When North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein vetoed a Constitutional Carry measure passed by both the state House and state Senate, gun owners were hopeful that the legislature might override the governor’s veto and make the Tar Heel State the 30th in the nation to deregulate the right to keep and bear arms.
Under SB 50, lawful North Carolinians would no longer have to jump through government permitting hoops and pay a fee to carry a firearm for self-defense, which the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled is protected by the Second Amendment.
In late July, the state Senate voted to override Gov. Stein’s veto. With the bill returning to the House later this month, giving lawmakers there a chance to override the veto, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is urging House members to finish the job.
In a news item posted on the NSSF website on August 13, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Larry Keane warned House members that their constituents are keeping an eye on how they vote.
“North Carolina gun owners are watching closely to see where their elected officials stand,” Keane wrote. “Will they cave to gun control pressure or stand with law-abiding citizens exercising their rights?”
Opponents of the override say that it’s all about public safety and an increased “potential for increased gun violence.” Supporters argue it would protect the individual liberties enshrined in the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment.
According to Keane, the opponents’ argument is hollow and completely ignores the facts.
“Gun ownership among law-abiding Americans has surged in the last five years, including through the addition of at least 26 million new first-time gun owners since 2020,” he wrote. “While crime spiked nationwide in the early 2020s—including in North Carolina—these high marks have come down since a few years ago. Moreover, these declines have taken place at the same time that firearm ownership increased, and more states have adopted ‘permitless’ carry freedoms.”
Ultimately, Keane said that the proof’s in the pudding when it comes to constitutional, or “permitless,” carry and the results after it is instituted.
“Here’s the real truth that’s been proven in 29 other states that already adopted Constitutional or permitless carry laws,” he concluded. “If the North Carolina House votes to override Gov. Stein’s veto, it will mean North Carolinians will have more options to exercise their Second Amendment rights and protect their families, homes and businesses from criminals that blatantly and openly ignore the laws.”
If the override is successful, residents in 60% of U.S. states will be able to practice constitutional carry. States that already have such “permitless” carry laws include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.
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