Senate Bill 788 would ban domestic violence convicts from owning guns, require background checks, and mandate safe firearm storage in homes with students.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A bill re-introduced on the first day of the North Carolina General Assembly’s short session could tighten restrictions on who can legally have a gun.
Senate Bill 788 would make it a crime for people convicted of domestic violence to purchase or possess firearms. The bill passed its first reading on Wednesday and is now in committee.
It would also create state-level penalties for violations — something supporters say is needed to close enforcement gaps and maintain stronger offender accountability.
“I’m proud of the government, I’m proud of the lawmakers, I am proud because one small step is a big step to victory,” domestic violence advocate Vickie L. Evans said.
“She [Evans] and I are probably sisters in an unwanted membership of that club,” Sen. Woodson Bradley said. “I’m a domestic violence survivor and I honestly believe the only reason I’m here today is because my abuser did not have access to a gun.”
The bill would also require universal background checks, reinstate the pistol purchase permit law and enforce a policy requiring parents or guardians of a student to submit a form prior to the start of each school year certifying that any firearms in the home are safely stored.
“My mother was abused, and so back in those days, it was whatever goes on behind closed doors, stays there, so the support system was very limited,” Evans said. “But when I look now, and I see that there are lawmakers getting involved, and there are more people — our neighbors are more concerned about what’s going on in our community, I say that we have come a long way. but I still must say, we still have a long way to go.”
Bradley said the purpose of the bll is to solve a problem, and the attention it’s drawing will help lawmakers achieve that goal.
“I look forward to seeing where this bill goes, I love the fact that it’s getting attention,” Bradley said. “Anyone that wants to reach out to me, talk to me. How do we move this forward? This will benefit people across the state and I would love to see other states adopt something similar.”
Contact Bria Smith at bsmith6@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
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