking lots.

Nothing would change the current prohibition on consuming alcohol while carrying concealed firearms contained in § 14-415.11 (c).

Restaurant owners would still have the option of posting against firearms under § 14-415.11 (c).

The North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association (NCRLA) has said that it does not oppose the bill.

GRNC strongly advises you to oppose the “Guice Amendment,” made in the House, under which municipalities could ban firearms in recreational facilities. Those facilities are precisely where permit-holders most need to protect family members.

Both Virginia (4/10) and Tennessee (6/10) have adopted restaurant carry without reported problems.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

Contact

Contact the members of the Senate Judiciary II Committee (listed following the message).
Deliver this message:

Dear Senate Judiciary II Committee Member:

I am writing you to let you know that HB 111, “Handgun Permit Valid in Parks & Restaurants,” is a priority. In order to meet your intended adjournment of July 1 – as has been stated as a goal – it is vital that you communicate to your leadership to get HB 111 moving now. Another top priority is the long awaited Castle Doctrine. Remember, there are former legislators who are now at home rather than in Raleigh for opposing this important measure. Recently anti-gunners in the media and academia have concocted skewed polls to scare you into inaction on these important matters. Don’t be fooled. Also do not buy the misinformation campaign on the issues.

Permit holders have proven to be sane, sober and law abiding over the last 16 years. Less than one-third of one percent of permits has been revoked for any reason – mostly non-gun related. Many of the less reasonable in society crowed that there would be “wild west” scenarios leading to shootouts at every minor clash, such as fender benders. That simply has not happened. It is important that HB 111 pass for a number of reasons. The 27.7% drop in violent crime since the inception of the concealed carry law has not been reflected in the gun free zones of state parks, which have only seen a decrease of 8.93%. The correlation between arming those who would otherwise be victims and drops in crime is clear. In restaurant carry – despite outright falsehoods being reported – nothing would change in relation to disallowing those consuming alcohol from being armed, however; those not imbibing would have the option of armed self protection within the restaurant and even more importantly, the highly vulnerable parking lots outside. It is important to note that despite outside pressure, the North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association (NCRLA) does not oppose HB 111.

I urge you support and pass this important bill. I will be monitoring the progress of HB 111 and your actions on this matter through the alerts of Grass Roots North Carolina.

Sincerely,

A Concerned North Carolina Voter

Contact these legislators:

COPY & PASTE CONVENIENCE LIST
(pick the method that works for your email program)

(with commas)

Austin.Allran@ncleg.net, Warren.Daniel@ncleg.net, Buck.Newton@ncleg.net, Doug.Berger@ncleg.net,
Stan.Bingham@ncleg.net, Dan.Blue@ncleg.net, Debbie.Clary@ncleg.net, Jim.Davis@ncleg.net,
Don.East@ncleg.net, James.Forrester@ncleg.net, Fletcher.Hartsell@ncleg.net, Edward.Jones@ncleg.net,
Tommy.Tucker@ncleg.net, Don.Vaughan@ncleg.net, Harris.Blake@ncleg.net, Charlie.Dannelly@ncleg.net,
Floyd.McKissick@ncleg.net

(with semi-colons)

Austin.Allran@ncleg.net; Warren.Daniel@ncleg.net; Buck.Newton@ncleg.net; Doug.Berger@ncleg.net;
Stan.Bingham@ncleg.net; Dan.Blue@ncleg.net; Debbie.Clary@ncleg.net; Jim.Davis@ncleg.net;
Don.East@ncleg.net; James.Forrester@ncleg.net; Fletcher.Hartsell@ncleg.net; Edward.Jones@ncleg.net;
Tommy.Tucker@ncleg.net; Don.Vaughan@ncleg.net; Harris.Blake@ncleg.net; Charlie.Dannelly@ncleg.net;
Floyd.McKissick@ncleg.net

(space delimited)

Austin.Allran@ncleg.net Warren.Daniel@ncleg.net Buck.Newton@ncleg.net Doug.Berger@ncleg.net
Stan.Bingham@ncleg.net Dan.Blue@ncleg.net Debbie.Clary@ncleg.net Jim.Davis@ncleg.net
Don.East@ncleg.net James.Forrester@ncleg.net Fletcher.Hartsell@ncleg.net Edward.Jones@ncleg.net
Tommy.Tucker@ncleg.net Don.Vaughan@ncleg.net Harris.Blake@ncleg.net Charlie.Dannelly@ncleg.net
Floyd.McKissick@ncleg.net

