RALEIGH, N.C. — Concealed carry instructors across the state are responding to proposed changes to the permit application process.
Hundreds of instructors showed up to speak at the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission hearing in August. After discussion over the past couple of months, they said they were pleased with many of the results of Wednesday’s meeting.
Stephen Xavier has had his concealed carry permit for 25 years. But he grew up as a city kid and didn’t try firing a gun until he was 40. Now he’s a concealed carry instructor and teaches others the proper way to handle a gun and get permits to carry one.
“I love to shoot. I really enjoy it,” Xavier said. “I would say one of the most important things that is emphasized by the 2600 licensed instructors in North Carolina is three things: safety, safety and safety. And how we get there is three ways: training, training and training.”
Xavier says he’s not opposed to the state mandating training. In fact, he thinks it’s essential. In North Carolina you have to take a concealed carry class before you can get a permit.
But in recent months, Xavier and other instructors have been going back and forth with the Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission about changes to that permit process. Xavier says not everyone on the commission has experience with concealed carry permits, so he’s been happy to see them reconsider some of the changes.
“We were very happy with the fact that the commission softened their position considerably and are actually listening to us now,” Xavier said. “They understand we want to work with them.”
But the commission is holding strong on some things. One of the biggest complaints was a proposal to require instructors to buy the state-approved “Red Book” for every student. It’s a handgun training manual that's put out by the state of North Carolina from the Department of Justice. Xavier says the book has a significant number of errors in it — grammatical and misstatements of laws which can be critical. It’s also an additional cost.
“The state put in information about a new law that is not on the books until December of 2023 that outlines where and when and how and how not someone can carry a firearm in a house of worship,” Xavier said. “Unfortunately, it went into the April version of the book. So anyone who was teaching back in April, May or June and was teaching their students that they could in fact carry in a house of worship, it was erroneous information.”
The commission didn’t back down fully from the change but did add language that allows instructors to create their own manuals. Xavier says he will continue to teach his course and thinks it’s important for people to stay educated on gun safety.
Instead of putting changes into effect January 1st, the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission is waiting one year to allow time for more dialogue with instructors. Xavier says he hopes these discussions will result in stronger and more helpful laws.