NC Constitutional Carry
It looks like Constitutional Carry has a good chance of passing the NC legislature this year.
What are the potential impacts on current and new gun owners?
Read on for my thoughts.
Firearms education and training
The proposed legislation does not appear to change any existing NC firearm laws regarding firearm use, but will make any training in firearms laws or use optional. Current law makes this training mandatory for a concealed carry permit.
From my perspective as a firearms educator and trainer this no real change. A firearms purchase does not require any prior training or education in firearms ownership, use, or responsibility. Firearm owners will remain at risk to themselves and others as a result of their lack of this educaTION AND training. An old adage is still true - ignorance of the law is not a defense in court.
BACKGROUNd CHECKS
The current proposals eliminate background checks for concealed carry, although these will continue to be performed under federal law for all gun purchases.
While seen as burdensome, and even unconstitutional by some, background checks provide some rationale regarding weeding out the danger to society ( through objective questionnaires) of individuals that may have a lack of concern regarding violence towards others, or a history of it.
Individual Safety
As ordinary citizens we have never had a firm assurance that anyone we come in contact with who is carrying a gun (open or concealed) has lawfully purchased the gun, or is lawfully concealing it (e.g., has attended any state mandated concealed training). We are not cops charged with protecting the safety of others or of society in general.
We count on our own ability to provide for our and our family’s safety, even though most are not adequately trained in that capability.
This will not be changed under constitutional law proposals.
Public Safety
I would like to think that most, though not all of us, understand (whether we believe government is of use to us or not) that government regulations regarding firearm use and concealment are in place to promote our safety and are somewhat effective. I say somewhat, because no one, not even law enforcers are perfect all of the time.
The duty to determine the legality of firearm ownership and concealed carry resides with the cop making contact with the firearm carrying individual. This duty is derived from the regulations designed to protect the safety of us and others in our society.
I have never had my firearm ownership questioned during an encounter with a cop, even if the firearm is in plain view in my car. Current regulations (or lack thereof) make that almost impossible (and Definitely not timely). No centralized databases exist for that purpose ( and i am not proposing it, just stating the current condition).
IF I HAVE A VALID NC CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT, I AM OBLIGATED TO INFORM THE POLICEMAN THAT I AM CARRYING, HAVE A PERMIT, AND TO SHOW HIM/HER THE PERMIT. That requirement is eliminated under current proposals (no permit, no need to show it).
The duty of a cop to enforce regulations no longer exists when the regulations no longer exist.
Constitutional carry does not remove concerns over public safety, it only removes the regulations previously designed to protect that safety.
But how has constitutional carry affected those implementing it? Read on.
Effects on gun violence
Concerns over the use of firearms incident data by anti-gun advocates has resulted in a lack of comprehensive and accurate data.
Studies of firearm suicides and deaths after implementation of constitutional carry shows mixed results - increases in some states and none in others.
The impact on NC of constitutional carry will await the passage of the law by our legislature.
Carrying concealed in another state.
Virginia and South carolina do not have constitutional carry. If you are concealed carrying in these states you will have to have a concealed carry permit for each state, or a valid NC Concealed carry permit (still allowed under NC constitutional carry). There are other states requiring a concealed carry permit which honor NC concealed carry permits. you should check with each state in which you intend to conceal carry before you travel there.
Conclusion
as with any complex issue in our complex society, there is no easy conclusion.
I believe each firearm owner has a responsibility to educate and train themselves in safe and effective firearm use. If that is done, not only the firearm owner,but others and our society will be less at risk of death, injury, or violence from firearm use. That is our burden, our responsibility. our civic duty.
At the end of the day we, individually, must determine whether or not constitutional carry, and our own practices, will make us, our families, or our society safer.