Republican lawmakers in North Carolina have introduced legislation to make the state the 30th in the nation to adopt constitutional carry. The proposed measures—House Bill 5 (HB 5) and Senate Bill 50 (SB 50)—would remove permit requirements for concealed carry and expand Second Amendment freedoms for law-abiding citizens.
According to The Daily Tar Heel, both bills would allow U.S. citizens over the age of 18 who have no felony convictions or mental illness-related charges to carry concealed firearms without a permit. The House bill also includes a provision that would permit elected officials to carry concealed weapons inside legislative buildings and offices in Raleigh.
Notably, at least one state senator who previously opposed constitutional carry in the 2023-24 legislative session is now backing the legislation, signaling a shift in political support for the measure. If passed, North Carolina would join a growing number of states that have embraced constitutional carry, eliminating the need for government-issued permits for law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms.
The move follows a nationwide trend toward expanding gun rights. On March 7, 2024, South Carolina became the 29th state to enact constitutional carry, just days after Louisiana’s Gov. Jeff Landry (R) signed similar legislation, making Louisiana the 28th state. Other states that have already adopted constitutional carry include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Supporters of constitutional carry argue that requiring government permits to exercise the right to bear arms is an unconstitutional restriction on the Second Amendment. They believe law-abiding citizens should have the right to defend themselves without unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles. Opponents, however, claim that removing permit requirements could lead to increased gun violence, despite the fact that constitutional carry states have not seen a corresponding rise in crime.
As the bills progress through the North Carolina legislature, the debate over gun rights and public safety is likely to intensify. With strong Republican support and shifting political attitudes, North Carolina appears poised to join the majority of U.S. states in adopting constitutional carry.
