Key Takeaways
- Constitutional carry in North Carolina hinges on the House’s decision to override Governor Stein’s veto of Senate Bill 50.
- SB50 would allow law-abiding citizens 18 and older to carry concealed without a permit while keeping the existing permit system.
- Speaker Destin Hall indicates a potential path forward for an override vote on SB50 amid ongoing negotiations.
- Opposition groups argue against removing the training requirement, emphasizing public safety and the minimum age for carrying without a permit.
- Supporters of SB50 should actively contact their representatives to push for the override of the veto.
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
RALEIGH, NC — Constitutional carry in North Carolina is closer to reality than many gun owners may realize, and the final hurdle is now sitting in the hands of the North Carolina House of Representatives.
Senate Bill 50, the “Freedom to Carry NC” Act, has been pending a House override vote since Governor Josh Stein vetoed the legislation on June 20, 2025. The North Carolina Senate already overrode the veto on July 29, 2025, with a 30-19 vote. The House has not yet taken up its own override vote, but new comments from Speaker Destin Hall suggest that may be changing.
Paul Valone, President of Grass Roots North Carolina, told ABC11 in an April 28 report that Speaker Hall sees a path forward for bringing SB50 to the House floor for an override vote. “We actually had an extensive discussion with Speaker (Destin) Hall just last week on that topic. And Speaker Hall sees that there is a path forward to bringing Senate Bill 50 to the floor for an override vote,” Valone said.
That comment matters. After nine months of the override sitting in procedural limbo, with the bill placed on the House calendar and withdrawn more than a dozen times since last summer, leadership is now publicly signaling movement.
How North Carolina Got Here
I covered SB50 when it was first filed on February 4, 2025, by Senators Danny Britt, Warren Daniel, and Eddie Settle. The bill would eliminate the requirement for a concealed handgun permit, allowing law-abiding citizens 18 and older who can legally own a firearm to carry concealed without first obtaining government permission. The existing permit system would remain in place for those who want one for reciprocity purposes or to streamline firearm purchases.
The Senate passed SB50 on March 20, 2025, after tabling more than a dozen amendments aimed at narrowing or weakening the legislation. The House followed on June 11, 2025, passing the bill 59-48 after rejecting an additional amendment. The bill was ratified the next day and presented to the governor on June 13.
Governor Stein vetoed the bill on June 20. The Senate overrode the veto less than six weeks later on July 29 by a 30-19 margin.
The Math in the House
Under North Carolina rules, a successful override requires a three-fifths majority of the chamber. Republicans hold a comfortable majority in the House, but the override math is tight because two Republicans voted against SB50 on the original second reading on June 11. To override the veto, House leadership needs every other Republican plus one additional lawmaker.
That is why the calendar dance has gone on for so long. Placing the bill on the calendar requires the speaker to be confident the votes are there. Withdrawing it preserves the override option for another day. The repeated calendar movement on SB50 reflects ongoing whip counts and negotiations rather than a stalled bill.
The most recent calendar action placed SB50 on the House calendar for April 21, 2026. According to Valone’s comments to ABC11, Speaker Hall now believes a path exists.
What SB50 Would Actually Do
The bill would not change who can legally possess a firearm in North Carolina. Anyone prohibited under federal or state law from owning a firearm would still be barred from carrying one. Felons, fugitives, and other prohibited persons remain prohibited.
What changes is the requirement that law-abiding citizens obtain government permission before exercising a constitutional right. As Senator Eddie Settle said in a statement to ABC11, “SB50 is simply our 2nd amendment right for law-abiding citizens to enjoy their freedom to carry, without Government interference. The bill is not complicated and should not be made so. SB50 offers concealed carry without a permit to anyone who would otherwise qualify for a permit if they applied, and they will be able to carry in all the same places as if they had a permit.”
The bill also keeps the existing concealed handgun permit system available for North Carolinians who want one for reciprocity in other states or to streamline firearm purchases.
The Opposition Is Organizing
Anti-gun groups are not letting this final stretch pass quietly. North Carolinians Against Gun Violence, Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action, Giffords, and the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions held an event in Raleigh on April 28 specifically focused on stopping the House override.
Their argument focuses on the elimination of the training requirement and the lowered minimum age, which would drop from 21 to 18 for carry without a permit.
Paul Valone offered a direct response to the training argument. “What other constitutionally guaranteed freedom are you required to seek mandatory training for? Are you required to seek mandatory training for voting, for example? I would think that that would be at least as important as your Second Amendment rights.”
That framing matters. The Second Amendment is a fundamental civil right, and no other constitutional right requires a government-mandated training course and an $80 fee before a citizen can exercise it. Twenty-nine states have already enacted some form of constitutional carry, and the constitutional, statistical, and practical case for North Carolina becoming the 30th has only grown stronger.
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Why This Moment Matters
The North Carolina House is the last institutional barrier between the state and constitutional carry. If the House overrides Governor Stein’s veto, SB50 becomes law and joins North Carolina to the growing majority of states that recognize the right of law-abiding citizens to carry concealed without first asking permission.
If the override fails, gun owners in North Carolina will continue navigating a permit system for a constitutional right that other states have already determined does not require government licensing. The training and education piece is also still available to anyone who wants it. Nothing in SB50 prevents a North Carolinian from voluntarily completing a firearms safety course, and gun owners who want one for reciprocity can still obtain a North Carolina concealed handgun permit.
What North Carolina Gun Owners Can Do
If you live in North Carolina and you support SB50, this is the moment to be active. Contact your state representative directly. Identify yourself as a constituent. Be specific that you are asking them to vote yes on the override of Governor Stein’s veto of SB50.
Calls and personalized emails carry more weight than form messages. If your representative is one of the Republicans who voted against the bill on second reading, that contact is even more important.
You can find your North Carolina state representative at ncleg.gov.
I will continue tracking SB50 through the override process. I covered the bill when it was filed, and I will be there when it reaches the finish line.
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