GRNC Alert 5-5-13: Push Again for Restaurant/Campus Carry

Stop prosecutions of “accidental felons” like Johnston Co. Eagle Scout

The floor vote for House Bill 937 has been rescheduled for tomorrow night (5/6/13). As you recall, it contains restaurant carry, provisions for guns in locked vehicles on college campuses and state properties, carry in assemblies for which admission is charged, and a “cleanup” of parks carry language. Although the bill isn’t everything we want, it is a good start.

Accidental felons

Every day, thousands of otherwise law-abiding citizens become “accidental felons” when they unwittingly carry firearms across what they might not even know is “educational property.” Such is the case of Cole Withrow, the 18-year-old Princeton High School student who unknowingly brought a shotgun he had left in his truck to school. When he called his mother to ask what to do, others overheard the call and had him arrested. This Eagle Scout, honor student and model citizen now faces felony prosecution. Although HB 937 wouldn’t prevent the prosecution of Withrow, since the incident wasn’t on a college campus, it will undoubtedly prevent untold lives from being ruined. The message to deliver to House Republicans today is: “Help prevent ‘accidental felons’: Pass HB 937 without weakening amendments”.

Left-wing connections to UNC President Tom Ross

On Friday, the Civitas Institute highlighted the relationship between UNC President Tom Ross, who spoke out against HB 937, and the ultra-liberal Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. Said Civitas:

“UNC system President Tom Ross has weighed into the gun debate. Ross wants a provision in House Bill 937, that allows concealed carry permit holder to have a weapon in a locked vehicles on a college campus. to be removed.

“This should come as no surprise to anyone. Ross, as head of the liberal Z Smith Reynolds Foundation, funded the Anti-Gun group NC Against Gun Violence (NCAGV). NCAGV also happens to be an original member of BluePrintNC the group that supports “eviscerating & crippling” conservative state leaders.”

We should also note that UNC Chapel Hill is under investigation by the U.S. Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights for deliberately under-reporting campus sexual assaults. With thirty-five (and perhaps more, considering under-reporting) forcible sexual assaults between 2008 and 2010, one source notes that the UNC Chapel Hill rate of forcible sexual assault is 50.1% higher than the national average for college campuses.

When Ross demanded campus gun storage be removed from HB 937, he claimed the bill would hinder UNC’s ability to “protect” students. Is rape the sort of “protection” he has in mind? Using the copy-and-paste list below, please deliver the following message to all UNC chancellors: “Not a dime for UNC until you stop attacking our rights.” Below is the latest open letter from GRNC President Paul Valone to Ross.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!

Below you will find two copy-and-paste lists and two messages: One for NC House Republicans, and one for UNC president Tom Ross and UNC chancellors. (Note: Please make sure the right message goes to each group.

•    EMAIL NC HOUSE REPUBLICANS: Remind them you expect them to support NO WEAKENING AMENDMENTS to HB 937, and that you are counting on them to prevent thousands of lawful North Carolinians from becoming “accidental felons.”

•    EMAIL UNC CHANCELLORS: Remind them of the arrogance of claiming they can “protect” UNC students while those students continue to be victimized, and let them know you don’t appreciate UNC President Tom Ross pursuing his pre-ordained political agenda at your expense.

•    CONTRIBUTE TO THE COLE WITHROW LEGAL DEFENSE FUND: GRNC’s non-profit arm, Rights Watch International, has started a legal defense fund to defray legal expenses incurred by the Withrow family. To help out, CLICK HERE or go to: http://rightswatch.org/cole-withrow (Note: Contributions to Rights Watch International are deductible for state and federal income tax purposes.)

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE   

To NC House Republicans

Suggested Subject: “Help prevent ‘accidental felons’: Pass HB 937 without weakening amendments” 

Honorable Members of the North Carolina House:

Every day, thousands of otherwise law-abiding citizens become “accidental felons” when they unwittingly carry firearms across what they might not even know is “educational property.” Such is the case of Cole Withrow, the 18-year-old Princeton High School student who unknowingly brought a shotgun he had left in his truck to school. When he called his mother to ask what to do, others overheard the call and had him arrested. This Eagle Scout, honor student and model citizen now faces felony prosecution. Although HB 937 wouldn’t prevent the prosecution of Withrow, since the incident wasn’t on a college campus, it will undoubtedly prevent untold lives from being ruined.

I strongly urge you to pass HB 937 without weakening amendments. I will be monitoring this issue via Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts.

Respectfully,

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To UNC chancellors:

Suggested Subject: “Not a dime for UNC until you stop attacking our rights”

Dear University of North Carolina chancellors:

On Friday, the Civitas Institute said: “UNC system President Tom Ross has weighed into the gun debate. Ross wants a provision in  House Bill 937,  that allows concealed carry permit holder to have a weapon in a locked vehicles on a college campus. to be removed.

“This should come as no surprise to anyone. Ross, as head of the liberal Z Smith Reynolds Foundation, funded the Anti-Gun group NC Against Gun Violence (NCAGV). NCAGV also happens to be an original member of BluePrintNC the group that supports “eviscerating & crippling” conservative state leaders.”

We should also note that UNC Chapel Hill is under investigation by the U.S. Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights for deliberately under-reporting campus sexual assaults. With thirty-five (and perhaps more, considering under-reporting) forcible sexual assaults between 2008 and 2010, once source notes that the UNC Chapel Hill rate of forcible sexual assault is 50.1% higher than the national average for college campuses.

When Ross demanded campus gun storage be removed from HB 937, he claimed the bill would hinder UNC’s ability to “protect” students. Is rape the sort of “protection” he has in mind?