Full Contact Info

Senator Austin M. Allran
300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 625
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
(919) 733-5876
Austin.Allran@ncleg.net

Senator Warren Daniel
300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 411
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
(919) 715-7823
Warren.Daniel@ncleg.net

Senator E. S. (Buck) Newton
300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 410
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
(919) 715-3030
Buck.Newton@ncleg.net

Senator Doug Berger
300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 516
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
(919) 715-8363
Doug.Berger@ncleg.net

Senator Stan Bingham
16 W. Jones Street, Room 2117
Raleigh, NC 27601-2808
(919) 733-5665
Stan.Bingham@ncleg.net

Senator Dan Blue
16 W. Jones Street, Room 1117
Raleigh, NC 27601-2808
(919) 733-5752
Dan.Blue@ncleg.net

Senator Debbie A. Clary
300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 314
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
(919) 715-3038
Debbie.Clary@ncleg.net

Senator Jim Davis
16 W. Jones Street, Room 2111
Raleigh, NC 27601-2808
(919) 733-5875
Jim.Davis@ncleg.net

Senator Don East
300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 522
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
(919) 733-5743
Don.East@ncleg.net

Senator James Forrester
16 W. Jones Street, Room 1028
Raleigh, NC 27601-2808
(919) 715-3050
James.Forrester@ncleg.net

Senator Fletcher L. Hartsell, Jr.
300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 300-C
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
(919) 733-7223
Fletcher.Hartsell@ncleg.net

Senator Ed Jones
300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 518
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
(919) 715-3032
Edward.Jones@ncleg.net

Senator Tommy Tucker
300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 311
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
(919) 733-7659
Tommy.Tucker@ncleg.net

Senator Don Vaughan
300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 515
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
(919) 733-5856
Don.Vaughan@ncleg.net

Senator Harris Blake
300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 408
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
(919) 733-4809
Harris.Blake@ncleg.net

Senator Charlie Smith Dannelly
16 W. Jones Street, Room 1127
Raleigh, NC 27601-2808
(919) 733-5955
Charlie.Dannelly@ncleg.net

Senator Floyd B. McKissick, Jr.
300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 520
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
(919) 733-4599
Floyd.McKissick@ncleg.net

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Panteao Productions

Columbia, SC –(Ammoland.com)- Join the Panteao Gun Team June 16-18 in Oxford, NC at the IDPA Carolina Cup as we pay homage to a television show enjoyed by many of us shooters… Miami Vice.

Panteao Productions, along with Colt and Winchester, are hosting a side match called Calderone’s Return – The Hit List.

In this scenario, you are the Argentinean hit man from the fourth episode from season one of Miami Vice called Calderone’s Return. In this famous scene, the hit man (played by Jim Zubiena) takes out a drug dealer inside of a limo with a shotgun; then faces a bodyguard he didn’t count on.

From the surrender position, he quickly dispatched the drug dealer’s bodyguard with a Mozambique drill, then calmly dropped the magazine out of his 1911, emptied the chamber, and placed the gun on top of the bodyguard as he walks away. Classic scene!

Now you have your shot at being the Hit Man! You’ll be facing a target 10 yards away and you’ll have to drill it with two rounds to the body and one to the head using a Colt 1911.

While at the Carolina Cup if you happen to spot a match participant that looks a lot like Detective Stan Switek from Miami Vice, it’s because it is Switek. Actor and IDPA and NRA member Michael Talbott will be shooting the match with the Panteao Gun Team on Friday and Saturday.

The Panteao Productions filming crew will be filming portions of the clinic for the upcoming documentary on the Carolina Cup. More information about the Carolina Cup can be found here: www.the-carolinacup.com

About Panteao Productions
Panteao Productions is a video production company that produces instructional videos from the top firearms instructors in the world. For more information about Panteao, visit www.makeready.tv. You can follow Panteao on Twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/PanteaoVideos ) and find us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/PanteaoProductions ).

Elon University Skews Poll On Concealed Handguns

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- A poll released last week by Elon University* purports to show little public support for expanding North Carolina’s existing concealed handgun law into parks and restaurants, as proposed under House Bill 111.

