Lifetime Concealed Carry Bill Passes First Hurdle in North Carolina

The bill, commonly referred to as the Firearms Liberty Act, passed by a 70-42 vote, setting the stage for lifetime concealed carry permits. If the bill becomes law, state residents would no longer need to renew their permit every five years as the law currently requires. Instead, after completing the initial background check and training, a lifetime permit would let them carry for life—no more bureaucratic hoops or repeat courses to prove they’re still “safe.”

While some state Democrats warned that people “change over time” and requiring them to renew every five years was simply good policy, Republican leaders like Rep. Jay Adams fired back, saying no piece of paper prevents bad behavior and pointed to how many states don’t require a permit at all. The new lifetime permit would only be valid in-state and wouldn’t carry reciprocity, a drawback for concealed carriers who travel, so the standard five-year option would remain available. The bill now moves to the Senate, where if passed, it will go before the governor for his signature.