This Thursday (4/30/09) the Senate Judiciary II Committee will hear two bills . . .

The first bill is a deadly bill that legalizes vigilantism and murder. SB 928 removes the “duty to retreat” to avoid a threat and is an invitation to reckless use of guns in the streets of our cities and towns. SB 928 often referred to as the “Castle Doctrine” implies that this legislation applies only to a home or residence. However SB 928 extends past the individual’s home to “any other place where he or she has a right to be” – which thereby includes nearly all public places. The shooter could receive immunity for shooting recklessly into a crowd, as long as he reasonably believed he was in serious danger. If passed this “Shoot First” law will not only permit shooting in our streets, the shooter will not be prosecuted for any death or injury whether to a hardened criminal or a helpless child who was only a by-stander.

The second bill is a chance to save lives. According to a study conducted by the American Pediatric Association 168,000 children in NC live in a home with a loaded gun and 82,000 NC children live in a home with a loaded and unlocked gun. Improper storage of firearms can directly contribute to youth suicide in NC from 2004-2006 48% of youth suicide deaths were firearm related. The Harvard School of Public Health found that 85% of youths who died by firearm suicide deaths used a family member’s gun, usually their own parents. SB 987 would strengthen our current safe storage law by applying the law to the homes of all gun owners, provide recommendations for safe storage, post these recommendations where guns are sold and protect gun owners who safely store their weapons from being prosecuted.

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