Sheriff, Gun Control Advocates Rally Against Permitless Carry Bill in NC
Durham County sheriff warns permitless concealed carry bill would endanger officers and citizens as advocates rally to preserve current permit requirements.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead joined gun control advocates Tuesday in opposing a bill that would eliminate permit requirements for concealed handguns, warning the legislation would endanger law enforcement officers and increase gun violence across the state.
The rally at the state capital is part of a broader campaign to convince House members to uphold Governor Josh Stein’s veto of Senate Bill 50, which would change North Carolina’s concealed carry laws.
Current Law vs. Proposed Changes
Under existing North Carolina law, only individuals 21 and older can carry concealed weapons after completing an approved firearms safety course and passing a criminal background check. Senate Bill 50 would lower the age requirement to 18 and eliminate both the permit requirement and mandatory safety training for anyone legally allowed to possess a firearm.
“Permitless carry makes our jobs more difficult — to put a gun in the hand of someone who’s not trained, who’s 18 years of age — so we have to approach every encounter as if there’s a weapon, because we just don’t know,” Birkhead said. “It increases the risk of someone being harmed in that encounter, whether it’s the officer, the deputy, or the citizen. That to me is unacceptable.”
Research Shows Increased Violence
The North Carolinians Against Gun Violence Education Fund presented studies demonstrating that states adopting permitless concealed carry laws experienced increased firearm homicide rates and suicide rates. The research also showed higher-than-expected rates of officer-involved shootings of civilians in states with permitless concealed carry legislation.
Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action, spoke at the news conference alongside other advocates pushing for lawmakers to maintain current permit requirements.
Legislative Path Forward
The legislature passed Senate Bill 50 last year, and the state Senate has already overridden Stein’s veto along party lines. The legislation now awaits action in the state House, where both chambers must achieve three-fifths majorities to override the governor’s veto.
Gun control advocates face an uphill battle in convincing enough House members to sustain Stein’s veto, as Republican lawmakers have generally supported loosening concealed carry restrictions. The outcome will determine whether North Carolina joins other states that have eliminated permit requirements for concealed weapons.
The debate reflects broader national discussions about balancing Second Amendment rights with public safety concerns, as law enforcement officials increasingly voice concerns about permitless carry legislation making their duties more dangerous.
