Elected officials would be allowed to carry a firearm in government buildings, courts and other restricted areas under a bill approved Wednesday by the North Carolina House. Current law allows law enforcement officers and judges and district attorneys with a concealed carry permit to carry a firearm in public spaces. House Bill 47 would allow permit-holding members of the General Assembly and other elected officials while acting in their official capacity to do the same. Rep. Keith Kidwell, R-Beaufort, introduced the bill and said it was influenced by an incident he experienced while leaving the North Carolina state Capitol. "I actually have been accosted by other people outside the building, protesters, who were seeking to become violent," said Kidwell, who has to keep his gun in his vehicle while in session. Rep. Kandie Smith, D-Pitt, filed an amendment to remove members of the General Assembly from the measure, but it failed. "We have armed police officers who do an excellent job outside of our doors," Smith said. "We also have our most capable sergeant-at-arms on the inside, making sure that our needs are met. So, allowing firearms inside these chambers could prove to have some unintended consequences." Kidwell argued the General Assembly-appointed officers could not offer protection to members outside of the building.