NC Constitutional Carry Bill
Brace yourselves! Here comes another Constitutional Carry Bill from Representative Keith Kidwell (R) from Pamlico, Beaufort, Dare and Hyde Counties. Is this DOA?
It’s that time of year again. I mean, it’s the time of year when Representative Keith Kidwell (R) proposes a Constitutional Carry Bill in efforts for his initiative to become the law of the land.
I remember back to a rally I attended in Raleigh where a politically involved rally-goer told me, “Kidwell isn’t serious about those 2A bills.”
Today was the day. Representative Kidwell introduced yet another 2A bill numbered HB 5 titled, the “NC Constitutional Carry Act.
Lines 2 through 8 give me pause.
No, no. 2A peeps think we are off to a great start! Who doesn’t love it every time a member of State government states he wants to “Protect a person’s right?” I know I do! Absolutely. love. it.
For anyone who has been paying attention over the past few years, it seems the beloved government has not been the best one to go to resolve infringements on our rights, or even simply protecting rights. We should find it funny when drafted bills read, “AUTHORIZE OFFICIALS ELECTED IN THE STATE TO CARRY A CONCEALED FIREARM…” especially when one realizes the State has more protections than the law abiding citizens, who support the State (it’s unnecessary bills and laws, spending, salaries, travels, lawsuits, benefits, retirements, lack of transparency with public records requests etc.) through forced taxation. In the state’s defense though, this section of the bill already exists in current law. This doesn’t mean we have to like it though.
The NC Department of Justice website reinforces where law abiding North Carolina Conceal Carry Permit Holders are prohibited from self defense.
See the second bullet item:
This means, North Carolinians are stripped of the right to self defense in places where state employees occupy. Indeed the State of North Carolina is quite strict when it comes to law abiding taxpayers carrying a concealed weapon near Legislators while at work.
Conceal Carry Permit Holders are expected to know NC laws, as well as laws of reciprocating states, if they plan to conceal their weapons beyond state lines.
Even @gunrightsdustin in Virginia gets me. The bill is flawed. Yessir.
Are there good things in Kidwell’s proposal? Sure.
If the bill passed and became law, the right to Constitutional Carry would expand the law to 18 year old, whereas current law to own and possess a firearm is set to 21 years old.
Conceal Carry Permit Law would remain on NC lawbooks for those who travel outside NC state lines to utilize reciprocity beyond our boundary.
Going out on a limb here and assuming every NC Republican supports Kidwell’s bill, they still must contend with the fact they lost the supermajority in the November 2024 Election and therefore losing the ability to override opposition to their proposed bills. It’s highly likely there’s no chance of this going anywhere.
Just to send this home with a proper sendoff, I have compiled every time Representative Kidwell proposed a second amendment related bill for all his sessions in the NC General Assembly.
2025/2026 Session HB 5 NC Constitutional Carry Act.
2023/2024 H 338 Lifetime Concealed Handgun Permit.
2023/2024 H 189 Freedom To Carry NC.
2023/2024 H 101 The Firearms Liberty Act.
2021/2022 HB 254 Constitutional Amend/Conceal Carry.
2021/2022 H 47 Elected Officials Concealed Carry.
2021/2022 Session HB 197 NC Constitutional Carry Act.
2019/2020 Session HB 498 NC Constitutional Carry Act.