FOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SHOT AND KILLED, FOUR MORE WOUNDED,  AT NORTH CAROLINA HOME AFTER SERVING A WARRANT ON A FELON IN POSSESSION OF A FIREARM

Charlotte, N.C. – The North Carolina chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, released the following statement in response to a shooting Monday night outside a house in Charlotte. According to reports, eight law enforcement officers were shot, four of whom were killed, after arriving on scene to serve a warrant to a felon for being in possession of a firearm. The felon fired at them upon their arrival and was later also pronounced dead. 

“Law enforcement officers showed up to do their job, to protect North Carolinians, and were met with senseless violence,” said Scarlett Hollingsworth, a Moms Demand Action volunteer with the North Carolina chapter. “It doesn’t have to be this way. Thoughts and prayers mean nothing when unfettered access to firearms is only expanded. When extremist lawmakers continue to push their guns everywhere agenda, all our lives are on the line, including that of our state’s law enforcement . These shootings are preventable, but only if lawmakers have the courage and decency to act. Our lives are worth more than the gun lobby’s money, and our lives are worth saving.”

This past session, North Carolina passed a dangerous bill that repealed the background check requirement for unlicensed handgun sales. The bill was vetoed by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, but then overridden by the legislature. 

As the legislative session begins, it’s important to remember that North Carolina is the only state in the southern region who has not passed permitless carry. Permitless carry has been staunchly opposed by law enforcement across the country, including in Nebraska, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina, Indiana, and Ohio. Additionally, States that have weakened their firearm permitting systems have experienced an 11 percent increase in handgun homicide rates and a 13-15 percent increase in violent crime rates. Lawmakers should fight against all efforts to bring up this dangerous piece of legislation this legislative session to maintain an integral safeguard to protect North Carolinians.  

North Carolina has the 14th-highest rate of gun violence in the U.S., and North Carolina is missing key firearm laws, scoring only 31 out of 100 for gun law strength while maintaining the 16th-highest rate of gun homicides in the United States. 

In an average year, 1,588 people are killed by guns in the state, with a 47% increase in gun deaths from 2012 to 2021, compared to a 39% increase nationwide. Gun violence costs North Carolina around $19.5 billion each year. More information about gun violence in North Carolina is available here.