To save lives, our fellow NC lawmakers must stop ignoring this gun bill and pass it

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NC lawmakers must act now on this gun bill

The writers are retired N.C. judges now serving in the N.C. House.

Gun violence is one of the leading safety concerns in North Carolina. We have the 17th highest rate of gun violence in the United States.

Unfortunately, incidents of gun violence have been so frequent that we sometimes grow numb and complacent. Common-sense gun legislation is an important, simple step to stop the violence. That is why we sponsored House Bill 525, the Extreme Risk Protection Orders Act.

The bill allows judges to determine if an individual poses a significant danger of harming themselves or others and, if so, then temporarily limit that person’s access to firearms, ammunition, and permit(s).

As retired judges, we know firsthand how judges are well suited to gather facts, hear from all interested parties, and make life-saving decisions. We should ensure that Extreme Risk Protection Orders are a part of the toolkit available to our justice system so that foreseeable tragedies can be prevented, and that lives can be saved.

Unfortunately, the Extreme Risk Protection Orders Act has been stalled in our state legislature. House Bill 525 was filed in early April of 2021, but it sits dormant in the House Rules Committee.

We need to act with a sense of urgency on a topic that is not going to disappear just because we choose to ignore it.

According to the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, 59% of deaths from firearms in North Carolina were from suicides. In addition to the immeasurable loss of life to a family or community, gun deaths cost North Carolinians $10 billion in 2020, and cost taxpayers $410 million.

By giving the courts the ability to protect those who are a threat to themselves or others, we can save lives, protect families, and improve North Carolina.

The safety and mental health of our fellow citizens is a matter that we can all come together on.

Other states, such as Florida, have passed Extreme Risk Protection Order laws in a bipartisan fashion. The N.C. General Assembly needs to do the right thing and join other states by enacting common sense gun safety legislation. It will save lives.

Rep. Marcia Morey

Retired Chief District Court Judge

Rep. Joe John

Retired Chief District Court Judge, Resident Superior Court Judge and Court of Appeals Associate Judge.

Buying banned books isn’t the only way to fight this

Regarding “Book on Holocaust was banned in Tennessee school district. Now ‘Maus’ is a top seller,” (Jan. 31) and related articles:

The writer is a parent advocate with Save Our Schools NC.

I’m seeing this argument everywhere: Buy banned books.

There is a general call to buy banned books from book stores. Banned books are selling like hotcakes. However, I’m not a fan.

I’m not against the practice of reading banned books, we should familiarize ourselves with what type of books some are insisting on banning.

But we can’t fight these racist, anti-transgender, homophobic bans with capitalism only.

To me, part of the wonder of public schools is to reach beyond the knowledge in your front yard.

The beauty of public schools is that it is open to all who enter, at least in theory. Public school gives children access to learning. We must provide access to all. This principle goes toward our public libraries as well.

What messages do we send kids who see themselves in those books? That the very idea of their existence is inappropriate? That their culture and even our shared history should be banned from the public?

When we see this happening in our community, at our school board meetings, and other public forums we need to stand up.

People opposed to these bans don’t need to buy out the bookstore. They need to show up for our kids. Fight the bans.

Show up to a school board meeting. Support school boards fighting these bans.

Those who step up don’t need fancy talking points for what we’re seeing at board meetings. We just need to name it. This is racist. This is homophobic. This is hate.

Susan Book, Cary

This story was originally published February 9, 2022 at 5:00 AM.