PROTECT THOSE WHO SERVE AND PROTECT ACT.

Printer-friendly: Click to view
View NCGA Bill Details2021
House Bill 36 (Public) Filed Monday, February 1, 2021
AN ACT TO INCREASE THE PUNISHMENT FOR DISCHARGING OR ATTEMPTING TO DISCHARGE A FIREARM AT OR INTO AN UNOCCUPIED EMERGENCY VEHICLE AND TO INCREASE THE PUNISHMENT FOR POINTING A LASER DEVICE AT A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OR OTHER EMERGENCY PERSONNEL WHEN THE PERSON OR ANIMAL IS IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS OR HER DUTIES.
Intro. by Hastings, Saine, C. Smith, K. Baker.

Status: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate (Senate action) (Mar 29 2021)
H 36

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: Mar 24 2021 - View Summary

    House committee substitute to the 2nd edition makes the following changes.

    Amends proposed GS 14-34.1A, to amend the definition of emergency vehicle to include a vehicle owned or operated by the Division of Adult Corrections and Juvenile Justice (was, by the Division's Section of Community Corrections).

    Amends GS 14-34.8, which makes it a Class I felony to intentionally point a laser at any of the specified categories of persons while that person is in the performance of his or her duties, by amending the included categories to include: (1) a person whose employment duties include the custody, transportation, or management of persons who are detained or confined to a detention facility, youth development center, or correctional institution operated under the State's or local government's jurisdiction (was, a person employed at a detention facility operated under the State's or local government's jurisdiction) and (2) court counselors whose duties include intake, probation, post-release supervision, and court supervision services of juveniles (new). Makes additional organizational changes. 


  • Summary date: Mar 10 2021 - View Summary

    House committee substitute amends the 1st edition as follows.

    Amends proposed GS 14-34.1A, which makes it a Class H felony to discharge or attempt to discharge any firearm or barreled weapon capable of discharging shot, bullets, pellets, or other missiles at a muzzle velocity of at least 600 feet per second at or into any unoccupied emergency vehicle. Adds a vehicle owned or operated by the Section of Community Corrections of the Division of Adult Corrections and Juvenile Justice of the Department of Public Safety to the definition of emergency vehicle.


  • Summary date: Feb 1 2021 - View Summary

    Enacts GS 14-34.1A, making it a Class H felony to willfully or wantonly discharge or attempt to discharge any firearm or barreled weapon capable of discharging shot, bullets, pellets, or other missiles at a muzzle velocity of at least 600 feet per second at or into any unoccupied emergency vehicle. Defines emergency vehicle to include a vehicle of law enforcement and fire departments, ambulances, rescue squads, the National Guard, or the US Armed Forces. 

    Amends GS 14-34.8, making it a Class I felony to intentionally point a laser at any of the eight specified persons while that person is in the performance of his or her duties. Persons specified include law enforcement officers, probation officers, parole officers, certain detention facility employees, firefighters, emergency medical technicians/providers, National Guard members, and US Armed Forces members (previously, intentionally pointing a laser at a law enforcement officer was an infraction; other specified persons were not included in the statute, and the precondition that the persons be in the performance of his or her duty was not included). Additionally, makes it a Class A1 misdemeanor to intentionally point a laser at a law enforcement agency animal or a search and rescue animal while the animal is in the performance of its duty. Makes conforming changes. 

    Applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2021.