The North Carolina House has spoken on gun legislation.
House lawmakers passed a bill Tuesday that would relax current laws on concealed weapons, including permitting them on college campuses. They voted 78-42, and House Bill 937 will now be sent to the Senate for reading.
The bill additionally will allow concealed weapons on state property, sporting events and locations where alcohol is served and consumed. Those with carry permits will be allowed to keep their guns in a locked vehicle on campus under the legislature.
Amend Various Firearms Laws was filed in February and has had a series of amendments rejected before it passed a second reading in the House late Monday night.
While Lenoir Community College recently heightened security measures by adding armed officers, school administrators feel those personnel should probably be the individuals allowed to carry weapons on campus.
“I’m very concerned,” said LCC President Brantley Briley. “I just don’t see how having any type of weapon on this campus is going to move us into a safer environment. I am very unhappy that it’s even being considered.”
Under the current statute, it is a felony to carry weapons on campus. But private colleges and universities can opt out of the bill, while public schools — like LCC — cannot.
HB937 addressed college and university campuses, but LCC houses the Lenoir County Early College High School.
“Anybody can see a handgun in the car,” said 16-year-old student Christian Johnson, who disagreed with the bill. “Somebody could steal it and run around campus waving it around.”
Early College and LCC students share the same parking lot, leaving the high school students affected, as well.
Briley said he supports the right to bear arms, but he feels HB937 will compromise the safety of students, employees and visitors by allowing guns on campus, even if they are in locked cars.
“You have a situation on campus and everyone goes to their car and brings out their gun, you know?” Briley said. “I just think it’s a step in the wrong direction. It just threatens safety and our ability to maintain control in adverse situations.”
The local campus shares a building with Kinston’s Basic Law Enforcement Training. While officers have to go through the program to carry a firearm, the weapons are not stored in the building. Rubber gun replicas are used instead.
Chief Brent Maupin, who heads the security guards at LCC, said he had mixed feelings about the bill.
“I’m kind of in the middle right now,” he said. “I’m not opposed to it, but I’m not sure how much I support it. I have to do some more research. … If it does pass, we as security officers have to be more vigilant than we are now.”
He has been tracking statements made across North Carolina about HB937. According to an article on WRAL.com, those backing the legislation say it protects the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens, amplifies gun-related punishment in the state and is supported by the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association.
Lenoir County Sheriff Chris Hill said it appears the bill changes and expands the concealed weapon laws in North Carolina.
“I am somewhat concerned about the increased storage of firearms in vehicles,” he said. “We are now experiencing more and more vehicle break-ins and, in some cases, handguns have been stolen. These firearms will undoubtedly make it into the hands of someone who may not legally possess them.”
Hill opposes people consuming alcohol while carrying a weapon, which HB937 addressed. It is currently illegal but will be allowed if business owners permit it under a changed law.
“I don’t see a need for it,” said LCC student Marty Shoobridge. “You’re coming here to go to class. I think it could (compromise safety) because I think people get disgruntled about things. If they don’t like something, you never know what they can do.”
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at jessika.morgan@kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.