North Carolina permitless carry bill still in limbo as House drags its tarheels
Editor's note: Many Ohioans frequently visit the Carolinas, so this particular bill is relevant to those traveling there. It is important to know the gun laws of all 50 states before traveling. For more information, check out Traveler's Guide to the Firearm Laws of the Fifty States.
North Carolina House Republicans have postponed a critical vote on constitutional carry legislation for the sixth time, pushing the veto override attempt to Dec. 15 and testing the patience of gun rights advocates who have watched months of delays erode momentum for a bill that would eliminate permit requirements for law-abiding citizens.
The legislation, officially titled “Freedom to Carry NC,” would eliminate the requirement for law-abiding citizens to obtain a concealed carry permit while maintaining an optional permit system for reciprocity purposes. The bill would make North Carolina the 30th constitutional carry state if House Republicans can secure the votes needed to override Gov. Josh Stein’s veto.
Senate Bill 50 began its journey through the legislature in February, when lawmakers filed the bill Feb. 4. The Senate passed the measure March 20 with a vote of 26-18, sending it to the House for consideration.
Here in Ohio: See where Buckeye Firearms Association stands on gun bills making their way through the state legislature.
After extensive committee review through May and June, the House passed the bill on June 11 by a narrow margin of 59-48, with 13 members absent. Two Republican representatives, William Brisson and Ted Davis Jr., broke ranks and voted against the legislation alongside all House Democrats.
Gov. Stein vetoed the bill June 20, arguing the measure “makes North Carolinians less safe and undermines responsible gun ownership.” The Senate successfully overrode the veto July 29 with a 30-19 vote, but the House vote has been postponed repeatedly since July 30.
The core challenge facing House Republicans stems from their inability to achieve a veto-proof supermajority following the 2024 elections. They hold 71 seats in the chamber, one short of the three-fifths majority of 72 votes needed to override a veto independently. This arithmetic reality means Republicans need either perfect unity among their caucus members or at least one Democratic crossover vote.
The two Republican defectors have staked out distinct positions opposing the legislation. Rep. Brisson expressed concerns about making it easier for 18-year-olds to carry concealed weapons. Rep. Davis cited concerns about how the changes would impact existing gun owners who already possess permits.
“This is not about the right to carry,” Davis said. “This is about the rights of those who have followed our laws.”
The voting arithmetic becomes even more complicated when considering that approximately 10 other House Republicans were absent when the bill originally was passed in June, creating uncertainty about whether leadership could guarantee the necessary attendance for an override attempt.
The pattern of repeated delays reveals House leadership’s lack of confidence in securing the votes. The override vote was originally scheduled for July 30 but withdrawn and rescheduled to Aug. 26. Leadership then rescheduled the vote to Sept. 22 before withdrawing it again. The vote was withdrawn once more in September and then rescheduled to Oct. 20, then to Oct. 21, and then to Nov. 17, before the latest postponement to Dec. 15.
Second Amendment advocacy groups have expressed mounting frustration with each delay. Grass Roots North Carolina has focused particular attention on Davis and Brisson, dubbing them the “Treachery Twins” and organizing phone banking and email campaigns targeting their districts. The group argues that these legislators betrayed their oaths of office by voting against constitutional rights.
With the legislative session rapidly approaching its end and the Dec. 15 date now set, this vote represents likely the final opportunity for the veto override this session. House leadership faces three possible scenarios when the vote comes to the floor.
A successful override requires either flipping both Davis and Brisson to yes votes while achieving perfect Republican attendance, or maintaining current Republican support while attracting one Democratic vote to reach the 72-vote threshold. A failed override would kill the bill for this session, though lawmakers could reintroduce the legislation in 2026. Leadership could also withdraw the vote again if they lack confidence in the outcome, though mounting political pressure may force them to proceed with a floor vote regardless of their internal vote counts.
The pattern of delays suggests House leadership remains uncertain about securing the necessary votes even after months of negotiations and pressure campaigns. Gun rights advocates are running out of patience after five previous postponements, whereas opponents of the legislation hope the veto will be sustained to preserve current concealed carry permit requirements.
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