Senate Bill 43, enabling concealed handgun permit-holders to protect themselves in churches which are co-located with schools, passed the North Carolina House today by a vote of 70-38. It becomes the second bill to pass the NC House, which earlier passed House Bill 134.
At present, although concealed carry is lawful in churches, if the church sponsors a school, it becomes “educational property” where firearm carriage is a felony. As proposed, concealed carry would be permitted provided educational activities are not in session.
Particular thanks are due to Sen. Dan Britt (R-Columbus, Robseson) and Rep. Jeff McNeely (R-Iredell) for their efforts to protect religious institutions from increasingly numerous attacks by violent sociopaths.
Gun rights supporters should also thank Reps. Keith Kidwell (R-Beaufort, Craven), Jay Adams (R-Catawba), and Larry Pittman (R-Cabarrus) for their impassioned defense of the bill on the House floor. Opposition came from the usual suspects, particularly Marcia Morey (D-Durham) and Mary Belk (D-Mecklenburg). Belk has proven herself a vocal enemy of the Second Amendment and deserves the attention of gun voters in the 2022 elections.
S. 43 already passed through the NC Senate but, due to minor amendments in the House, will now return to the Senate for a concurrence vote. Presuming the bill clears both Republican-controlled chambers, it will almost certainly be vetoed by rabidly anti-gun Democrat Governor Roy Cooper.
Because Republicans lack the 3/5 majority needed to over-ride a veto, Democrat votes will be needed. S. 43 did indeed garner enough Democrat votes in both chambers to over-ride a veto…for now. Whether those Democrats will hold the line under pressure from Cooper, however, remains to be seen. Church carry failed in 2020 when several Democrats changed votes on the over-ride vote after having previously supported bill. Please monitor GRNC alerts for future activity.
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