(The Center Square) – Gun owners could carry weapons concealed without a permit under a Republican proposal in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
If passed, the Tarheel State would become the 30th in the nation with constitutional carry.
NC Constitutional Carry Act, or House Bill 5, is authored by Republican Rep. Keith Kidwell of Beaufort County. He says self-defense is codified in the Second Amendment in addition to more than two dozen states.
The Senate didn’t take up a similar measure in the last two-year session.
General Statute 14-269 permits on a person’s premises but prohibits elsewhere the willful carrying of deadly weapons to include a bowie knife, dirk, dagger, slung shot, loaded cane, metallic knuckles, razor, shuriken or stun gun.
The bill adds, “For purposes of this section, the term ‘weapon’ does not include a firearm.”
Stricken from the statute is language on concealed carry unlawfully.
