Cooper urging lawmakers to pass 'watch list' gun ban
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Attorney General Roy Cooper says it's "common sense" to prevent people on the federal government's database of known or suspected terrorists from purchasing guns in North Carolina even though Congress won't pass such a ban nationally.
The Democrat announced Monday that he supported blocking firearm sales to people on the FBI's "terrorist watch list." He wants the Republican General Assembly and Gov. Pat McCrory to pass such legislation.
The U.S. Senate considered last week a similar provision, but it fell six votes shy of what's needed for passage.
A federal analysis found people on the list had successfully passed firearm background checks more than 90 percent of the time.
Senate leader Phil Berger's office and state GOP Chairman Hasan Harnett blasted Cooper and his idea as gun control.
"It's shameful that Roy Cooper has chosen once again to side with Washington, D.C. and follow President Obama's lead, using the recent terrorist attack as a bait-and-switch to push for more gun control in North Carolina," Harnett said in a statement.
