Rep. Clark files bill in North Carolina House on firearm destruction procedures

A new bill filed by State Rep. Tracy Clark seeks to regulate the destruction and disposition of firearms held by law enforcement agencies in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 583 on March 31 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Law Enforcement/Destroy Certain Firearms.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill permits North Carolina law enforcement agencies to destroy unclaimed firearms, confiscated firearms following certain convictions, and firearms purchased or voluntarily surrendered for buy-back programs. It amends existing statutes to outline procedures for the destruction of firearms that are either without a legible identification number, unsafe, or otherwise deemed unnecessary as evidence. For firearms acquired through buy-back programs, agencies must check serial numbers against stolen firearm records and determine if they were used in crimes. If a firearm proves stolen, efforts must be made to apprehend the thief, and the weapon may only be destroyed with the lawful owner’s written permission. Furthermore, the bill stipulates that law enforcement maintain records of destroyed firearms and extends options for the disposition of firearms to allow for their use by law enforcement or sale through licensed dealers, contributing proceeds to public schools or law enforcement purposes. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Marcia Morey proposed the most bills (26) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Clark graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2007 with a BA and again in 2012 from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Clark, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2024 to represent the state’s 57th House district, replacing previous state representative Ashton Clemmons.