Nearly three hours of additional House debate on a bill easing some North Carolina concealed weapons restrictions and streamlining pistol purchase permit applications with local sheriffs did little to change the final result.
The House gave its final approval late Wednesday to the measure by a vote of 78-37 — the same margin when the chamber gave it tentative approval Tuesday. The bill now goes to the Senate.
Several amendments approved Tuesday by a bipartisan coalition of all Democrats and some Republicans scaled back the bill's scope. They eliminated provisions that would have allowed lawmakers to carry their concealed weapons in the legislative complex and would have phased out the purchase permit.
More amendments were heard Wednesday. Lawmakers supporting more or fewer limits on guns gave impassioned speeches.
