North Carolina’s permitless concealed carry bill—the Freedom to Carry NC Act—cleared another hurdle Tuesday with a narrow 6–5 vote in the House Judiciary 2 Committee.
The House has now taken its first steps toward clearing Senate Bill 50 since it passed the Senate in March. The bill would allow individuals 18 and older to carry a concealed handgun without a permit, placing North Carolina on track to become the 30th state to legalize constitutional carry.
“I appreciate y’all bringing this before us, and there’s been a willingness in the House for the past several years to make this happen,” Rep. Carson Smith, R-Pender, said to Senate bill sponsors. “I don’t think the same willingness in the Senate. Can you tell me what’s changed where y’all not only want to move this bill, but move your own bill?”
“I think there are a lot of things that change around here from session to session, as far as people’s opinions on what’s necessary, and we believe now that this is necessary to get this done,” replied Sen. Danny Britt, R-Robeson.
However, the bill’s path to law faces a major roadblock if it successfully passes through the House: Democratic Gov. Josh Stein. On Tuesday, Stein suggested to reporters that he would veto it if it passes the House, which could be his first veto since taking office in January.
“My standard reviewing any piece of legislation is, will this make us safer?” Stein said when asked about Senate Bill 50. “I don’t know what the version of the bill is today. I was going to see what they ultimately do with this bill. If it doesn’t make us safer – and the previous version certainly did not – I cannot support it.”
The legislation removes the requirement for concealed carry permits while maintaining the current permitting system for those wanting reciprocity in other states. It also includes increases in penalties for gun-related crimes and a scholarship fund for children of first responders killed or disabled in the line of duty.
During the committee meeting, Democrats raised strong objections. Rep. Deb Butler, D-New Hanover, pointed to data showing increased gun violence in states that have adopted permitless carry.
“I don’t understand why in the world we would do this,” said Butler. “I think we all have to recognize that we had an example of a mass shooting in Catawba County two days ago, and 11 people’s lives and their families are probably ruined, and here we sit talking about more guns. For the life of me, I don’t understand it, and I certainly cannot support the bill.”
Gun rights advocates, including Grass Roots NC, applauded the bill’s advancement, while gun safety groups like Moms Demand Action strongly opposed it during public comment.
With Stein’s likely veto, Republican leadership would need to secure a three-fifths majority in both chambers to override—a task that was easier during the last session when both chambers held supermajorities.
Senate Republicans hold a supermajority, but House Republicans are one seat short, meaning any override effort will require unified attendance and careful vote counting, as any veto override may hinge on attendance numbers. As the bill heads to House Rules and eventually the floor, behind-the-scenes calculations will likely intensify.
The post Freedom to Carry bill advances in NC, but governor signals impending veto first appeared on Carolina Journal.