Cooper urges lawmakers, McCrory to pass ‘watch list’ gun ban

By GARY D. ROBERTSON
Associated Press

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — 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 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 Hassan Harnett blasted Cooper and his idea as gun control.

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