Regrettably, I will be unable to donate money to any UNC institution, alumni association, parent organization or other supporting group until the attacks on our rights stop.

Respectfully,

CONTACT INFORMATION

NC House Republicans:  (A limited number of stalwart 2A supporters have been exempted):

Dean.Arp@ncleg.net, Marilyn.Avila@ncleg.net, John.Bell@ncleg.net, Hugh.Blackwell@ncleg.net, John.Blust@ncleg.net, Jamie.Boles@ncleg.net, Robert.Brawley@ncleg.net, Bill.Brawley@ncleg.net, Mark.Brody@ncleg.net, Brian.Brown@ncleg.net, Rob.Bryan@ncleg.net, Dana.Bumgardner@ncleg.net, Justin.Burr@ncleg.net, Rick.Catlin@ncleg.net, George.Cleveland@ncleg.net, Jeff.Collins@ncleg.net, Debra.Conrad@ncleg.net, Leo.Daughtry@ncleg.net, Ted.Davis@ncleg.net, Jimmy.Dixon@ncleg.net, Josh.Dobson@ncleg.net, Jerry.Dockham@ncleg.net, Nelson.Dollar@ncleg.net, Jeffrey.Elmore@ncleg.net, John.Faircloth@ncleg.net, Jim.Fulghum@ncleg.net, Mike.Hager@ncleg.net, Jon.Hardister@ncleg.net, Kelly.Hastings@ncleg.net, Mark.Hollo@ncleg.net, Bryan.Holloway@ncleg.net, Craig.Horn@ncleg.net, Julia.Howard@ncleg.net, Pat.Hurley@ncleg.net, Frank.Iler@ncleg.net, Charles.Jeter@ncleg.net, Linda.Johnson2@ncleg.net, Bert.Jones@ncleg.net, Jonathan.Jordan@ncleg.net, Donny.Lambeth@ncleg.net, James.Langdon@ncleg.net, David.Lewis@ncleg.net, Chris.Malone@ncleg.net, Susan.Martin@ncleg.net, Pat.McElraft@ncleg.net, Chuck.McGrady@ncleg.net, Allen.McNeill@ncleg.net, Chris.Millis@ncleg.net, Tim.Moffitt@ncleg.net, Tim.Moore@ncleg.net, Tom.Murry@ncleg.net, Michele.Presnell@ncleg.net, Nathan.Ramsey@ncleg.net, Dennis.Riddell@ncleg.net, Stephen.Ross@ncleg.net, Jason.Saine@ncleg.net, Ruth.Samuelson@ncleg.net, Jacqueline.Schaffer@ncleg.net, Mitchell.Setzer@ncleg.net, Phil.Shepard@ncleg.net, Paul.Stam@ncleg.net, Edgar.Starnes@ncleg.net, Bob.Steinburg@ncleg.net, Sarah.Stevens@ncleg.net, Michael.Stone@ncleg.net, Thom.Tillis@ncleg.net, John.Torbett@ncleg.net, Rena.Turner@ncleg.net, Harry.Warren@ncleg.net, Andy.Wells@ncleg.net, Roger.West@ncleg.net, Chris.Whitmire@ncleg.net

TOM ROSS & UNC CHANCELLORS:

tomross@northcarolina.edu, peacockke@appstate.edu, chancellor@ecu.edu, wjgilchrist@mail.ecsu.edu, janderson@uncfsu.edu, hmartin@ncat.edu, charles.becton@nccu.edu, randy_woodson@ncsu.edu, aponder@unca.edu, holden_thorp@unc.edu, pdubois@uncc.edu, lpbrady@uncg.edu,chancellor@uncp.edu, millerg@uncw.edu, maucerij@uncsa.edu, dbelcher@wcu.edu, chancellorsoffice@wssu.edu, kmfitzgerald@northcarolina.edu

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OPEN LETTER FROM GRNC PRESIDENT PAUL VALONE TO UNC PRESIDENT TOM ROSS

To: Thomas W. Ross, President, The University of North Carolina

From: F. Paul Valone, President, Grass Roots North Carolina

Re: House Bill 937, “Amend Various Firearms Laws”

Dear Mr. Ross:

With respect to your assertion that provisions in House Bill 937 (“Amend Various Firearms Laws”), and particularly its provision allowing concealed handgun permit-holders to keep firearms in locked vehicles on college campuses would “increase the risk to public safety and hamper our ability to protect not only our students, staff and faculty, but also campus visitors”, new information has come to light.

First, the Civitas Institute highlighted your relationship with the ultra-liberal Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation which funds various left-wing causes including, notably, the state’s primary gun control organization, North Carolinians “Against Gun Violence.”

Imagine my surprise.

Then I discovered that the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which WRAL-TV describes as “North Carolina’s flagship public university,” is under investigation by the U.S. Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights for deliberately under-reporting campus sexual assaults.

Is this the sort of “protection” students, faculty and visitors can look forward to? With thirty-five (and perhaps more, considering your under-reporting) forcible sexual assaults between 2008 and 2010, one source notes that the UNC Chapel Hill rate of forcible sexual assault is 50.1% higher than the national average for college campuses.

GRNC will continue to investigate violent crime on UNC campuses, and we will continue to recommend that alumni, parents and others withhold donations from UNC and its supporting organizations until such time that you admit your inherent conflicts of interest on the issue and withdraw your active opposition to HB 937.

This time, I am copying all chancellors to UNC institutions for higher learning so they may see what you are getting them into. For their reference, I am also including the letter I sent you on May 2, 2013.

Respectfully,

F. Paul Valone

President, Grass Roots North Carolina

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