North Carolina Constitutional Carry Is One House Vote From Law — Clock Ticking

WRAL reported Aug. 7, 2026 that Senate Bill 50 — North Carolina’s “constitutional carry” package — is still alive on paper but mortally wounded in practice. The bill passed last year, would let most adults carry concealed without a permit or the training that comes with one, and would lower the handgun ownership age from 21 to 18. Gov. Josh Stein vetoed it in June 2025, calling “teenagers… with no training whatsoever” dangerous.

In 14 months since, lawmakers have overridden nearly all of Stein’s other vetoes. Not this one. The Senate passed an override; the House never forced the vote. Two House Republicans (Ted Davis, William Brisson) voted against the original bill; about ten more skipped. Speaker Destin Hall says vetoed calendar bills can still be overridden in a post-election, pre-adjournment session — if the votes show up. Grass Roots NC’s Paul Valone is publicly demanding Hall marshal them; organizer Andy Stevens told gun voters to leave House races blank or go Libertarian in November.

Twenty-nine states already have some form of permitless carry, including Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. Among Republican-led legislatures, WRAL notes only Wisconsin and North Carolina still lack it. If the House fails before sine die, SB 50 dies and restarts next session. Override window: after November, before January swearing-in.