S50 Freedom to Carry NC

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ILA Alert On S.50

March 20, 2025 by

I had a nice chat yesterday with John Commerford who is the Executive Director of NRA-ILA. I had sent him an email earlier to ask about the NRA’s position on S.50- Freedom to Carry NC. He expressed they had some reservations which you read in the release below. Those reservations center around the fact that the bill is a bit more restrictive on who can carry than the law is on who can purchase a firearm. His feeling was that some may presume they can carry just because they could purchase a handgun and would be caught unawares. These are valid points and things that may be fixed in the final bill.

I will note that Sarah Kettle, ILA’s state director for NC, did testify in favor of the bill at the Senate Rules Committee yesterday.

From ILA:

Yesterday, Senate Bill 50 (SB 50), a permitless carry bill sponsored by Senator Britt and Senator Settle, passed favorably out of the Senate Judiciary Committee with amendments. The bill is now headed to the Senate Rules and Operations Committee for further consideration.

SB 50 would recognize your right to carry a concealed firearm for self-defense without seeking government permission by eliminating the requirement that law-abiding gun owners obtain a permit to carry. The NRA strongly supports constitutional/permitless carry, however SB 50 still has some pitfalls that could entrap well intentioned gun owners. SB 50 as written creates scenarios in which a person could lawfully purchase and possess a firearm but would be prohibited from carrying that firearm for self-defense purposes. The NRA is committed to working with the sponsor and willing lawmakers to improve this legislation and help make North Carolina the 30th constitutional carry state!  

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S.50-Freedom To Carry NC Passes NC Senate (Updated)

March 20, 2025 by

The permitless concealed carry bill, S.50 – Freedom to Carry NC, passed the NC Senate on a 27-17 vote and has been sent to the House. The actual roll call is not up yet to see who made up the six missing votes.

In other news, the House’s complementary bill H5 has been referred to the House Rules, Calendar, and Operations Committee. Their calendar is not up so we can’t see when it will be heard by them.

As soon as the Senate roll call is released, I will have it up here.

UPDATE: The Senate roll call for the 2nd Reading of S.50 is now posted. The final vote was 26-18 on a straight party line vote. Given excused absences were Democrats Applewhite and Chaudhuri and Republicans Barnes, P. Newton, Rabon, and Sawyer. When it comes to overriding the expected veto all Republican must be there and voting in the affirmative.

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We Can’t Let The Proles Carry Without Our Permission Slip!

March 20, 2025 by

On the heels of S. 50 – Freedom to Carry NC passing out of the NC Senate Rules Committee came a press release issued early yesterday evening. It is from Everytown and their assorted groups announcing a rally in Raleigh to protest permitless concealed carry. The thought of the unwashed masses exercising their fundamental Constitutional rights to protect their families and themselves is anathema to them.

They plan to hold a “press conference” in Raleigh this afternoon at 2pm. In their release it asks the press to reach out to them if they want to speak with a volunteer or a “policy expert”.

They then say:

SB 50 is a dangerous bill that would allow the concealed carry of handguns for those as young as 18 without a permit, meaning no background check, safety training, or live-firing experience will be required. 

This is followed up by spurious statistics proclaiming that blood will run in the streets. That, of course, is something that has not happened in the other 29 states that have adopted some form of permitless concealed carry.

The speakers will be the usual suspects including two state senators who didn’t even bother to appear in opposition before the Senate Rules Committee yesterday. The lead speaker is Gerald Givens, Jr. who from his website appears to have made gun control into a career. While I may thank him for his military service, I would also remind him of the oath he took to protect the Constitution.

I will give the gun prohibitionists this. Their reaction time is great. They must have an army of PR flacks just waiting for moments like this.

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NC Senate Rules Committee Hearing On S.50 – Freedom To Carry NC

March 19, 2025 by 1 Comment

The NC Senate Rules Committee hearing on S.50 – Freedom to Carry NC – lasted just under 30 minutes. After some preliminary introductions, Sen. Danny Britt (R-Hoke, Robeson, Scotland), the primary sponsor of S.50, introduced the bill and described its content.

Questions were raised by Sen. Paul Lowe (D-Forsyth) about training, Sen. Julie Mayfield (D-Buncombe) with some general questions, and Sen. Ralph Hise (R-WNC) who asked what other right requires you to get a permit.

