House tentatively approves gun permit bill
Sheriffs would have to report when they deny pistol purchase permits to a state registry under a bill the House gave tentative approval on a 88-26 vote Tuesday. House members will vote again Wednesday before sending the bill to the Senate.
Under current law, sheriffs must issue a permit before a resident of their county can buy a gun. The proposal would require the state to establish a central registry of those denials.
Proponents say the registry is needed in case someone should move and their new sheriff doesn't have access to the information that prompted the original permit denial.
The bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Maggie Jeffus, a Greensboro Democrat, and was prompted by the suicide of a Greensboro man who was able to legally buy a pistol after initially being denied.