Larry Graham Pittman (born September 30, 1954) is a former
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
member of the
North Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the North Ca ...
. He represented the 83rd district (and the preceding 82nd district) (including constituents in
Cabarrus County
Cabarrus County ( ) , from the North Carolina Collection's website at the
North Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the North Ca ...
on October 10, 2011 to replace fellow Republican Jeff Barnhart who resigned to join a consulting firm. Pittman has been re-elected to the seat a total of 5 times, most recently in
2020
2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, COVID- ...
. On February 4, 2021, Pittman announced that he wouldn't seek re-election in 2022.
In February 2017, Pittman co-sponsored a bill allowing the removal of the ban on North Carolina seceding from the Union ever again. In March 2017 he co-sponsored a bill to once again make gay marriages not valid in North Carolina. Responding to criticisms to both bills, Pittman made controversial statements that were widely reported in the news media. In March 2016, Pittman was a co-sponsor of North Carolina's
Bathroom bill
A bathroom bill is the common name for legislation or a statute that denies access to public toilets by gender or transgender identity. Bathroom bills affect access to sex-segregated public facilities for an individual based on a determination o ...
.
HB 147
In February 2017, Pittman joined with Representatives Michael Speciale (R-Craven) and
George Cleveland
George Alan Cleveland (September 17, 1885 – July 15, 1957) was a Canadian film actor. He appeared in more than 180 films between 1930 and 1954.
Career
Cleveland was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. His first appearance on the stag ...
(R-Jacksonville) in proposing a constitutional amendment that would allow North Carolina voters to repeal Article I, Section 4 of the
North Carolina Constitution
The Constitution of the State of North Carolina governs the structure and function of the state government of North Carolina, one of the United States; it is the highest legal document for the state and subjugates North Carolina law. All U.S. st ...
. This article declares that "This State shall ever remain a member of the American Union; the people thereof are part of the American nation," and prohibits the state from seceding from the United States of America; its inclusion in North Carolina’s 1868 constitution was a condition for being readmitted into the Union after the Civil War. The bill passed the first reading on February 22, 2017, and was referred to the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.
HB 780
Pittman, Speciale, and Representative Carl Ford (R-China Grove) sponsored House Bill 780, which was introduced on March 14, 2017. This bill would end North Carolina's recognition of same sex marriage in disregard of the US Supreme Court ruling in ''
Obergefell v. Hodges
''Obergefell v. Hodges'', ( ), is a landmark LGBT rights case in which the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection ...
'' and cites the Bible as justification for this disregard. The bill passed the first reading on April 13, 2017, and was referred to the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House. On the same day, however, state house speaker Tim Moore stated that the bill would not proceed further due to concerns about its constitutionality. In North Carolina, it is a common practice for bills that lack the support of party leadership to be sent to the Rules Committee to die.
HB 158
In February 2021, Pittman and North Carolina House Representative
Mark Brody
Mark Allen Brody (born December 6, 1951) is a Wisconsin-born Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. He has represented the 55th district (including constituents in Anson and Union counties) since 2013.
Life and career
I ...
introduced House Bill 158, which aimed to classify abortion as first-degree murder and legalize the use of deadly force against those performing or receiving an abortion.
Controversial statements
On March 22, 2017, Pittman posted a newsletter on his Facebook page, giving his constituents an update on his activities. Numerous constituents posted comments, and Pittman responded with controversial statements.
On June 15, 2020, the NC lawmaker posted on his Facebook page calling Seattle
BLM
BLM most commonly refers to:
* Black Lives Matter, an international anti-racism movement and organization
* Bureau of Land Management, a U.S. federal government agency
BLM may also refer to:
Organizations
* BLM (law firm), United Kingdom and ...
protesters 'thugs' and 'vermin' and suggested police 'shoot' those resisting arrest.
U.S. Supreme Court opinion
In response to a commenter's criticism of HB 780, Pittman posted a comment on April 11, 2017, stating that North Carolina should uphold traditional marriage "in spite of the opinion of a federal court that had no business interfering."
Lincoln-Hitler comparison
Pittman's post in reference to the U.S. Supreme Court led to several comments on states' rights and a post telling Pittman that the
Civil War
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
was over, the
Union
Union commonly refers to:
* Trade union, an organization of workers
* Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets
Union may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
Music
* Union (band), an American rock group
** ''Un ...
had won, and to "get over it". Pittman responded in a post on April 12, 2017, saying: "And if
Hitler
Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Germany from 1933 until his death in 1945. He rose to power as the leader of the Nazi Party, becoming the chancellor in 1933 and then ...
had won, should the world just get over it?
Lincoln
Lincoln most commonly refers to:
* Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), the sixteenth president of the United States
* Lincoln, England, cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England
* Lincoln, Nebraska, the capital of Nebraska, U.S.
* Lincoln ...
was the same sort if ictyrant, and personally responsible for the deaths of over 800,000 Americans in a war that was unnecessary and unconstitutional." He later deleted the post.
Climate change statement
In July 2012, Pittman issued a statement rejecting the
scientific consensus on climate change
There is a strong scientific consensus that the Earth is warming and that this warming is mainly caused by human activities. This consensus is supported by various studies of scientists' opinions and by position statements of scientific org ...
: "Our climate runs on a cycle. It goes up and it goes down and the Lord designed it that way. And the main thing that causes global warming is the Earth's relationship to a big ball of gas that's burning out there that we call the Sun. And it is the height of hubris for human beings to think that we can have any effect on that."
Summary execution for protestors
In a June 2020 Facebook post, in response to the national protests sparked by the
murder of George Floyd
On , George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was murdered in the U.S. city of Minneapolis by Derek Chauvin, a 44-year-old white police officer. Floyd had been arrested on suspicion of using a counterfeit $20 bill. Chauvin knelt on Floyd's n ...
, Pittman called protesters "vermin" and "thugs" and opined that if they "resist and attack" police should shoot them.
Call for public hangings
In 2012, Pittman called for the public hanging of doctors who provide abortions.