Grass Roots
North Carolina / Forum for Firearms Education
Post Office
Box 10665, Raleigh, NC 27605
877.282.0939
(Phone) 919.573.0354 (Fax) www.GRNC.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release date: January 29,
2025
Press release link: https://grnc.org/wp/category/grnc-press-releases/
Rep. Keith Kidwell introduces
permitless ‘constitutional’ carry bill
In
coordination with Grass Roots North Carolina, Representative Keith
Kidwell (R-Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, Pamlico, GRNC ****) has introduced House
Bill 5, “NC Constitutional
Carry Act.” The bill will allow lawful North Carolinians to carry concealed
handguns to protect themselves and their families without the need for
governmental permission.
What HB 5 does
When
passed, HB 5 will make North Carolina the 30th state to adopt some
variation of permitless “constitutional” carry. As with House Bill 189, Kidwell’s
constitutional carry bill in the 2023-2024 legislative session, HB 5 will make
it lawful to carry a concealed firearm without a concealed handgun permit
provided the carrier would otherwise qualify for a permit. What HB 5 does not
have are weakening provisions added in 2023 in response to demands by
then-Speaker Tim Moore (R-14, ***).
As with
previous iterations, HB 5 leaves intact the existing concealed handgun permit
system for the purpose of maintaining reciprocity with other states, and as an
alternative to gun purchases via the National Instant Background Check System
(NICS).
Background
A
permitless concealed carry bill was first introduced in NC in 1998 by
then-Senator Hugh Webster (R-Alamance, Caswell). In 2017, permitless carry
passed in the NC House as HB 746, sponsored by then-Rep. Larry Pittman
(R-Caldwell).
In 2023,
despite having passed both Judiciary and Rules Committees, the permitless carry
bill was pulled by Moore from the NC House calendar at the last minute after
Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger said:
“We have
passed a substantial bill dealing with some concerns about the Second
Amendment. We have done away with the pistol purchase permit which was the
number one goal of many of the gun rights groups for a long period of time. I just don’t know if there is a need for us
to delve into additional issues dealing with guns.” [Emphasis added]
HB 189 died when it failed to pass either chamber by the May
crossover deadline.
GRNC statement
GRNC president Paul Valone said:
“We thank
Rep. Keith Kidwell for again defending freedom for North Carolinians.
Twenty-nine states have recognized the right of lawful citizens to carry
concealed firearms without need for governmental permission slips. Despite
naysayers’ predictions, exactly none of those states have experienced
significant problems with permitless carry. Grass Roots North Carolina calls
upon President Pro Tem Phil Berger and Speaker Destin Hall to give prompt
hearings and floor votes to House Bill 5, “NC Constitutional Carry Act.”
Founded in 1994, Grass
Roots North Carolina is an all-volunteer 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to
preserving individual liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and Bill of
Rights with emphasis on the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
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