A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to EQUALIZE OPEN CARRY AND CONCEALED CARRY OF DEFENSIVE WEAPONS BY REMOVING THE PROHIBITION OF CONCEALED CARRY AND TO UPHOLD THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS FOR SELF‑DEFENSE.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Section 30 of Article I of the North Carolina Constitution reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 30. Militia and the right to bear arms.
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; and, as standing armies in time of peace are dangerous to liberty, they shall not be maintained, and the military shall be kept under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power. Any citizen of the United States who (i) has not been indicted or convicted of a violent crime or possession or distribution of a controlled substance and (ii) has not been adjudicated mentally incompetent has the right to carry any legal weapon for self‑defense, either openly or concealed, with or without a permit, except on public or private property that is legally posted against it. A system of concealed carry permits shall be maintained for purposes of reciprocity with other states and ease of purchasing weapons, but no law‑abiding citizen shall be required to obtain such a permit to carry a concealed weapon."
SECTION 2.  The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the general election to be held on November 3, 2026, which election shall be conducted under the laws then governing elections in the State. Ballots, voting systems, or both may be used in accordance with Chapter 163 of the General Statutes. The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be:
"[ ] FOR	[ ] AGAINST
Constitutional amendment to make it a right for any citizen who has not been indicted or convicted of a violent crime to carry any legal weapon for self‑defense, either openly or concealed, with or without a permit, except on public or private property that is legally posted against it."
SECTION 3.  The State Board of Elections shall certify the results of the referendum conducted under Section 2 of this act. If a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment set out in Section 1 of this act, the Secretary of State shall enroll the amendment among the permanent records of that office. If a majority of votes cast on the question are against the amendment set out in Section 1 of this act, the amendment shall have no effect.
SECTION 4.  If the certification from the State Board of Elections under Section 3 of this act reflects that a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment set out in Section 1 of this act, the amendment set out in Section 1 of this act is effective upon certification.
SECTION 5.  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.