In the Judiciary Committee today, H.B. 650 – Amend Various Gun Laws came up for debate. Among one of the proposed amendments was a reduction in the allowances of travel with guns for those who own firearms. The previous law stated that on private property (i.e. parking lots), anyone with a permit to carry a weapon could do so. This means that anyone from federal agents to hunting enthusiasts could do so. One of the amendments changed this language to mean that only those with Concealed Carrier Permits could do so. According to Rep. Hilton, this limited the number of firearm carriers from over 2 million to just over 200,000.

Rep. Hackney argued that if he is to outlaw firearms on his private property, then not even those with Concealed Carry allowances should be able to do so. To this, sponsor of the bill Rep. Hilton replied that the ownership of private property does not extend to another citizen’s vehicle on their parking lot and that if that citizen has the correct carrying permit and their vehicle is locked and their firearm is in a locked box affixed to the vehicle, it is perfectly legal in this proposed law.

After the NRA, Rifle and Pistol Association, and North Carolina Against Domestic Violence all voiced their support of the bill, it received a “favorable review” amidst a contingency of non-support.