HB 5, titled the North Carolina Constitutional Carry Act, would allow most adults age 18 or older who are U.S. citizens to carry a concealed handgun in North Carolina without first obtaining a concealed handgun permit. The bill creates a new Article 54C in Chapter 14 establishing the permitless carry framework, while still allowing people to apply for and keep concealed handgun permits for reciprocity with other states, firearm purchases, or other personal reasons.
The bill also sets out disqualifying conditions for concealed carry, including federal or state firearm prohibitions, felony indictment or conviction, fugitive status, certain drug use, mental incapacity findings, dishonorable military discharge, specified violent misdemeanor histories, domestic violence firearm prohibitions, and pending charges or bond status for disqualifying offenses. It requires a person carrying concealed to have valid identification and to disclose to law enforcement that they are armed when approached, and it makes violations punishable as misdemeanors or infractions depending on the conduct.
HB 5 revises numerous existing statutes to conform North Carolina law to permitless concealed carry. It updates restrictions on concealed weapons in certain locations, including law enforcement and correctional facilities, private property with posted no-carry notices, State Capitol and courthouse areas, assemblies and establishments serving alcohol, parades and funeral processions, and public buildings and parks under local regulation. It also repeals G.S. 14-415.22, preserves the concealed handgun permit system, and makes conforming changes for company police, campus police, wildlife inspectors, firearm confiscation provisions, and other related statutes.
The bill’s overall impact would be a major change to North Carolina firearms law by removing the permit requirement for concealed handgun carry for eligible adults while keeping a parallel permit system in place. It would also narrow or clarify several existing firearm restrictions and enforcement provisions, and it would take effect December 1, 2025, applying only to offenses committed on or after that date.
No committee transcript or recorded vote information was provided, so the available context shows no documented debate or vote split. Based on the bill text, the measure appears strongly pro-gun-rights and likely intended to expand lawful concealed carry access, while still preserving restrictions for prohibited persons and sensitive locations. The main points of potential contention are the elimination of the permit requirement, the age threshold of 18, the scope of disqualifying offenses, and the extent to which local governments and property owners can continue to restrict carry in public and private spaces.
HB 5 would substantially amend Chapter 14 of the North Carolina General Statutes by adding a new permitless concealed carry article and revising multiple existing firearm-related provisions to align with constitutional carry. It would also preserve the concealed handgun permit system for reciprocity and other uses, while repealing G.S. 14-415.22 and making conforming changes to statutes governing concealed weapons, firearm confiscation, local regulation, and authority of certain law enforcement personnel. The bill would affect concealed handgun carriers, sheriffs who issue permits, law enforcement officers, property owners, local governments, and individuals subject to firearm disqualifications.
The bill’s text reflects a clear pro-Second Amendment, pro-permitless-carry policy direction, with the stated purpose of protecting the right to carry a concealed handgun without a permit while keeping permits available for convenience and reciprocity. Because no committee discussion or vote record was provided, there is no documented public sentiment in the supplied materials beyond the bill’s framing. On its face, the measure appears designed to appeal to supporters of expanded gun rights, while also attempting to reassure opponents by retaining restrictions on prohibited persons and sensitive locations.
The most likely points of contention are whether North Carolina should allow concealed carry without a permit at all, whether 18-year-olds should be included, and whether the bill adequately protects public safety through its disqualifications and location-based restrictions. Additional debate may center on the continued role of local governments and private property owners in limiting carry, the requirement to disclose to law enforcement when armed, and the bill’s treatment of prior misdemeanor violence, domestic violence, mental health adjudications, and pending charges. Supporters would likely emphasize expanded constitutional rights and reciprocity, while opponents would likely focus on enforcement, training, and safety concerns.