Mecklenburg Democrat who missed veto override says she’s opposed to pistol permit repeal

A Mecklenburg County legislator says she missed a veto override vote Wednesday because of a medical appointment and is opposed to a bill that repealed North Carolina’s pistol purchase permit requirement.

Rep. Tricia Cotham, a Democrat whose district covers eastern Mecklenburg County, said she was receiving treatment for long COVID during the 9:30 a.m. veto override vote and is opposed to “the dangerous repeal of pistol purchase permits.” Cotham was one of three Democrats who were absent during the 71-46 vote, which made it possible for Republicans to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of Senate Bill 41 without a Democrat’s support.

The other Democrats included Reps. Cecil Brockman from Guilford County and Michael Wray of Halifax County, who voted for the bill when it first passed the N.C. House. Brockman said he was in the urgent care Wednesday morning and Wray said he had a family emergency, the News & Observer reported.

Cotham told The Charlotte Observer Republicans and Democrats knew she wouldn’t be present at the legislature Wednesday and that her presence alone wouldn’t have stopped the veto override.

A veto override in the N.C. House requires three-fifths of the members present. Cotham would have made 118 members present Wednesday morning. So, an override in that case would still require 71 votes instead of 72.

She also was absent during a vote on the same bill in the N.C. House on Wednesday, March 15. She told WSOC-TV, The Charlotte Observer’s news partner, her long COVID appointments are usually on Wednesdays or Thursdays.

“I do not and have not supported the dangerous repeal of pistol purchase permits, which I have voted against previously,” Cotham said.

Cotham has been open about her struggles with long COVID, which involves symptoms such as fatigue, fever and respiratory problems that last weeks, months or years after an initial diagnosis.

What Senate Bill 41 changes

The House vote Wednesday codifies Senate Bill 41 into law.

People will no longer need to obtain a permit from the county sheriff’s office to buy a handgun. The bill also allows people to carry concealed handguns in places of worship that also serve as schools or have attached schools. It excludes buildings owned by the local board of education or county commissioners.

Cooper said he vetoed the bill because it eliminated “strong background checks” and “will allow more domestic abusers and other dangerous people to own handguns.” The bill will reduce law enforcement’s ability to stop both from committing violent crimes, Cooper said.