I was premature in praising Heath Shuler for saying he would begin carrying a concealed handgun in the wake of the Tucson shootings for self-defense. Because, you see, doing so would likely cause Shuler to run afoul of North Carolina law.
If Shuler is speaking at a political rally on state property in N.C. and carries a concealed weapon ? even if he has a permit ? that would violate state law:
It shall be unlawful for any person participating in, affiliated with, or
present as a spectator at any parade, funeral procession, picket line, or demonstration upon any private health care facility or upon any public place owned or under the control of the State or any of its political subdivisions to willfully or intentionally possess or have immediate access to any dangerous weapon.
In addition, if Shuler wants to campaign at an event that charges admission (such as the State Fair), he won?t be able to pack.
I?m not conveying these facts to discourage Shuler from carrying concealed. Instead, I?m arguing it?s time for these absurd restrictions to end. Because we all know this man wouldn?t have paid a lick of attention to these laws had the tragic shootings occurred in North Carolina.
