Opinion

North Carolina – In recent days, a press release from the Mecklenburg County Sheriffs’ Office (MCSO) has caused Charlotte news media to prematurely report a settlement in the lawsuit filed by Grass Roots North Carolina, Gun Owners of America, and individual plaintiffs against Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden.

Per advice from Grass Roots North Carolina’s legal team, we have refrained from giving details of the settlement so far. Given MCSO’s public statement adding “spin” to McFadden’s defeat, however, Grass Roots North Carolina is compelled to tell the truth about what has been tentatively agreed to by the parties.

At issue are what appear to be intentional delays in issuing concealed handgun permits (CHPs) by McFadden, who previously sent mental health record requests to the Veteran’s Administration for all permit applicants, regardless of whether they served in the military, flooding the VA with paperwork in order to create delays in permits.

This is the second lawsuit GRNC and GOA have filed against McFadden over permit delays.

Between the two suits, GRNC and GOA have ended McFadden’s gun permit delays in the following ways:

• Repealing NC’s Jim Crow-era pistol purchase permit law, used by urban sheriffs to delay handgun purchases;
• Ending the MCSO practice of requiring CHP (concealed handgun permit) applicants to schedule appointments, often months ahead, to apply;
• Ending the practice of flooding mental health records requests to the VA for all applicants, including non-veterans;
• Requiring the sheriff to make mental health record requests only for applicants who have previously sought mental health treatment (tentative); and
• Paying $5,000 toward damages and legal fees suffered by the plaintiffs (tentative).

Most amusing was McFadden’s statement that he will continue to “inquire of each applicant whether the applicant has sought mental health treatment.” In truth, he is required to do so. In fact, it is a part of the CHP application form stipulated by the NC Administrative Office of the Courts.

While we are disappointed that McFadden refuses to pay the full legal fees incurred by those denied their rights due to his malfeasance as a public servant, as a public policy organization, Grass Roots North Carolina is happy that McFadden has capitulated on permit delays.

Read Related: North Carolina Sheriff Stops Latest Obstruction on Concealed Handgun Permits

About Paul Valone

Author F. Paul Valone has been kicking leftist tail for twenty-eight years. Alarmed by the U.S. House passage of the “assault weapon” ban in 1994, he decided to take action. Finding no suitable organization, he organized a rally leading to the creation of a 501(c)(4) organization, Grass Roots North Carolina (GRNC), which remains North Carolina’s primary and most successful gun rights group to this day.