A day after the North Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee approved it, the Senate Rules Committee quickly advanced a bill on Wednesday that would allow North Carolinians aged 18 and older to carry a concealed handgun without a permit.
The bill, supported by Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, now heads to the Senate floor, where it is expected to pass.
On the same day, the House Judiciary 2 Committee also advanced a similar proposal. House Bill 5 now moves to the House Rules Committee for further consideration.
Supporters Frame Bill as a Constitutional Right
Senator Danny Britt (R-Cumberland), one of the bill’s main sponsors, described the measure as a small update to existing state law, which already allows open carry without a permit.
He argued that the bill aligns North Carolina’s laws with those of 29 other states and protects the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.
Representatives from Grassroots North Carolina and the National Rifle Association supported Britt’s position.
The committee approved the bill on a voice vote despite emotional opposition from citizens and lawmakers concerned about increased gun violence and the removal of the current eight-hour training requirement for concealed carry permits.
Senator Paul Lowe, Jr. (D-Forsyth) said he supports concealed carry but believes that proper training is essential. Britt responded that the existing training offers minimal value since mastering firearm handling takes years.
He argued that law-abiding citizens would continue to act responsibly even without the permit system.
Safety Concerns Raised
Opponents included a pediatric nurse from Durham, who shared her fear for her husband, an emergency room doctor who often performs CPR without knowing if patients are carrying concealed weapons. Bill supporters did not respond to her testimony.
Senator Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell) questioned whether any other constitutional rights require state-mandated education.
Britt said he was unaware of any, but Senator Julie Mayfield (D-Buncombe) pointed out that North Carolina law requires women seeking abortions to receive state-provided information beforehand. Britt and Hise did not respond to her comment.
House Committee Fast-Tracks Similar Bill
On Tuesday, the House Judiciary 2 Committee passed the “NC Constitutional Carry Act,” sponsored by Reps. Keith Kidwell (R-Beaufort), Jay Adams (R-Catawba), Ben Moss (R-Moore), and Brian Echevarria (R-Cabarrus).
The bill allows elected officials to carry concealed weapons while performing their duties if they have a permit.
Rep. Kidwell said the bill aims to help people defend themselves and their families.
The committee rejected two amendments from Rep. Deb Butler (D-New Hanover). One would have raised the minimum age for concealed carry from 18 to 21.
The other would have maintained the permit requirement for individuals with impaired driving convictions.
Butler argued that people who can’t handle alcohol responsibly shouldn’t be trusted with firearms.
Rep. Ya Liu (D-Wake) expressed concern as a mother of teenagers, saying young people aren’t mature enough to carry guns responsibly.
All five witnesses who testified at the hearing opposed the bill. Gerald Gibbons, a military veteran, said he had to pass rigorous firearms training during his 20 years in the Air Force. He argued that eliminating training requirements for civilians is dangerous.
“I’ve lost eight family members to gun violence,” Gibbons said. “I can’t lose anymore.”
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