Superior Court Judge A. Graham Shirley ordered a sheriff, who decided to stop issuing handgun permits to comply with COVID-19 gathering guidelines, to resume the process within a week.
Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker said he briefly halted permits on March 24 after an unusual amount of requests overwhelmed the sheriff’s office. Reports said that more than 50 people gathered in the sheriff’s office at a time to receive handgun permits.
“We have to limit folks coming in contact with each other,” Baker told The New American for its April 1 report. “It was also a health concern for our staff.”
Judge Shirley issued the order after gun-rights group Grass Roos North Carolina filed a lawsuit objecting to the sheriff’s decision. Grass Roots also includes the Second Amendment Foundation and the Firearms Policy Coalition members.
According to the order, the judge understood the reasoning behind the sheriff’s temporary suspension but determined the COVID-19-based decision not necessary.
“Baker’s decision to temporarily suspend acceptance of applications was due to his efforts to comply with proclamations of emergency restrictions and his paramount and legitimate concern for the public health and safety in light of the existing declared states of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.” according to The New American.
Baker told The New American website that he was pleased with Shirley’s ruling.
“I’m very pleased with Judge Shirley’s ruling,” Baker said. “I believe the court’s review of the entire situation reveals that my primary purpose has always been and will continue to be, to protect the safety and welfare of my staff, Wake County citizens and the jail residents housed in the Wake County Public Safety Center.”
State Sens. Warren Daniel (R-Avery, Burke, Caldwell) and Danny Britt (R-Columbus, Robeson) demanded that Sherriff Baker end the temporary suspension immediately, the publication reported.
“State law requires sheriffs to approve or reject a pistol permit within 14 days,” they wrote. “People are already suspicious and on edge. It’s reckless and illegal to suspend their Second Amendment rights just when they need assurance that they can trust the government.”
