RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s gun laws could see a big change this year. This session, the North Carolina General Assembly is considering bills to allow anyone over the age of 18 to carry a concealed gun without needing a permit.

A bill to remove the requirement already passed in the state Senate last month.

“This is not about carrying a concealed weapon, it’s about responsibly carrying a concealed weapon, because once you pull the trigger and that bullet leaves the barrel of that gun, you’re not recalling that,” said Shawn Eller, a self-proclaimed proponent of the Second Amendment.

As an Air Force veteran and longtime law enforcement officer, Eller has been handling weapons for decades.

“Firearms in this usage are designed for one thing, and they were to take human life. With that, in my opinion, comes a high degree of responsibility," Eller said.“Firearms in this usage are designed for one thing, and they were to take human life. With that, in my opinion, comes a high degree of responsibility," Eller said.

“It’s not a bill of personal responsibility; it is a bill of Constitutional rights," said Rep. Brian Echevarria, a Republican from Carrabus County. "With that, it has my full support.”

Echevarria is a prime sponsor of constitutional carry legislation in the house.

The bill would not dissolve the state’s concealed carry permit system, but anyone over the age of 18 could carry a concealed handgun without needing a permit.

Twenty-nine states allow permitless concealed carry.

North Carolina is an open carry state.

“One hundred percent of law-abiding citizens have a Second Amendment right, and we oughta get out of the way," Echevarria said.

Right now, concealed carry permits are issued by county sheriffs following a residency and criminal background check.

Republicans have accused some sheriffs of intentionally withholding permits or slowing the process.

“If you have no criminal activity, you’re a good citizen and you’re just being delayed on purpose, then this will give you another option," said Rep. Jeff McNeely, a Republican from Iredell County.

“The one thing we have in place right now to determine if they’re a law-abiding citizen is for the sheriff to run their criminal history," Eller said. "Why are we going to remove that one safeguard?”

Residents must also prove they’re physically and mentally fit to receive a permit.

“How do we know that this person carrying this firearm has even the physical capacity to even safely operate this firearm?” Eller asked.

While the bill does specify those with court-ordered disabilities or mental health concerns may not carry, the check which usually happens during the permit process would not be required.

“I think everyone should be concerned about safety, and in their case, they’re concerned about it," Echevarria said. "The person who carries a gun is also concerned about safety.”“I think everyone should be concerned about safety, and in their case, they’re concerned about it," Echevarria said. "The person who carries a gun is also concerned about safety.”

Echevarria points to a statistic from a 2020 Rand Corporation Study showing 45.8% of North Carolina households have at least one gun.

He believes it's for their own protection.

“I think everyone should be concerned about safety, and in their case, they’re concerned about it," Echevarria said. "The person who carries a gun is also concerned about safety.”

Leaders from North Carolina’s Gun Violence point to another analysis.

“People will die because of a bill like Senate Bill 50 passing," said Becky Caertas who is the executive director of North Carolinians Against Gun Violence.

A study published in the American Journal of Public Health tracked gun violence in West Virginia after the state repealed its concealed carry permit requirement in 2016.

The review of CDC data found overall gun deaths rose 29% while handgun deaths rose 45% in the four years that followed.

Removing the permit requirement in North Carolina would allow residents to legally carry a firearm without any training.

The current law requires applicants to complete gun safety training with a state certified instructor before they’re given a permit.

“I was a North Carolina state certified general instructor as well as a specialized firearms instructor," Eller said. "I can take somebody in one hour and improve their firearm skills and safety.”

Echevarria sees it differently.

“I used to be an instructor, and I can guarantee you that the time of instruction that’s required now does not prepare someone to handle a firearm the way we imagine," Echevarria said.

Echevarria said more training is a plus, but a lack of training shouldn’t preclude someone from carrying concealed.

“Those who want to prepare more have plenty of options to do that. However, as a right, preparation is not a requirement," Echevarria argued.

“Putting more guns in the hands of individual citizens without training and education, in my opinion is very dangerous," Eller said. "Not only for the public, but for our law enforcement officers who are going to be encountering these people on a daily basis.”

The constitutional carry bill was referred to the House Rules committee a second time last month.

It would need to be approved by the committee before a full vote in the House.