North Carolina lawmakers approve bill for permitless concealed carry

RALEIGH, N.C. (CN) — If signed, a bill passed Wednesday afternoon by North Carolina Republicans would allow gun owners over 18 years old to carry a concealed gun in the state without a concealed carry permit.

The bill, which passed the House 59-48 with two Republicans breaking from their party, goes to Democratic Governor Josh Stein’s desk for approval. If he vetoes the measure, Republicans may lack the unified support to pass it into law without the support of several Democrats.

Speaker of the House Destin Hall said he expected that the bill would be facing a challenge if Stein vetoes and has a lower probability of becoming law than other party-backed measures, but that he has not yet worked to determine if he can secure veto override votes.

Dubbed the “Freedom to Carry Act,” the measure would alter a law that lets the state issue concealed handgun permits since 1995 to qualified residents 21 years and older who complete a gun training course and submit to being fingerprinted.

If it becomes law, the change would mean that residents seeking to conceal carry their handgun with them would not be required to undergo any firearm training or have their mental fitness or their criminal background checked, unless they wanted to undergo the process of obtaining a permit, which would not be required. Open carry is legal in the state, and does not require any training.

The same laws still apply to purchasing a firearm, said state Senator Danny Britt Jr., one of the bill sponsors.

“I believe that we’re making it easier for law-abiding citizens to have guns, not citizens who are bent on committing crime,” Britt said, emphasizing that a resident who wants to constitutionally carry but who is ineligible to purchase a gun won’t be able to purchase one.

Rifles, shotguns and handguns can be purchased without a permit, and if purchased from a federally licensed firearms dealer, are subject to a federal background check. Private sales and inherited guns don’t require a background check, and while an 18-year-old may not be able to purchase a handgun, they may be gifted one by family, and would be able to carry it without a permit if the bill becomes law.

Residents would still be able to get a concealed carry permit, which would allow them to carry in states that have an agreement with North Carolina.

Several Republicans emphasized that the measure doesn’t make it easier to purchase a gun, just reduces paperwork for those who already lawfully possess them, and eliminates a long permitting process.

“It does not change who may buy a firearm, it does not change who may transfer a firearm, it does not change where or when you can carry a firearm,” said state Representative Keith Kidwell. “It simply allows people to carry without getting a permission slip from the government.”** **

Felons are not allowed to carry a concealed gun, nor are unlawful users of controlled substances, dishonorably discharged former members of the armed forces, or anyone convicted of domestic violence or assaulting a police officer or medical responder.

North Carolina Democrats largely opposed the bill, with state Representative Cynthia Ball, disavowing the removal of the permitting process.

“There are no guardrails for someone who has those convictions to continue to carry, because we’re not requiring anything of them until they get caught,” she said.

Democrats emphasized the importance of maintaining gun training, pointing to studies of other right-to-carry states finding that removing licensing that has gun training requirements results in increased rates of gun violence. The chamber also passed a bill funding firearm safety courses at community colleges, with near-unanimous support.

Even a few Republicans, while in committee, pushed back on the idea the idea that 18 year-olds may carry a concealed handgun.

Republican state Representative Ted Davis, pointed out that the government currently requires medical information, background checks and fingerprinting from those who apply for a concealed carry permit. Erasing that step would be disrespectful to the law-abiding citizens who followed the current legal process, he said.

He declined to identify specific reasons for his opposition, but said after the vote that he voted in favor of his constituents.

“It’s just not the right thing to do,” he said, warning that teenagers younger than 18 may end up with guns in their hands if the bill becomes law. He said he would not support a veto-override vote on the measure.

A March poll conducted by Elon University found that 54% of North Carolina respondents oppose dropping the permit requirement, while 34% support doing away with it.

Another poll by Meredith University on registered voters found in April that 47% of respondents support the measure, while 48% oppose it, and 71% oppose lowering the age for purchasing a handgun from 21 to 18.

The bill would also provide a $150,000 death benefit to the families of officers who are killed in the line of duty, and direct the University of North Carolina system to develop a scholarship program for adult children of police officers, firefighters and rescue squad workers who were disabled while serving.

If passed into law, North Carolina would become the 30th state to institute constitutional carry.

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