Dean Rieck Executive Director | Buckeye Firearms Association
Dean Rieck Executive Director | Buckeye Firearms Association
North Carolina lawmakers are preparing for a key vote that could determine whether the state joins 29 others in allowing permitless concealed carry of firearms, known as constitutional carry. The legislation, Senate Bill 50, was vetoed by Governor Josh Stein in June. However, the state Senate overrode the veto by the end of July. The bill now returns to the House for a possible override vote later this month.
Gun control groups have expressed concern about potential increases in gun violence if SB 50 becomes law. Everytown for Gun Safety stated that overriding the governor’s veto would “eliminate the safety precautions that are currently in place” and noted an increase in criminal misuse of firearms in recent years. They did not address other factors such as bail reform policies or prosecutorial decisions in North Carolina cities.
Supporters of SB 50 argue that it protects individual liberties under the Second Amendment. If enacted, North Carolina would become the 30th state to allow constitutional carry, joining states such as Alabama, Texas, Florida, and Ohio.
Recent trends show a decline in murder rates across the United States even as firearm ownership has increased and more states have adopted permitless carry laws. In a podcast from The Reload, Jeff Asher of AH Datalytics said: “Murder peaked sometime at the end of 2022. In 2023, it had the largest one-year decline ever recorded,” Asher explained. “In 2024, it had the largest one-year decline ever recorded — likely — we don’t have the FBI’s 2024 numbers yet. And 2025 we’re seeing the largest one-year decline ever recorded. So an even larger decline than what we saw last year in our sample.” Stephen Gutowski from The Reload added: “And one of the most under-covered stories out there is this crime trend of just huge decreases in murder, to the point where we’re getting it seems like we’re on track, right, to have the lowest murder rate, perhaps in recorded history.”
The outcome of North Carolina’s House vote remains uncertain due to close margins among lawmakers.
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