Afraid of an armed populace, especially one where the Sheriffs do not control who gets a gun. If the sheriffs get to approve permits, their friends get the permits, the “undesirables” do not. It’s all about power.
I've had CCW (or Firearms Licenses) from Georgia for 15 years. The permit negating a NICS check is in force here and you can buy a gun with it and not have to undergo the check. You still have to fill out the Form 4473.
That said, there was one year here in Georgia a few years ago that this ATF privilege (ha) was revoked because Georgia did not recheck the eligibility of its CCW holders often enough during the 5 year period. Georgia revamped their periodic checks and the WAIVER it applied for to the ATF was reinstated.
“It’s not about losing revenue. Permits cost a measly five bucks.”
If I remember correctly, one permit gets you one handgun. 10 handguns= $50, and if 100 citizens bought one each= $500 that day. My opinion is that the $$ is an important consideration over the course of a year, especially for smaller Sheriff’s departments where a few hundred dollars is more significant. Most of the 100 Sheriff’s departments in NC would probably be smaller ones, and therefore, most of the Sheriff’s departments are against it.
And on the other side is a defacto gun registry. Strikes me that both sides are wrong in this, but given the choice, I'd rather stick with the existing system, and do not fault the local sheriffs from wanting to continue it.
Apparently, this is the reason for the system in Michigan, also.
When I read the title “Why Are NC Sheriffs Working to Stop Pro-Gun Bill?”, my instant answer to the question was “because they are jack booted fascist thugs” then I read their reasoning and realized that they are jack booted fascist thugs.
“Laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes...Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.” ~ Thomas Jefferson
Unfortunately, the North Carolina Sheriffs Association (NCSA) opposes the bill because of a single provision: the repeal of our pistol purchase permit system.
Entrusting our rights to law enforcement officers is an inherently bad idea. Take it from there.
NC is a shall issue state, therefore, the local sheriff is not the one who approves or disapproves your gun purchase permit, his office simply is tasked with processing it.
I’ll go for the Occam’s razor explanation. The Sheriffs see this as part of their power of office. The ability to reward their friends with licenses, as well as punish their enemies, or just people they don’t think should have guns, because of their politics or class, as much as race.
Ann Coulter: "If you compare white populations, we have the same murder rate as Belgium"
This is the link to the NYC map.
For those who are interested: http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/89892
Bud’s gun shop has CCI .22 LR standard velocity for $0.07 a round ($3.56 for 50), limit 10, for VIP (now Team Buds) members only. This post is intended as a courtesy to FR members on the banglist who are short on 22 LR, not to advertise Buds. I have enough .22 LR, so I’m not buying, but I want to make sure those on FR get in before they run out.