Veto Follows Republican Lawmakers Pushing Permitless Carry Despite Bipartisan Opposition and Broad Public Disapproval in the State
RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, issued the following statements after Governor Josh Stein vetoed SB 50, legislation that would allow people 18 or older to carry concealed handguns in public without a permit—effectively eliminating all safeguards put in place by the current permitting system, including a background check, safety training, and live-fire training. This comes after Republicans in the House and Senate passed the legislation despite wide opposition (77% of likely voters) from constituents across the state.
“In the military, I was trained to understand and respect the lethal power of a firearm. That kind of responsibility should never be taken lightly. Allowing people to carry hidden, loaded guns in public without a permit or training puts lives at risk,” said Shannon Klug, a veteran and volunteer with the North Carolina chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Governor Stein’s veto of permitless carry is a crucial step in keeping our communities safe. North Carolinians deserve to walk through our parks and grocery stores without the added fear of unvetted, concealed weapons around them. Thank you, Governor Stein, for prioritizing our safety over playing politics.”
“Letting people carry hidden, loaded guns in public without training or background checks is reckless and puts all of us at risk,” said Cora Lynn Mundy, a volunteer with the UNC-Chapel Hill Students Demand Action group. “Young people like me are the ones living with the fear and the fallout of gun violence. Governor Stein did the right thing by vetoing this dangerous bill. Now lawmakers need to show they care about our safety and back him up.”
Governor Stein’s decision to veto SB 50 wasn’t made in a vacuum. States that removed concealed carry permit requirements between 1999 and 2021 saw, on average, a 27 percent increase in gun homicides within three years of the change—the U.S. as a whole saw less than half that increase. In 2023, North Carolina lawmakers eliminated the state’s handgun purchase permit. In the 12 months following its passage, handgun sales increased nearly 11-fold—from 34,826 to 378,546— compared to the prior 12 months. In that same period, handgun sales in North Carolina surpassed the total from the previous 22 years combined, with the state experiencing 27 mass shootings, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
Additionally, the majority of Americans and North Carolinians, 3 in 4, oppose allowing people to carry concealed guns without a permit in public, including the majority of gun owners and Republicans.
Governor Stein, a longtime gun safety champion, stood with a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers opposing SB 50 and acted to protect North Carolina’s families, children, and communities from this dangerous and reckless legislation. Now, state lawmakers must follow his lead and uphold his veto to ensure the safety and well-being of all North Carolinians.
In an average year, 1,714 people die by guns and 4,197 are wounded by guns in North Carolina. With a rate of 15.9 deaths per 100,000 people, North Carolina has the 23rd-highest rate of gun deaths in the US. 53% of gun deaths are by gun suicide. Read more about gun violence in North Carolina here.