It was then opened to public comment. Ken Stallings and Karen Raines represented Grass Roots North Carolina and urged passage. Likewise Sarah Kettle of the NRA spoke in favor of the bill with some reservations due to some of the restrictions on who qualifies. Opposing the bill were representatives from the left-wing activist group Democracy Out Loud, Dr. Anna Ruderman – a pediatrician from Durham, and a couple more whose affiliation I didn’t get.

The bottom line is that S.50 has now passed the Senate Rules Committee and will go to the floor of the State Senate.

The full hearing can be viewed in the video below. I would suggest viewing it on YouTube to be able to see and hear it better.

UPDATE: S.50 will have a floor vote on Thursday!

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S.50 Goes To Senate Rules Committee Today

March 19, 2025 by

S.50, Freedom to Carry NC, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on a party-line vote yesterday. It goes to the NC Senate’s Rules Committee for a hearing today at noon. If you can be there, it would be great. If not – and this is more likely for most people – send an email the Republicans on the Rules Committee using the information from the GRNC alert below.

From GRNC:

ENCOURAGE KEY SENATE RULES
COMMITTEE REPUBLICANS ON
PERMITLESS CARRY 

SB 50 PASSES SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND IS ON ITS WAY TO RULES COMMITTEE

In what appeared to be a party-line vote, Senate Bill 50, “Freedom to Carry NC,” received a favorable report today from the NC Senate Judiciary Committee, and will now head for the Senate Rules Committee for a second hearing, likely tomorrow at 12:00 Noon. If it passes in Rules, it will go to a Senate floor vote. Senate Republicans were united in speaking on behalf of the bill, particularly Senators. Danny Britt, Warren Daniel, Eddie Settle, Buck Newton, and Paul Newton. Senator. Michael Lazzara moved for favorable report to pass the bill, which passed by voice vote.Speaking against the bill were Democrats Sydney Batch, Sophia Chitlik, Lisa Grafstein, and Mujtaba Mohammed.GRNC Legislative Team member Ken Stallings addressed the committee on the bill, noting that none of the 29 states which have already adopted permitless carry have had problems. GRNC LAT member Karen Raines also spoke, noting that she should not require governmental permission to carry firearms for self-protection, and that as a short-statured female, she represented people who will most benefit from the law.Among the usual suspects who oppose individual self-defense was Becky Ceartas of North Carolinians “Against Gun Violence,” who spewed a variety of phony studies in her unsuccessful bid to defeat the bill.                                               

SB 50 will be heard by Senate Rules Committee TOMORROW (3/19)
 Please meet at “Printed Bills” arrive by no later than 11:00 AM for a 12:00 Noon Meeting
                                                                SEE LOCATION BELOW IN THIS ALERT

Time is of the essence for your e-mails and calls, and attendance at  the meeting. 
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED
ENCOURAGE KEY SENATE RULES COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Tell Senate Rules Committee Republicans to pass SB50:

Please Contact a select group of SENATE Rules and Operations Committee Republicans to encourage them to support SB 50.  Below, find a copy-paste email list you can use to easily contact these representatives. Beneath that, in the Deliver This Message section, find the copy-paste message to use.

CONTACT INFORMATION

NC SENATE “Key” RULES COMMITTEE REPUBLICANS (copy-paste email list):

Bill Rabon, Lisa Barnes, Amy Galey, Ralph Hise, Brent Jackson, Todd Johnson, Michael Lazarra, Michael Lee,
Tom McInnis, Paul Newton, Norman Sanderson, and Benton Sawrey, and Vickey Sawyer

Bill.Rabon@ncleg.gov; Lisa.Barnes@ncleg.gov; Amy.Galey@ncleg.gov; Ralph.Hise@ncleg.gov ; Brent.Jackson@ncleg.gov; Todd.Johnson@ncleg.gov; Michael.Lazzara@ncleg.gov; Michael.Lee@ncleg.gov ; Tom.McInnis@ncleg.gov; Paul.Newton@ncleg.gov; Norman.Sanderson@ncleg.gov; Benton.Sawrey@ncleg.gov ; Vickie.Sawyer@ncleg.gov;
ATTEND THE MEETING:Tomorrow March 19, 2025 12:00 Noon, The committee will meet in the Legislative Building,  16 W. Jones St., Room 1027/1128 (note:1027 is the public entrance). Please arrive by no later than 11 AM and meet at “Printed bills” . See map below:Legislative Building Map.jpg
DONATE TO GRNC: We are still low on funds after our highly successful election effort. Please donate by going to: grnc.org/wp/2012/06/donate-to-or-join-grnc/  
DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