However, the misleading and inaccurate phrasing of poll questions suggests that the researchers either haven’t read HB 111, or are woefully ignorant of North Carolina gun laws.

INACCURATELY PHRASED QUESTIONS:

“[Do you agree/disagree with] permitting people to carry handguns in restaurants and bars.”

Facts:

• No pending bill would allow “people” - meaning anyone – to carry handguns in restaurants and bars. Rather, HB-111 is strictly limited to allowing concealed handgun permit holders to do so.
• Individuals covered by HB 111 have been verified by their sheriff as law-abiding citizens who have proven they are trained in the law and proficient with their weapons.
• These people have passed criminal background checks and had their fingerprints cleared by the FBI.
• The sheriff has verified they are not alcoholics or substance abusers, and in the case of veterans, were honorably discharged.
• This class of people - who number approximately 2% of North Carolinians - have proven, over the past 16 years, to be responsible, prudent, safe, and overwhelming law-abiding.
• A similar question skewed results on “people” carrying concealed handguns in parks when, in reality, the parks provision too would apply only to concealed handgun permit-holders.

OMMITTED INFORMATION

* The question on restaurants omits at least two major qualifying conditions: That those carrying handguns are prohibited from consuming any alcohol, and that individual restaurants have the ability to ban the carry of handguns on their premises.

SAMPLING BIAS

* Although the Elon poll found that 42.4% of respondents owned firearms, earlier polling of North Carolina residents found a far higher gun ownership rate of 56%,** suggesting a sampling bias against lawful gun ownership.

1. * John R. Lott, Jr. More Guns, Less Crime 3rd Edition. Chicago, The University of Chicago Press, 2010.
2. ** Elon University poll available at: http://www.elon.edu/docs/e-web/elonpoll/041811_PollMethodology.pdf

About: Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- Pretending that it was any of their business, the Raleigh City Council – reaffirming their leftist credentials – have publicly come out in opposition to HB 111, which would protect your legal right to self defense in restaurants and parks.

In fact they proudly put the following release on the city website… (in case it didn’t register, they are spending your tax dollars, to lobby against your rights) at www.raleighnc.gov/home/content/PubAffairs/Articles/ConcealedHandgunBill.html :

City Council Opposes Concealed Handgun Bill
“The Raleigh City Council on April 19 voted 7-0 to approve a resolution opposing provisions of a concealed handgun bill before the North Carolina General Assembly.

“The proposed legislation would allow people with concealed permits to carry their handguns into public parks and restaurants that serve alcohol. The bill has been approved by the House and is now in the Senate.

“For more information, contact City Attorney Thomas McCormick (Tom.McCormick@raleighnc.gov) at 919-831-6560.”

Well, we suggest that you follow the last piece of advice in their note and contact the city attorney and advise him that his clients should not deprive you of your right of self protection. In fact, we are going to provide you with the contact info for the entire city council, so you may tell them yourselves.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

Contact

The following contact information can be found at the city council’s website: www.raleighnc.gov/government/content/LandGovernment/Articles/CityCouncil.html

Also, they conveniently provide an email address that will email the entire City Council at citycouncilors@raleighnc.gov

City Council Members

• Mayor: Charles Meeker | email: charles.meeker@raleighnc.gov
• District A: Nancy McFarlane | email: nancy.mcfarlane@raleighnc.gov
• District B: John Odom | email: john.odom@raleighnc.gov
• District C: Eugene Weeks | email: eugene.weeks@raleighnc.gov
• District D: Thomas Crowder | email: thomas.crowder@raleighnc.gov
• District E: Bonner Gaylord | email: bonner.gaylord@raleighnc.gov
• At-Large: Mary-Ann Baldwin (Mayor Pro Tempore) | email: mary-ann.baldwin@raleighnc.gov
• At-Large: Russ Stephenson | email: russ.stephenson@raleighnc.gov

ACTION: Deliver This Message

Dear City Council:

Why are you spending the people’s money on depriving them of their right of self protection? By opposing House Bill 111, that is what you are doing. Are you prepared to guarantee everyone’s safety in restaurants and parks? What will you say when your promises prove hollow?

I urge you to drop your opposition to HB 111. I will be following the progress of this matter through Grass Roots North Carolina and will remember them THIS FALL at the city council elections.

