North Dakota House lawmakers back off concealed carry proposal

North Dakota House lawmakers backed away from a proposal that opponents worried would open the door to concealed weapons being carried in schools, churches and public buildings Friday.

At issue was a resurrected proposal creating a new type of concealed weapons license that would exempt permit holders from the ban on possessing firearms at public gatherings, which state law defines as schools, churches, sporting events and public buildings. The licenses would require training equivalent to what police officers receive.

Earlier this session, the House approved a bill enacting the Class 1 "exempt" licenses, but it was defeated in the Senate. A House committee then amended a separate Senate bill to include the new license type, and the legislation was debated in a conference committee with members from both chambers Friday.

Nearly two dozen education, religious and other groups opposed the proposal in a letter to lawmakers last week. They warned "worship leaders, agency heads, school boards, and university presidents will lose their right to decide whether guns will be allowed in their workplaces and institutions of learning" if the new bill became law.

Read more: https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/north-dakota-house-lawmakers-back-off-concealed-carry-proposal/article_69b66874-859c-5fb7-babb-cc3c8c492184.html