Suggested Subject: Please pass SB 50, “Freedom to Carry NC”
Dear Senate Rules Committee Members::
Urban sheriffs in Mecklenburg County, Wake County, and elsewhere have deliberately delayed concealed handgun permits for more than a year, even requiring four lawsuits to free up permit issuance. Meanwhile, criminals carry firearms while lawful citizens are being obstructed from protecting themselves.I strongly urge you to pass SB 50, “Freedom to Carry NC” because I should not need a government permission slip to exercise basic civil rights.As always, I will be monitoring your actions through the efforts of the Grass Roots NC legislative alerts and whether you stood with us on this important issue.
Thank you for your consideration regarding this very important legislation.
Respectfully,
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Permitless Carry Gets Hearing In NC Senate Tomorrow

March 17, 2025 by

S.50, Freedom to Carry NC, will get its first hearing in the North Carolina Senate tomorrow morning. It will be one of three bills being considered by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. The hearing will be chaired by Sen. Buck Newton (R-Green, Wayne, Wilson) who is a longtime gun rights supporter. More importantly, Senate President Pro-Tem Phil Berger (R-Guilford, Rockingham) is a co-sponsor of the bill meaning it is likely to pass the Senate.

Grass Roots North Carolina issued this alert this evening.

ENCOURAGE KEY SENATE JUDICIARY 2
COMMITTEE REPUBLICANS ON
CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY 
About SB 50

As you probably know by now,  Senate Bill 50 (“NC Freedom to Carry”) is in the process of becoming NC law. We are very thankful to sponsors  Dan Britt, Buck Newton, and  Warren Daniel for their 2A Leadership in North Carolina.

We greatly appreciate the support we’ve received from you and the rest of our members thus far, but we must be diligent and make sure the Senate Bill SB50 makes it across the finish line. Below, you will find a message and contact information for several key Senate Republicans. Please contact them so that they know this bill has the support of gun-rights voters like you. 

SB 50 will be heard by Senate Judiciary TOMORROW (3/18) at 11:00 AM. So time is of the essence for your e-mails and calls, and attendance at  the meeting. 
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED
ENCOURAGE KEY SENATE J2 COMMITTEE MEMBERS

PLEASE CONTACT THESE KEY SENTATE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS:

 Contact a select group of SENATE J2 Committee Republicans to encourage them to support SB 50.  Below, find a copy-paste email list you can use to easily contact these representatives. Beneath that, in the Deliver This Message section, find the copy-paste message to use.CONTACT INFORMATION

NC SENATE “Key” J2 SENATE REPUBLICANS (copy-paste email list):

David Craven, Amy Galey, Michael Lazarra, Michael Lee, Paul Newton,
Brad Overcash, Norman Sanderson, and Benton Sawrey

David.Craven@ncleg.gov ; Amy.Galey@ncleg.gov; Michael.Lazzara@ncleg.gov ;  Michael.Lee@ncleg.gov;
Paul.Newton@ncleg.gov; Brad.Overcash@ncleg.gov ; Norman.Sanderson@ncleg.gov; Benton.Sawrey@ncleg.gov

ATTEND THE MEETING:Tomorrow March 18, 2025, the committed will meet in the 544 LOB (Legislative Office Building) at 11:00 AM. See the map and parking directions below:
Legislative complex map-3.jpgDONATE TO GRNC: We are still low on funds after our highly successful election effort. Please donate by going to: grnc.org/wp/2012/06/donate-to-or-join-grnc/   



DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

Suggested Subject: Please Move SB 50 Forward (Freedom to Carry) Out of Committee

Dear Senator:

To date, 29 states have supported and passed the permit less (Constitutional) Carry law.  Much research has been done on this issue, States with constitutional carry “Right To Carry” laws have been shown to lower violent gun crimes rates in these states.  North Carolina can join in this data with our own permit-less carry law.   With this law, gun owners will still have to meet the same criteria as law abiding citizens with carry permits, but without the need for a “permission slip” and the fee to exercise a constitutional right.

We are urging you to support this legislation and make North Carolina, the Great Old North State, part of the progressing constitutionally sound states respecting the integrity of their citizens’ right to carry peacefully and responsibly.  The outlaws already have an abundance of weaponry at their disposal, we need to make sure our good law-abiding citizens have a way to protect themselves and their families.
As always, I will be monitoring your actions through the efforts of the Grass Roots NC legislative alerts and whether you stood with us on this important issue.

As you may also imagine, gun voters will come out to defend Republican supporters of SB50 who represent districts who have a marginal majority of support in November. 

Thank you for your consideration regarding this very important legislation.

Respectfully,