Last week, the North Carolina House Judiciary 2 Committee passed a bill to allow the permitless carry of concealed firearms.
The controversial bill passed 6-5 along party lines. The Republican backed bill, Senate Bill 50, “Freedom to Carry NC,” would allow almost anybody over the age of 18 in North Carolina to conceal carry without a permit.
“More guns equates to more injuries and more accidents and bad behavior and tragic events,” stated Rep. Deb Butler (D-New Hanover). “It just does.”
The passage of the bill comes days after a mass shooting occurred in two North Carolina communities: Hickory and Asheville.
“Two innocent North Carolinians are dead, numerous injured, my community torn apart by senseless gun violence that could’ve been prevented,” stated John Vanmeter-Kirk, a student at North Carolina State University and volunteer with Students Demand Action. “Even after two North Carolinians are dead, you’re considering this incredibly dangerous bill that will only lead to the loss of more North Carolinians, dishonoring the memory of those we lost two days ago.”
Under current state law, gun owners are required to obtain permits from their local sheriff’s office in order to carry a concealed handgun. In addition, concealed carry requires a minimum of eight hours of training and the passing of a background check.
A recent poll by Everytown for Gun Safety found that 77% of North Carolina voters were against removing permit requirements from concealed carry laws. In addition to a majority of North Carolinians opposing permitless carry, the poll found that 66% of gun owners did as well.
Despite the opposition to this bill from North Carolinians and several Democratic lawmakers, the bill now proceeds to the House Rules Committee for further consideration.
“I don’t understand why in the world we would do this,” Rep. Butler stated. “And I think we all have to recognize that we had an example of a mass shooting in Catawba County two days ago, and 11 people’s lives and their families’ are probably ruined, and here we sit talking about more guns. For the life of me, I don’t understand it.”