Sincerely,

A Concerned Voter

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- We are in the final push for HB 111, but don’t be complacent. The enemies of your freedom and safety are hard at work making certain that your ability to protect yourself and family remains limited.

Rumors are rife that their tricks to convince the General Assembly that you are not really behind this move may be taking hold. The result of this will be amendments that will render this bill not much more effective than the current law.

We know that this bill is the desire of North Carolinians because we have heard from them for years on this matter. It is consistently one of the top requests. This is within your grasp, don’t let it slip away now.

A quick refresher:
HB 111, “Concealed Handgun Permit Valid in Parks and Restaurants,” will restore your right to carry your legally concealed weapon in parks and in restaurants where alcohol is served. You will still be prohibited from consuming alcohol yourself while carrying, but you will thus be allowed the luxury of self protection there.

New suggested talking points:

• NC concealed carry has reduced violent crime: Since 1995, when our concealed carry law passed, the rate of overall NC crime has dropped by 27.7%, while the rate of violent crime dropped by a whopping 37.1%. This mirrors the study by John Lott and David Mustard which found that concealed handgun laws deter murder, rape, and aggravated assault.
• State parks have not seen the same drop: An extrapolation of partial data for the same years estimates only an 8.9% drop in crime within state parks. Although crime in municipal parks is not tracked, news accounts and the urban location of many suggest that crime is actually increasing in these “victim disarmament zones.” HB 111 will not only benefit permit-holders, it will deter violent crime.
• NC permit-holders are overwhelmingly responsible: Of 336,743 concealed handgun permits approved since 1995, only 1007 have been revoked for any reason (that’s less than a third of one percent, or 0.29%). Although the SBI doesn’t keep reasons for revocation, other states’ experience suggests that few of those revocations are for misuse of firearms.

Action: IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

Contact

• Use our auto-emailer to send the message detailed below: www.grnc.us/alerts/email3_28_11a.htm
• Call your own representative in the NC House. Tell him or her that you are paying attention and that you want them to pass HB 111 with NO WEAKENING amendments. You may find your representative here: www.grnc.org/contact_reps.htm

Deliver This Message

Honorable Members of the NC House:

There are troubling rumors circulating that weakening amendments to HB 111, “Concealed Handgun Permit Valid in Parks and Restaurants,” will be allowed to take root and water down a very good bill. Do NOT under any circumstance allow this. I understand that dirty tricks by anti-gunners are afoot to make legislators doubt the pro-gun and pro-self-defense nature of North Carolinians. Don’t believe them.

For sixteen years, North Carolina concealed handgun permit-holders have proven themselves sane, sober and law-abiding. Their overwhelming responsibility is demonstrated by the fact that permit revocations run mere tenths of a single percent.

Because the ability of lawful North Carolinians to protect themselves and their families in restaurants and parks is long overdue, I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO SUPPORT HOUSE BILL 111 by all means substantive and procedural, and to pass the bill WITHOUT WEAKENDING AMENDMENTS. Under the bill, restaurants would still be able to post against firearms, and nothing would change the current prohibition on permit-holders consuming alcohol while carrying firearms.

Make no mistake about this message: NO weakening amendment will be acceptable. I expect you to pass HB 111 as it is with NO weakening amendments.

I will monitor actions on HB 111 via Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts.

Respectfully,

• You may find your NC STATE representative by going here: www.grnc.org/contact_reps.htm
• You may write your FEDERAL congressman by going here: www.house.gov/writerep/
• You may write your FEDERAL senators by going here: www.senate.gov/

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- Asheville Gun Show – GRNC is still in need of volunteers to host the tables at the next gun show in Asheville to be held the weekend of March 26th & 27th.

It will be held at the Western NC Ag Center at I-26 @ Exit 40 (across from the Airport), 1301 Fanning Bridge Road, Fletcher, NC: www.wncagcenter.org

www.mkshows.com/cgi-bin/show_display.asp?12

Let’s make an impressive showing as we break into this fertile ground. Volunteer some time, it is a rewarding experience.

Please set aside a couple of hours that weekend to help. If you have an articulate friend whom you would like to introduce to gun rights activism please invite her or him to work with us show weekend whether or not that person is a current member.

Volunteer
Volunteers please contact John Hammond at johndhammond@msn.com or at phone number 828-699-3117.

Please respond directly to John Hammond by clicking on the email link. This will assure that your note will not be delayed or lost in the shuffle.

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org