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Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker will address concerns about his staff possibly being exposed to COVID-19 while handing out gun permits during the coronavirus pandemic. 



<b>RALEIGH, N.C.</b> — A line formed Monday outside the gun permit office in Raleigh one day after Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker said that one member of his staff in the gun permit office tested positive for COVID-19.

No member of the public were exposed, Baker said, but the issuing of some gun permits could be delayed.

All nine staff members who work in the department, located at the John Baker H. Public Safety Center at 330 S. Salisbury St., were exposed to the coronavirus as a result.

Baker said the office will have a "modified crew" to meet the influx of appointments that are scheduled for Monday.

Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker said that the county is seeing a historic number of pistol purchase permits. The staff that hands out these permits are possibly being exposed to COVID-19 while on the job

deserved right around here. Okay, We will. Okay. Good morning. I just want to thank you for getting here over. Thio, give us a minute collar. Bring everybody up today where we are. Of course, we all know with Kobe in a pandemic, you know, uh, changes things all over the country all over the world. Certainly. Right here in North Carolina in Wake County. Uh, the biggest concern that I had on the on side of covert has actually came in and struck us here on its been touches throughout the office. But it certainly has has touched our pistol permit division. Over the weekend, we found out that one of the members tested positive. Aziz, you recall, You know, the you know, you got facing several lawsuits and things that the onset of covert because, you know, I was trying to to pause and suspend process long enough to get our precautions in place that you see behind you in place to keep our people safe. That was my number one concern. It certainly was in no way. And then no intention on We did not, I believe, violated the ones rights, constitutional rights and any other rights It was just a step of us trying to protect my staff here. Inside this is the service office. So we could continue to serve accounting through its and those permits. But today we you know, we are here to let everyone know that the covert has been confirmed in that division. Eso that requires all those members about 9 to 10 members that run that that unit, that division each day, Uh, getting those permits out to be tested. Uh, it could very well mean that that office would be shut down. But we're making efforts now to keep it rolling, even in the midst of the testing that's required necessary, uh, to continue. Um, So on Monday, tomorrow, we'll have ah modified crew that we're putting together just to at least try to meet the appointments that were scheduled for tomorrow. Um, on tomorrow. Monday, we we have about 171 um, scheduled to pick up there, purchase and all together with between that and concealed, that's scheduled for appointment on tomorrow. And then on Tuesday we have another 245 although the schedule. So if you're looking at just a couple days to try to get that testing done and try to get all those staff members back in place a couple of days. You're looking at about 416 appointment the appointments that were scheduled for the next two days that it's gonna be affected in some kind of way. Well, again, you know, we've issued 32,700 people 700 purchase permits this year alone, compared to 22,201 permits last year. So when you look at those numbers that that alone has got to show you that the man for the first of all the purchase permits and things, it's just it's so great that when you put it up against the 14 day period that you hear, a lot of people complain about me in this office violating their rights but not getting them their permits on 14 day period. Well, that's on that 14 day. Even in general, statute is focusing around just normal, uh, request. Uh, these numbers are not normal, and, you know, we've got a lot of people who have been extremely patient. They understand they're looking at those numbers and they're saying to themselves. Hey, that is just Z. That's a starship, you know? And they're waiting and they're waiting for the appointments, so I'm gonna call, They understand. And that's kind of what we're looking at. You know, you consume me all day, but those numbers tell you that it's gonna be almost impossible to serve the service. That number of applications with the process is in place. The background checks to the required in the 14 day period. So we're just asking that you be patient, we're gonna get them. We're gonna get him out. We're cranking out. Let me just to show you some additional numbers. January 1 through September 13th of this year 25 402 uh, requests were received in comparison to 7685 last year. Those that were proven delivered from January 1 of this year through September 13th of this year, 32,700 compared Teoh a year ago, 10,499. The purchase permit application, um, still in need of processing is about 4000 and 45 and we're currently processing 2000 and 20 ah week, So I mean, that's what the crew of 10 people we've pulled them from other places, uh, from other areas to come in and help. It requires that the c R certification and some other things to be able to process them. Eso You know, again, when you look at the current concealed applications process from January 1 through September 13th of this year 9339 compared to 7000 409 last year, that's a difference of about 1930. So much so again, you know, we're here. I promised that that I would bring transparency to this office. Uh, regards of what it would bring me, uh, in terms off, You know, the feedback and, uh, negative or positive. I was gonna let the people know what's happening in here. And that's what we're doing today. I don't want anyone to think that we're sitting here behind the fact that that that place has been confirmed and we have thio people here this morning. Clean it out force, so we can begin to be getting back on the road on tomorrow, uh, trying in any way we can to get those, uh, those applications. Get those principles purchase permits out. S o uh, You know, again, it's it's just touching. And and as long as this pandemic is uh happening is going to continue to affect this office and any other office, Any other business. Uh, that's just the nature of this beast we had Our i t, uh, had closed it down short of two or three people last week while everyone when he got tested. Uh, it's going through this office. Uh, we've been very, very fortunate over the last six months to not have any more than then we have, But it's going to happen. And so we're no different from anyone else. Ah, and so I just want to make sure that everyone understands. Everyone knows that we're here. We're gonna continue to do the job that we're here to do. We're gonna continue working to get those put pistol permits and those 60 W's out with everything that we have on. But I just wanted to make sure there's no misunderstanding what's going on. And I appreciate you all here, and I love to take any questions that you have that is correct. My well, the modification that we're gonna try to make is going to involve some folks who don't leave that will not. We feel believe that probably was safe on top of, uh, some folks who have not had direct contact, But the rest of them do working pretty close quarters back here. So that's just a modification that z attempt that we're gonna try to make to keep from shutting it down. No, it'll be fewer until we can get the test results back. Because again, it takes certain, especially training, to be able to process those, uh, those permits. So, uh, uh, you know, even if we went and if we had two or three others, uh, there there d c I usage is gonna be patrol related. It's not gonna be so still. Be on battle of trying to teach them how to process these permits, if you know to do that, so but that's it. Nothing's ruled out. We're gonna do all we can as we always have to try to keep getting those permits on those out to citizens and those who want them. Some will want them right away, and then we're getting them out just as fast as we can, but we're not violating anyone's rights. Don't have a problem saying that once said. It's just a our demand that has never been seen before again. The numbers speak volumes as to what the delay is, so it's not. We're not trying to get him out. It's just record breaking numbers in terms of trying to get the purchase permit, all those permits to purchase. So again, I appreciate you all coming out. Thio, help us get the message out. You always here for us, and we appreciate you so much. Oh, absolutely Way have our own, uh, covert system set up along with the county and emergency operating sent over here. I have to to be notified on what they What they do is, uh they explain to that person with the procedures and obviously they can't report back to duty until they've been tested in That test result is negative so that the quarantine goes into effect on So anyone who has been in contact with that person has to be quarantined and tested as well. So, uh, quarters back here for principal Mrs Really tight. It's a cubicle section and I don't have a problem with letting you all go back to see it. If you want Thio just to show you, you know

