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Guarding Freedoms & Public Safety Act
Primary Sponsor
Woodson BradleyDemocratLast Action
Re-ref Com On Appropriations/Base Budget2026-04-23
Vote Breakdown
No floor votes recorded.
Plain Language Summary
This bill adds several firearm regulations in North Carolina: it prohibits people convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence from possessing firearms, requires universal background checks for all firearm sales (including between private citizens), reinstates the pistol purchase permit law, requires parents to certify safe firearm storage at home, and provides $3 million in funding for firearm safety programs and public awareness.
Arguments in Favor
- •Supporters argue this bill protects public safety by keeping firearms away from people with histories of domestic violence and criminals, while universal background checks close gaps that allow prohibited individuals to obtain guns.
- •Proponents also contend that safe storage requirements prevent unauthorized access by children and reduce accidental shootings and suicides, and that the funding supports education about responsible firearm ownership.
Arguments Against
- •Opponents contend that universal background checks on private sales impose burdensome requirements and fees on law-abiding citizens, that the safe storage certification requirement invades family privacy and is difficult to enforce, and that reinacting the pistol purchase permit law creates administrative delays for legal gun owners.
- •Critics also argue the bill may not effectively prevent criminals from obtaining firearms through illegal channels and raises concerns about government tracking of firearm transfers.
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