North Carolina is on the verge of becoming the 30th state to allow citizens to exercise their Second Amendment rights without government permission as the “Freedom to Carry NC” bill advances through the legislature.
Key Takeaways
- North Carolina’s Senate Bill 50 would allow U.S. citizens aged 18 and older to carry concealed weapons without a permit.
- The legislation has passed the Senate with a 26-18 vote and narrowly cleared a House committee with a 6-5 vote.
- If enacted, North Carolina would become the 30th state to adopt constitutional carry and the 10th to allow it for citizens as young as 18.
- The bill includes provisions to increase public safety employee death benefits to $150,000 and establish scholarships for children of injured law enforcement and first responders.
- State Senator Danny Britt, the bill’s sponsor, emphasizes that “Good people with guns stop bad people with guns.”
Constitutional Carry Advances Through North Carolina Legislature
The North Carolina House Judiciary 2 Committee has narrowly approved Senate Bill 50 with a 6-5 vote, continuing the momentum for constitutional carry legislation in the state. The bill, which previously passed the Senate with a 26-18 vote, would eliminate the requirement for law-abiding citizens to obtain a government permit before exercising their constitutional right to carry a concealed firearm. This legislation would make North Carolina the 30th state to adopt constitutional carry, joining states like Texas, Florida, and Alabama in recognizing that the Second Amendment is the only permit Americans need.
The “Freedom to Carry NC” bill would significantly change current state law, which requires gun owners to be at least 21 years old, pass a background check, and complete a gun safety class to obtain a concealed carry permit. Under the proposed legislation, the age requirement would be lowered to 18, with the only prerequisite being that gun owners must be U.S. citizens legally permitted to possess a firearm. This change acknowledges that law-abiding adults should have full access to their constitutional rights without unnecessary government barriers.
We're closer than ever to making Constitutional Carry states an even 30.
Three-fifths of the U.S. no longer requiring burdensome permitting processes or permission slips to carry a firearm.
If you are in PA or North Carolina, this is the time to push. Call your Reps! https://t.co/gszMeM0KlO pic.twitter.com/6vk68ekxyM
— National Association for Gun Rights (@NatlGunRights) June 3, 2025
Expanding Constitutional Rights While Enhancing Public Safety
The bill includes several amendments designed to support public safety officials while expanding Second Amendment rights. One provision increases the death benefit for public safety employees to $150,000, providing greater financial security for the families of those who make the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities. Another amendment proposes a scholarship program for children of law enforcement officers and first responders who are injured in the line of duty, ensuring that their sacrifices are recognized and their families supported.
“Nine states have allowed constitutional carry at age 18, North Carolina would be the 10th that this bill became law,” said Rep. Danny Britt.
The bill now moves to the House Rules Committee, the final step before reaching the full House for a vote. With Republicans holding a supermajority in both chambers of the North Carolina legislature, the bill stands a strong chance of passing despite Democratic opposition. This represents a significant victory for Second Amendment advocates who have long argued that law-abiding citizens should not need government permission to exercise their constitutional rights.
Opposition and Support for Second Amendment Rights
Predictably, anti-gun legislators and organizations have voiced opposition to the bill, citing concerns about public safety. They reference a poll by the leftist group Everytown for Gun Safety claiming that 77% of likely North Carolina voters oppose removing permit requirements. However, the continued expansion of constitutional carry across the country suggests that Americans increasingly recognize that armed citizens enhance public safety rather than diminish it. The fact that 29 states have already adopted constitutional carry without the dire consequences predicted by opponents speaks volumes.
“Good people with guns stop bad people with guns,” stated state Sen. Danny Britt, the bill’s sponsor, emphasized the fundamental truth that armed citizens are the best defense against criminals who ignore gun laws.
While Democrat representatives like Ya Liu claim “Our children are scared,” the reality is that creating more gun-free zones and disarming law-abiding citizens only emboldens criminals and makes communities less safe. Constitutional carry states have not seen increases in gun violence as a result of their laws – in fact, many have experienced decreases in violent crime as criminals face the prospect of encountering armed citizens. North Carolina’s move toward constitutional carry represents a return to the founding principles of our nation and a recognition that the Second Amendment means exactly what it says.
