North Carolina stands on the brink of becoming the 30th constitutional carry state in America, empowering citizens as young as 18 to exercise their Second Amendment rights without government permission slips.
Key Takeaways
- Senate Bill 50, titled “Freedom to Carry NC,” has passed the Senate 26-18 and narrowly cleared a House committee 6-5
- The legislation would eliminate concealed carry permit requirements for U.S. citizens aged 18 and older who can legally possess firearms
- If passed, North Carolina would become the 10th state to allow constitutional carry beginning at age 18
- Bill supporters argue armed citizens deter crime, while opponents cite concerns about public safety
- The bill includes provisions to increase death benefits for public safety employees to $150,000 and establish scholarships for children of injured first responders
Constitutional Carry Advances Through North Carolina Legislature
Senate Bill 50, aptly named “Freedom to Carry NC,” continues to make steady progress through North Carolina’s legislative chambers. After passing the Senate with a 26-18 vote, the bill recently survived a crucial test in the House Judiciary 2 Committee, where it narrowly advanced with a 6-5 vote. This legislation would abolish the current requirement for law-abiding citizens to obtain government permission before exercising their constitutional right to carry a concealed firearm for self-defense, joining 29 other states that have already restored this fundamental freedom.
The proposed law would eliminate the bureaucratic hurdles currently in place, which require residents to be at least 21 years old, pass a background check, and complete a gun safety class to obtain a concealed carry permit. Instead, any U.S. citizen 18 or older who can legally possess a firearm would be permitted to carry concealed without a government-issued permit. This change would align North Carolina with states like Texas, Alabama, Alaska, and Arizona that have already embraced constitutional carry.
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
Republican Support vs. Democrat Opposition
Senate Bill 50 has been championed by Republican lawmakers who understand that armed citizens are the best defense against violent criminals. Bill sponsor State Senator Danny Britt made a compelling case for the legislation, highlighting a fundamental truth that the left refuses to acknowledge: “Good people with guns stop bad people with guns,” said state Sen. Danny Britt.
“Nine states have allowed constitutional carry at age 18, North Carolina would be the 10th that this bill became law,” said Rep. Danny Britt.
Democrats have predictably lined up in opposition to the bill, with House Minority Leader Robert Reives II making a special appearance at the committee meeting in an attempt to defeat the legislation. The narrow 6-5 vote underscores the intense partisan divide on gun rights in the state. Left-leaning lawmakers have resorted to emotional appeals rather than factual arguments, claiming the legislation would somehow increase crime despite evidence from other constitutional carry states showing no such correlation.
Additional Provisions Supporting Law Enforcement
Beyond the core constitutional carry provisions, Senate Bill 50 includes additional measures designed to support law enforcement and first responders. These amendments include increasing the death benefit for public safety employees who die in the line of duty to $150,000, a meaningful recognition of their sacrifice. The bill also proposes creating a scholarship program for children of law enforcement officers and first responders who are injured while serving their communities, demonstrating Republicans’ genuine commitment to backing the blue.
“But yet, when it comes to something as lethal as a gun… we want to lower the age and remove more restrictions,” said Rep. Laura Budd.
Critics of the bill have focused on the age requirement, arguing that 18-year-olds lack the maturity to carry concealed firearms. They point to restrictions on alcohol and car rentals for those under 21, conveniently ignoring that 18-year-olds can join the military and operate advanced weapon systems in defense of our nation. This selective application of age-based restrictions reveals the inconsistent logic behind leftist opposition to expanded gun rights. Their real agenda is not public safety but the gradual erosion of Second Amendment freedoms.
Moving Forward Toward Constitutional Freedom
With the Judiciary Committee hurdle cleared, Senate Bill 50 now heads to the House Rules Committee, bringing North Carolina one step closer to joining the majority of states that respect their citizens’ right to self-defense without government interference. The bill’s progression reflects a growing recognition across America that constitutional rights should not be subject to government permission. If passed and signed into law, North Carolina will become the 30th constitutional carry state, marking a significant victory for Second Amendment supporters.
The potential passage of this legislation represents a rejection of the failed policies that leave law-abiding citizens vulnerable while doing nothing to stop criminals who, by definition, ignore gun laws. As President Trump has consistently maintained, the Second Amendment is a crucial safeguard for all our other freedoms. North Carolina lawmakers are demonstrating their commitment to these fundamental American principles by advancing Senate Bill 50, restoring rights that should never have been infringed in the first place.
