With some GOP dissent, repeal of concealed carry requirements goes to NC Gov. Stein
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- House passed bill to repeal concealed carry permit mandate with GOP majority support.
- GOP Reps. Davis and Brisson opposed the bill citing safety and local voter concerns.
- Gov. Josh Stein likely to veto; override currently lacks sufficient votes in House.
The most controversial debate among North Carolina Republicans this legislative session has been whether to get rid of the state law requiring a permit to carry a concealed handgun.
Senate Bill 50, called “Freedom to Carry NC,” would let anyone age 18 and older carry a concealed gun in the state, though it keeps permits if needed for other states’ laws or any other reason.
The House passed the bill 59 to 48 on Wednesday with a majority of Republicans — but not all — in support. Republican Rep. Ted Davis, who spoke against the bill, and Republican Rep. William Brisson, voted against it.
That would not be enough to pass the bill into law if Gov. Josh Stein vetoes it, as expected.
Ten Republicans did not vote. Republicans who were not in the chamber for the vote were Reps. Allen Chesser, Tricia Cotham, John Bell, Chris Humphrey, Diane Wheatley, David Willis, Jeff Zenger, John Sauls, Stephen Ross and Jonathan Almond.
Davis, of Wilmington, said the bill ignores the rights of those who respectfully and honorably follow the current concealed carry law.
“This is not about the right to carry. This is about the rights of those who follow our laws ... and set out an example of responsibility and safety to others,” Davis said on the floor.
The current law, for a permit, requires firearms safety training and a background check, and for permit holders to be at least 21 years old.
It passed the Senate along party lines, with all Republicans in favor and all Democrats against it.
Republican Rep. Keith Kidwell said during the floor debate that the bill “simply allows people to carry without getting the permission slip from the government.”
All House Republicans and at least one Democrat would need to support the bill to pass it into law if Stein vetoes it. But Democrats opposed it unanimously Wednesday, with some absences.
Davis declined questions from reporters after the session, but told The News & Observer on Tuesday that “I don’t see what the problem is requiring somebody, number one to get a permit, number two to access training to make sure they know what they’re doing with the gun that they’re buying.”
And Brisson told The N&O Tuesday that he opposed it even knowing that he’d catch heat from some other Republicans, but they’d have to deal with it.
“My people at home are pretty much against it, I can tell you that. I wasn’t in favor of it. I can’t understand why it’s here to begin with,” Brisson said.
On Wednesday after the vote, Brisson told reporters that he voted against it because “it’s just not the right thing to do,” and is worried about even younger teenagers getting their hands on guns. Asked if he would vote to override a Stein veto of the bill, Brisson said “at this moment, no.”
Democratic Rep. Allen Buansi, of Orange County, spoke against the bill during the debate on Wednesday, saying that it would make police officers’ jobs harder and put them at greater risk.
“The concealed carry permitting requirement is about one thing, public safety,” Buansi said, adding that the permit process teaches people how to handle firearms safely and properly.
Rep. Amos Quick, of Guilford County, is a Democrat and a pastor. He talked about the times he has put on a black suit and robe to officiate the funerals of people who have died by gun violence.
“Please, let’s not do this,” Quick said.
The House also voted for a bill that would create a firearms safety instruction course for students age 18 and older to be offered at community colleges.
What’s next
Stein has 10 days to sign, veto or let the bill become law without his signature. If he vetoes it, there are not enough votes in the House to overturn it.
“I would imagine that math being math, that it’s probably a low percentage relative to other bills,” of being overridden, House Speaker Destin Hall told reporters after the session.
He said they held the vote because a majority of Republicans were in favor of it.
“I have not worked on veto override votes for this particular bill yet. So I don’t know where folks are flexible at, but you know, as I sit here right now, it seems to me that the bill is going to have a challenge if it’s vetoed.”
Hall added that “we’ll see what happens with it. It’s got a year and a half.”
Legislative sessions in North Carolina last two years, and 2025 is the long session. Once they adjourn for the calendar year, lawmakers come back in spring 2026 for a short session.
This story was originally published June 11, 2025 at 3:25 PM with the headline "With some GOP dissent, repeal of concealed carry requirements goes to NC Gov. Stein."
.jpg)