After two mass shootings in 24 hours on Aug. 3-4, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Lt. Gov. Dan Forest are among those calling for legislative solutions.

Daniel Keylin, communications director for Tillis, said the senator is working with Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to draft a bipartisan “red flag” law. It would allow courts, following a petition, to temporarily bar someone from possessing a gun if he presents an imminent danger or a risk of misuse.

Keylin said Tillis wants to ensure that those who may be temporarily barred from having a gun will have due process and go before a judge. Forest said he prefers specific, rather than general, solutions to gun violence.

“While solutions to address the problem of mass murders in our country are way past due, I have yet to see a ‘red flag’ bill that adequately protects the constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans,” Forest said in a statement. “Instead, what we get are overly broad, undefined plans that could lead to government gun confiscation.”

Red flag laws have been adopted in 17 states and the District of Columbia.

The bipartisan U.S. Senate proposal also is supported by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. A similar bill was proposed last year but was never voted on.

Now, nearly all Senate Democrats support red flag laws and more Republicans are adding their support, including President Donald Trump.

“We must make sure that those judged to pose a grave risk to public safety do not have access to firearms and that if they do, those firearms can be taken through rapid due process,” Trump said last week.

In North Carolina, Democrats pushed for two gun safety bills last week at a news conference.

“One-hundred-and-thirty days ago, this bill was filed. There’s been no committee hearing. There has been no discussion. There has been no debate.” said Rep. Marcia Morey, D-30.  “This is not a partisan issue. This is a public health emergency. I invite my Republican colleagues to do what’s sensible, to do what’s right, to do what our state is demanding.”

Drew Pescaro, a survivor of the shooting at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, called for quick action on the proposed bill.

“For whatever reason, the shooting in our state wasn’t enough to bring this to a vote,” Pescaro said. “I don’t want pity for what happened to me. I’ve received plenty of that already. I’m tired of living my life as the victim. This wasn’t the life I asked for. I just want action.”

North Carolina Healthcare Association calls for NC senators to pass bill

In an open letter to N.C. senators, the North Carolina Healthcare Association called for passing House Bill 184, which would create a committee to look at redesigning the State Health Plan for teachers and state employees.

“The Senate has the opportunity, through H.B. 184, to direct key stakeholders to work together to develop and deliver a State Health Plan that works for all,” the association’s letter says. “We need a plan that helps people and does not harm communities — especially those most at risk.”

More than 75 CEOs and other representatives of North Carolina hospitals, health systems and providers signed the letter.

It also says State Treasurer Dale Folwell’s proposed plan, the State Health Plan Clear Pricing Project, is not sustainable and doesn’t help improve the health of its beneficiaries or reduce the long-term cost of care.

H.B. 184 was passed in the House in April on a 75-36 vote. Rep. Harry Warren, R-76, is a sponsor of the bill. Rep. Julia Howard, R-77, voted in favor of the bill; Rep. Larry Pittman, R-83, voted against it.

The bill passed its first reading in the Senate and moved to a committee on rules and operations on April 4, where it has been since.

This report includes material from the Associated Press.