North Carolina is an outlier among Republican-led states when it comes to concealed carry rules.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ North Carolina Senate Republicans introduced a bill Tuesday that would loosen some restrictions on firearms, including a provision that would allow almost anyone 18 or older to carry a concealed handgun in public without having to acquire a concealed carry permit.ย
Senate Bill 50, named “Freedom to Carry NC,” is sponsored by several Republican Senators. The bill aims to allow individuals to carry a concealed handgun without a permit while maintaining the option to obtain a concealed handgun permit for reciprocity purposes or other reasons.ย
Senate Leader Phil Berger shot down a similar proposal in 2023. This year, Berger is a co-sponsor of the bill, marking a significant shift in his thinking on the legislation.ย
โThe General Assembly has made incredible strides to defend the Second Amendment rights of North Carolinians,โ Bergerโs office wrote in a statement attributed to all of the billโs Republican sponsors. โThere is still more we can do though.โ
The NC Sheriffs’ Association hasn’t taken a stance on the proposal, but the group’s spokesperson told WRAL TV that lawmakers in both the House and Senate have filed bills to get rid of concealed carry rules.ย
Current state law requires North Carolinians seeking a concealed carry permit to get the permission of their local sheriff and pass tests on firearm safety and accuracy, as well as tests on laws related to guns and self-defense. SB50 would make that system optional, meaning North Carolinians who are eligible to own a firearm wouldn’t need to go through those steps to carry that weapon. Permits would still be available, as many states allow people to carry concealed guns if they have a permit from another state.ย
The bill has several exceptions when it comes to legally carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. These include anyone ineligible to own or possess a firearm, convicted felons, military veterans who receive anything other than an honorable discharge, people who have been convicted of domestic violence, crimes against law enforcement or anyone who has been convicted of DWI within the past three years. The bill also restricts against people who have been found in court to be mentally ill or incompetent.ย
According to WRAL, the House version would allow elected officials to carry concealed firearms into places where guns are otherwise banned, while the Senate version would not.ย
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