Your Voice is Needed: Call Your State Senator
Return America
May 2, 2025
RALEIGH—Two bills advancing in the North Carolina General Assembly would give private schools the option to allow trained employees, volunteers, and even visitors with concealed handgun permits to carry firearms on school grounds. Supporters say this move is long overdue and critical to protecting vulnerable students.
House Bill 193 — Firearm Law Revisions — passed the House floor Thursday, championed by Rep. Jeffrey McNeely (R-Iredell). Meanwhile, Senate Bill 280 – Private School Security Act — a companion measure with additional provisions — cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Rules Committee this week and is expected to be taken up for a full vote on Tuesday’s Senate floor.
The legislation would allow private school personnel, with written permission from school administrators, to carry concealed handguns and stun guns on campus. They would be required to hold a valid concealed carry permit and complete regular training. In addition, SB 280 would permit schools to designate trained volunteers — including parents or other community members — as armed security, provided they undergo eight hours of annual instruction. The bills also authorize the secure storage of defensive tools such as Tasers and Pepper Spray in biometric safes.
See Related Story By WRAL News: NC bills would allow concealed handguns for teachers, parents and others in private schools
A private school parent, Rachel Brady, told WRAL News, “Our children are the most vulnerable among us…I like that there are protections in place and ways of ensuring that responsible adults who go through the necessary processes to receive a concealed carry permit… could be designated by the school to serve as protectors of our children.”
Although public schools in North Carolina are staffed by armed sheriff’s deputies — particularly at the middle and high school levels — private schools are not afforded the same taxpayer-funded protection. Many private institutions are small, serving only a few dozen students, and cannot afford full-time professional security. Supporters of the legislation say this leaves children in private education defenseless.
Sen. Steve Jarvis (R-Davidson), the primary sponsor of SB 280, said the bill “balances safety with individual rights” through stringent criteria for training, permitting, and school oversight. “This bill simply strengthens the safety in North Carolina’s private schools while respecting the unique needs of our communities,” Jarvis said. “It allows private school employees or volunteers with concealed carry permits to carry firearms on school grounds, but only with the explicit authorization of the school board and/or the administration director.”
Return America, a conservative Christian public policy organization, has advocated for legislation of this kind for over a decade. Its president, Dr. Ron Baity, who also founded a Christian school in Wilkes County in the early 1970s, spoke before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday and urged lawmakers to consider the reality private schools face.
“Every day we are horrified,” Baity said of the possibility a shooter could attack one of their schools. “I hear it said that innocent people could be killed if a shooter comes on the property and our staff is armed. The truth of the matter is, if we have no resistance against the individual who’s armed, he can kill all of our staff, he can kill all of our students, and we have no way to protect anyone.”
Rev. Mark Creech, who now serves as Director of Government Relations for Return America after leading the Christian Action League for 25 years, also testified before the Senate Rules Committee on Thursday.
This bill “is not about arming everyone or promoting a gun culture. Rev. Creech said it is about giving private school leaders a choice – the same choice already available in some other settings – to authorize responsible and competent individuals to protect their students. These private and religious schools are not asking the state for money or mandates. Instead, they are asking for freedom for their institutions to protect their own. They implore you to give them the freedom to stop being a soft target.”
The proposals come amid a national debate over how best to secure schools, especially after the tragic 2023 shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, where six people were killed at a private Christian school. Proponents say the North Carolina bills are a commonsense step toward empowerment, not escalation.
If SB 280 passes the Senate floor next week, it will move to the House for consideration — where HB 193’s success signals strong momentum.
🚨 TAKE ACTION NOW!
Contact your State Senator’s office IMMEDIATELY and urge a YES vote on SB 280 – the Private School Security Act.
It’s the weekend. So you probably won’t get an answer if you call, but leave a message on his/her voicemail.
Find your Senator’s contact information by clicking here.
It’s simple. It’s urgent. The measure has momentum, and your voice is needed to support this legislation now.
📞 Call.
📧 Send an email.
📬 Do both, if you can.
🗣️ Especially Take Action If You Are:
- A pastor or church leader
- Employed by a private or Christian school
- A parent of a student in a private or Christian school
Your voice carries weight – use it now.
✅ Key Talking Points in Favor of SB 280. You need only to use one or two.
🔹 1. Enhances School Security in Vulnerable Institutions
Many private schools can’t afford full-time security. This bill allows them to authorize trained individuals to protect against violent threats, including active shooters.
🔹 2. Respects and Strengthens Religious Liberty
Restores the right to self-defense during religious services, even when held on school property—a crucial protection amid rising violence against houses of worship.
🔹 3. Empowers Local Decision-Making
Private school leadership—not the state—decides whether to implement this option. It’s a local choice, not a mandate.
🔹 4. Ensures Rigorous Training and Safety Standards
Only those with a concealed handgun permit and an additional 8+ hours of annual firearms training under a certified instructor may qualify.
🔹 5. Promotes Transparency and Parental Confidence
Schools must adopt and distribute written procedures annually to parents, ensuring clear communication and accountability.
🔹 6. Restricts Participation to Law-Abiding Citizens
Only concealed carry permit holders who have passed background checks and state training are eligible. This is not a reckless or open-ended policy.
🔹 7. Provides a Targeted, Sensible Solution
This is a measured response for private institutions and churches that need it most. It doesn’t apply to public schools or create a sweeping statewide rule.
With this bill advancing, your timely response is critical. Thank you for standing with Return America to protect our children, schools, and freedom.