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.
It’s nice to see 2A groups stand up and fight.
The NRA could learn something from these groups.
So North Carolina Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden is disclosing the Private information as Social Security Number, Date of Birth, Address, Name, etc. to the Veterans Administration to add non-Veterans to their database? To disclose the most private of personal information to a third party for no reason whatsoever? Seems like Willful and Intentional Law-breaking as to Federal, State and County Privacy Laws.
more scum in government at every level than an any stagnant pound
Yeah, good point!
The Veterans Administration continues to be hacked: https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/14/politics/veterans-affairs-data-breach/index.html
; https://www.stripes.com/veterans/2024-04-25/veterans-health-care-cyberattack-leak-13659271.html
FJB’s 20 Million Illegal Aliens are looking for good ID. The Chain of ID Theft starts at North Carolina Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden thru the Veterans Administration to the successful hackers to FJB’s Illegal Tresspasser Aliens.
Don’t forget China either. They spend as much time in Gov. servers are Gov employees do. Especially DOD servers.
Most of the real identity theft is done by the mob. It’s cheaper and easier to have geeks do that, then sell it to the cartels for the illegals then do have another Valentines Day Massacre.
A good first step.
Then get that rat out when his term is up.
And this is just one reason why I m a proud member of GRNC. Please continue to support SAF, GOA, CCRKBA and your local gun rights organizations. They do the work and the NRA scrambles to take credit while adding nothing to the equation.
Would the NRA care to comment on why the cover up of Mr. Kelner, the executive director of NRAWC’s A.D. which resulted in personal injury to himself? The NRA can’t even give me a “no comment”. Why? Is this “NRA 2.0”?
The “Chairman” listed in the picture is Mr. Schmeits, who is indeed the chairman, and a past NRA president, and current NRA BoD.