Of course, the sheriff has Reasons
Wake County sheriff suspends pistol, concealed-carry permit applications as demand surges
The Wake County Sheriff’s Office will suspend pistol and concealed-carry permit applications until April 30 as demand surges amid the coronavirus outbreak, Sheriff Gerald Baker announced Tuesday.
Applications that have already been submitted will continue to be processed, Baker said during a press briefing.
Pistol permit applications last week averaged 290 per day, or more than three times the roughly 90 applications per day during the same time period a year ago, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Baker said his office needs time to manage the backlog.
“This decision does not limit anyone’s right to purchase a handgun,†he said in a news release.
Except, they can’t purchase if their permits won’t be processed. Democrat Baker, who already refuses to cooperate with ICE and protect citizens from illegal alien criminals, joins a number of mostly Democrat areas that are closing gun stores and refusing to process permits.
Legislative critics immediately called the sheriff’s action reckless.
In a statement, Sens. Warren Daniel, a Burke County Republican, and Danny Britt, a Robeson County Republican, called on Baker to cancel his order.
“State law requires sheriffs to approve or reject a pistol permit within 14 days,†they wrote.
“Sheriff Baker must immediately rescind his illegal decision to halt sale of pistols in Wake County,†they wrote.
If Baker doesn’t, Daniel and Britt said they would call on their fellow lawmakers to force him to do so.
I’m betting Baker will not comply, as he knows that the Democratic Party governor will not sign any legislation. But, hey, maybe he’ll back down like the L.A. County sheriff did, especially in the face of lawyers and threats of lawsuits.
