The North Carolina House of Representatives has cancelled a House floor vote that would have ended the requirement for individuals seeking to carry a concealed handgun to obtain a permit from their local sheriff. The proposal, which had been backed by gun-rights groups but opposed by gun control advocates and the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association, is now in limbo as Senate leader Phil Berger stated he is unsure there is a need to address additional Second Amendment issues at this time.
The bill aimed to make obtaining permits optional for those who met certain qualifications, such as completing a training course, avoiding convictions of felonies or other specific crimes, and lacking any mental or physical disability preventing the safe handling of firearms. Critics argue that removing these requirements could lead to increased violence and homicides.
In addition to concerns over gun legislation, internal divisions within the Republican party are becoming more apparent regarding abortion restrictions following the fall of Roe v Wade. In South Carolina and Nebraska, all five female senators led filibusters that ultimately blocked bills aiming to ban abortions from conception with very few exceptions.
On the federal level, Republican congresswoman Ann Wagner warned that her party's stance on abortion could result in "losing huge" in 2024 elections. In Nebraska specifically, an attempt at implementing a six-week abortion ban failed by just one vote in its majority-Republican chamber.
As tensions rise between moderate Republicans and their conservative base over issues like abortion legislation; it remains unclear how these internal divisions will impact future policy decisions both on state levels and nationally.