(The Center Square) – Not if but when.
Legislation ratified by the General Assembly to make North Carolina the 30th state for carry of a concealed handgun without a permit is scheduled to be delivered to Gov. Josh Stein on Friday. The legislative website’s date for delivery of Freedom to Carry NC, as Senate Bill 50 is entitled, would be Day 0 of the 10 days he has to sign, allow to become a law without his signature or veto.
Stein, asked earlier this month about the proposal as it went through committee, said his standard is public safety. He reserved right to see the final version and said if the bill “doesn’t make us safer” he would reject it.
If he gets it Friday, June 23 is his decision deadline.
Turning it down is expected after both chambers stuck mostly to their party lines. In the House of Representatives where majority is 71-49 and 72 are needed for veto override if all 120 vote, Republican Reps. William Brisson of Bladen County and Ted Davis Jr. of New Hanover County were noes and no Democrats were in favor. Passage was 59-48 with 13 excused; in the Senate, passage was party line 26-18 back on March 20 with six excused.
Senate majority is 30-20 Republicans. Veto overrides require three-fifths majority of each chamber.
“This is a great day for law-abiding gun owners across North Carolina,” said Rep. Keith Kidwell, R-Beaufort. “I’m proud the House stood up to affirm the fundamental right to keep and bear arms. Senate Bill 50 restores freedom and trust to responsible citizens while ensuring that criminals face stronger penalties for breaking the law.”
The bill language says United States citizenship is required along with being at least 18 years old.
Of the eight South Atlantic states, North Carolina joins Delaware, Maryland and Virginia in requiring permits. Those are also the only states of 16 considered the South; the other 12 permitless are West Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida in the South Atlantic; Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi in the East South Central; and Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas in the West South Central.
Of those with permitless concealed carry, the minimum age is 21 sans Arkansas (18), Georgia if in the military (18), South Carolina (18) and Tennessee (18).
If the proposal becomes law, it would be effective Dec. 1.
