North Carolina eliminates pistol permit requirement.

North Carolina's Republican-controlled legislature has overridden the Democratic governor's veto, allowing residents to buy handguns without a permit from a local sheriff. The longstanding permit system requiring sheriffs to perform character evaluations and criminal history checks of pistol applicants has been eliminated. Supporters say the sheriff screening process is no longer necessary in light of significant updates to the national background check system, and that the permit requirement didn't serve as a crime deterrent. However, opponents warn it allows more dangerous people to obtain weapons through private sales, which do not require a background check, and limits law enforcement's ability to prevent them from committing violent crimes.