North Carolina’s House sent a sweeping firearms bill to the governor’s desk on Wednesday that would discard a longstanding requirement that handgun buyers obtain a permit from their county sheriff.
The House approved the legislation 70-44, with three Democrats and all present Republicans voting yes. The limited bipartisan support signals a potential override of any veto by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who in 2021 blocked standalone versions of the pistol purchase permit repeal and another provision allowing more people to carry concealed firearms while attending religious services where private or charter schools also meet.
Republican gains in the midterm elections landed them within one seat of a veto-proof supermajority. Cooper’s office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the bill.
The proposal would make it so sheriffs no longer have to perform evaluations of an applicant’s character and mental wellness before they can purchase a handgun.
