Rep. Clark files bill in North Carolina House to clarify firearm storage law

A new bill filed by State Rep. Tracy Clark in the North Carolina House seeks to clarify existing firearm storage laws to enhance protections for minors in homes, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 643 on April 1 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Clarify Firearm Storage Law.’

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

In essence, this bill clarifies a North Carolina law requiring the safe storage of firearms to protect minors, specifying that it applies to both loaded and unloaded firearms. The bill addresses the ambiguity highlighted by a court case, where the court did not consider an unloaded firearm stored next to ammunition as being “in a condition that the firearm can be discharged.” It holds that anyone who resides with a minor and allows unsupervised access to firearms is guilty of a Class A1 misdemeanor if the minor accesses the firearm and uses it unlawfully or dangerously. This act becomes effective Dec. 1, 2025, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Clark proposed the most bills (16) 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.