Rep. Clark files bill in North Carolina House to reinstate pistol purchase permits

A new bill filed by State Rep. Tracy Clark in the North Carolina House seeks to reinstate and broaden firearm permit regulations to include both pistols and long guns, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 366 on March 11 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Reenact & Expand Pistol Purchase Permit.’

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

In essence, this bill seeks to reenact North Carolina’s pistol purchase permit law and expand it to include long guns, effective Dec. 1, 2025. It mandates that any sale, transfer, or acquisition of pistols or long guns requires a permit issued by the county sheriff or holding a valid North Carolina concealed handgun permit. Permits are valid for five years and must use a standardized form developed by the State Bureau of Investigation and the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association. The bill exempts antique firearms and historic edged weapons from permit requirements and specifies that individuals under indictment for or convicted of a felony, unless pardoned or with restored firearm rights, cannot obtain a permit. Violations are classified as a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Carolyn G. Logan proposed the most bills (14) 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.