‘It’s reckless’: Gun range manager speaks out on permitless carry bill as it heads to Governor’s desk

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - A bill that would allow adults to carry a concealed handgun without a permit is making its way to the Governor’s desk.

Senate Bill 50 would make North Carolina the 30th state to implement “permitless” carry, meaning adults would no longer have to take a firearms training course, disclose mental health records or apply for a permit in order to carry a concealed gun.

The bill passed the state house on Wednesday, with a vote of 59 to 48. It received opposition from both parties.

Both New Hanover County Representative Ted Davis (R) and Bladen County Representative William Brisson (R) voted against the bill.

“We all here on the right side of the aisle strongly support the Second Amendment,” Rep. Davis said. “This is not about the right to carry, this is about the right of those who have followed our laws and now we protect those who have set out an example of responsibility and safety to others.”

To other Republican representatives, it’s a matter of helping people defend themselves with a handgun without having to jump through additional hurdles.

“This is about rights, freedom and the second amendment,” Representative Keith Kidwell (R) said. “This is about your right under God to defend yourself and your loved ones.”

The general manager for Calibers Indoor Gun Range in Wilmington, Kenny Abbe, said people might expect him to agree with Representative Kidwell’s perspective. However, he agrees with Representative Davis’s vote.

“I’m all about freedoms and people being able to protect themselves, but the education piece needs to be there,” Abbe said.

Abbe has worked at the gun range for 20 years. He teaches concealed carry training courses often, but says even an eight hour class doesn’t seem to be enough for someone to be able to carry a concealed handgun.

“I see people that have a concealed carry that don’t even know what end of the gun the bullet comes out of,” Abbe said. “Going from 8 hours of instruction to zero instruction and then having people go out and search for the information ...in my opinion it’s reckless.”

Abbe urges not only training, but proficiency with those who choose to carry a concealed handgun. With their class registration fee, they also give people a three-month membership to hone their skills.

“A lot of people look at concealed carry as an end game. It’s not the end game,” Abbe said. “You need to take other classes after that.”

Anne Enberg, a local legislative leader with Moms Demand Action, says if this bill becomes law it will change the way she and her children go about daily life in North Carolina. She says all eyes are now on the governor to veto this bill.

“This is a really dangerous bill,” Enberg We will be working to make sure that our legislators hear our concerns about this bill and the hope that we can uphold the governor’s veto should it come down to that.”

The NRA provided the following statement:

“The NRA has made it a priority to pass constitutional carry legislation across the country, allowing law-abiding gun owners to carry a firearm for protection without first needing government permission. Modeled in the form of permitless carry, S50, as passed by the Senate and House, is a step in the right direction but falls short of the standards set in the 29 other states who have enacted constitutional carry. If vetoed and then overridden, the NRA remains committed to working with the Legislature next session to improve the right to self-defense in North Carolina and make it the 30th constitutional carry state.”

WECT asked Representative Davis if he would still vote against this bill if his party needed his vote to overturn the Governor’s veto. He said “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

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