Wake County Sheriff addresses concerns of COVID-19 exposure to staff handing out gun permits

Wake County Sheriff says that staff in gun permit office tested positive for COVID-19

There are about 171 people scheduled to pick up their pistol purchases and concealed carry licenses on Monday. On Tuesday, there are around 245 people who have scheduled appointments in the gun permit office.

The county issued 22,201 more permits this year from January to Sept. 13. The number of permit requests has soared in North Carolina and nationally during the pandemic.

"These numbers are not normal," said Baker, who is asking for patience in processing these requests during the pandemic.

A grassroots gun-rights group filed another lawsuit against his office in August, over the time it takes for residents to obtain hand gun permits.

Grass Roots North Carolina <a href="https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/story/group-files-third-lawsuit-against-wake-sheriff-over-gun-permits/19220600/">said last month that their office has been "flooded with complaints" from people who are trying to buy guns but are unable to do so because of limitations set in place by Baker.</a>

A grassroots organization has filed another lawsuit against the Wake County Sheriff's Office, this time over the time it takes for residents to obtain hand gun permits.

Mark Boyle

Jessica Patrick

Wake County receiving 'unprecedented' number of requests for gun permits 

Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker

"You can sue me all day," Baker said, "but those numbers tell you that it is going to be almost impossible to service that number of applications with the processes in place and the background checks that are required in a 14-day period."

According to GRNC, "Baker refuses to process pistol purchase permits within the 14 days required by law, effectively denying citizens their right to keep and bear arms." GRNC asserts that more people are buying guns after rioting and protests across the country.

Riots in North Carolina back in May led to a spike in gun permits in June, <a href="https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/story/wake-county-gun-permit-applications-up-200-in-2020/19131895/">according to officials and gun shop owners.</a>

From the first day of January to Sept. 13, a total of 24,119 purchase permit applications were received. Last year during that time frame, only 2,785 applications were received.

In reference to trying to limit the number of people coming into the office, Baker said that, "we did, I believe, not violate anyone's constitutional rights."

"It was just a step of us trying to protect our staff so we could continue to serve our county," he said.

Kasey Cunningham

Lucas Nelson

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Line forms outside gun permit office in downtown Raleigh

Second Amendment,Wake County Sheriff's Office,guns,law enforcement

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Line forms outside gun permit office in downtown Raleigh

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Lines form Monday outside gun permit office in Raleigh