Do NC lawmakers want more deaths? If they pass this gun law, that’s what they’ll get | Opinion
While gun violence rates have risen dramatically over the past decade in North Carolina, state lawmakers have introduced bills that would make us even less safe. Permitless carry is shown to increase firearm violence including homicides, suicides and shootings by law enforcement. If these bills are passed, research is clear, it will be paid for in North Carolinian lives. State legislators need to prioritize public health and safety.
The bills being considered would take away the requirement to have a permit to carry a concealed, loaded gun.Other states that have adopted permitless carry have experienced tragic consequences. We have real-world examples showing just how dangerous these policies can be. Look no further than West Virginia’s implementation of permitless carry in 2016. Since then, firearm violence rates have spiked across the board. Studies show firearm homicides increased 48% while firearm suicide increased 22%. This is not just a West Virginia problem. In a review of states that relaxed concealed carry laws, researchers found that these states saw a 10% increase in firearm assaults. North Carolina cannot afford to make that mistake.
The latest data for North Carolina show firearms are a driver for deadly violence. Guns are used in 82% of the state’s homicides. On average, one North Carolinian died by firearm every five hours in 2023. That is more than 1,800 people killed. Public health research has demonstrated that certain policies will prevent these deaths, but North Carolina is considering bills that would have the opposite effect.
Beyond violent crime, firearm theft is already on the rise in North Carolina. Passing weak concealed carry laws will certainly make the problem worse. Permitless carry policies are associated with an increase in crime. As you might imagine, more guns in public means firearms unattended, especially in vehicles. In states with permitless carry laws, thousands of guns are stolen from cars and residential neighborhoods every year. Gun thefts increased 35% in states with weak public carry policies. An increase in stolen guns, alongside a corresponding increase in crime guns, will lead to more violent crime.
The proposal allows people as young as 18 years old with no training and no background check to carry a hidden loaded weapon in public. The current requirement for a concealed carry weapons permit ensures that people carrying concealed guns are at least 21 years old, have passed a background check and have completed safety training that includes eight hours of classroom education and a live fire component.
Requiring a permit to carry a concealed firearm is not only backed by research, it is also a broadly popular policy. A 2023 national survey found 77% of people support laws requiring concealed carry permits.
Public health researchers and advocates alike worry what this law will do to public safety. We do not need to repeat the mistakes of other states in passing a policy shown to make our communities more dangerous. Guns are already the leading cause of death among children and teens 1-17 years old in the state. How many more North Carolinians will die from gun violence if the state institutes permitless carry?