North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland are all under an official state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Earl. In North Carolina, residents no longer have the right to carry a gun. “This highlights exactly why we needed to file a lawsuit against North Carolina’s Emergency powers,” Paul Valone of Grass Roots North Carolina (GRNC) told TTAG. “With the stroke of a pen, the governor can abridge the Second Amendment rights of all citizens—at the exact moment when they may need them the most.” According to the GRNC, “Since 2004, at least 12 states of emergency have been declared, especially in the state’s hurricane-prone coastal areas.” And then there was the time when it snowed . . .

In February King, NC declared a state of emergency for impending snowfall [hence that fact that the city’s been named in the suit], posting signs prohibiting the carriage and sale of firearms and ammunition, infringing upon its citizens’ Second Amendment rights.

As the post-Katrina gun grab shows, these are not “blue laws” sitting on the books for no particular reason. We’ll see what happens after the storm subsides.

[Click here for a pdf of the complaint against NC looking to strike down the firearms provisions of its Emergency Powers laws. Click here to read Paul Valone’s article on the subject for the Washington Examiner.]

9 COMMENTS

  1. Wow. Do other states have similar laws? Katrina played a significant role in my decision to become a gun owner, and the idea that a citizen cannot lawfullly arm his/herself while, say, trying to escape a lawless disaster zone (like post-Katrina New Orleans) is disturbing. I have the utmost respect and admiration for law enforcement, but the police can only offer so much deterrence and protection in the best of times, much less when there's a complete breakdown of law and order.

  2. Now let me get this straight. . all the "bad" people will be out with guns hurting the "good" people who aren't allow to use theirs. . Personally this should reason enough to have the Governor impeached or at the very least not re-elected. The only reason to suspend gun rights is for the Government to protect itself from it's citizens. . This right should NEVER be suspended EVER!

  3. Since when can a state suspend the Constitution?
    Isn't that a good enough reason to sue the state? Oh wait i forgot, we only sue states that aren't politically aligned with the current elite in government. Not ones that actually violate the constitution and the rights of the people of the United States.

  4. As it turns out, the governor has the “option” to suspend conceal carry rights, and those rights were not suspended during the next State of Emergency for Tropical Storm Nichole. The governor stated this line in her declaration:

    Section 7.

    This order is adopted pursuant to my powers under Article 1 of Chapter 166A of the General Statutes and not under my authority under Article 36A of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes. It does not trigger the limitations on weapons in G.S. § 14-288.7 or impose any limitation on the consumption, transportation, sale or purchase of alcoholic beverages.

    For the complete declaration go here – http://www.governor.state.nc.us/NewsItems/ExecutiveOrderDetail.aspx?newsItemID=1455

    Why suspend the right to carry during one event and not the next. I would like to see some consistency so I know what I am dealing with, or at the very least an explanation. Maybe I should call the governor’s office and find out. It’s worth a try.

  5. Orwell could appreciate this. In an emergency, that’s when you may need you guns the most. Don’t knock on my door

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