Forsyth Sheriff blasts proposed change on background checks for guns

A community forum meant to discuss police violence turned to concerns from Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough about legislative attempts to ease gun restrictions.

A spike in gun violence has been dominating much of the crime discussion in Winston-Salem this year, and Tuesday night’s forum with Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough and Winston-Salem Police Chief William Penn, Jr. was no exception.

Kimbrough said they have few tools to combat gun violence and efforts by the Republican-led legislature could take away what he says is the little they have — background checks performed by the sheriff’s office as part of a legal purchase.

This month a bill cleared the state Senate that would take the pistol purchase permitting system out of the sheriff’s hands. Kimbrough expressed his objection to the legislation.

“To me, the metaphor is like going to a fire call — instead of pouring water on the fire, you’re pouring gasoline," he said. "Right now, what we’re doing, you see, if you want to get a firearm you have to come do the background check. You go through proper channels.” 

Supporters of the measure say the current system is redundant and impedes citizens’ Second Amendment rights.