In yet another example of progressive overreach masquerading as public safety, a key piece of pro-Second Amendment legislation was shut down with the stroke of a pen. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein just made it crystal clear where he stands on the Second Amendment — and surprise, surprise, it’s not with the Constitution.
On Friday, Stein vetoed Senate Bill 50, legislation that would have made North Carolina the 30th state to embrace constitutional carry. That’s right, nearly two-thirds of the country has figured out that law-abiding citizens don’t need to beg the government for permission to protect themselves. But Stein? He’s too busy wringing his hands over imaginary dangers and repeating tired anti-gun talking points to join them.
North Carolina's Democrat Governor Josh Stein Vetoes Constitutional Carry https://t.co/A5egqaIQ3q
— Steve Ferguson (@lsferguson) June 21, 2025
National Association for Gun Rights Slams Governor Stein’s Veto of Constitutional Carry, Targets Turncoat Republicans
Raleigh, NC – Democrat Governor Josh Stein vetoed SB 50, the Constitutional Carry bill, spitting in the face of North Carolina’s pro-gun voters.
“Stein’s… pic.twitter.com/MEZ7erxwYE
— National Association for Gun Rights (@NatlGunRights) June 20, 2025
“This bill makes North Carolinians less safe,” Stein claimed, adding that reducing the age to carry from 21 to 18 and removing permit requirements would somehow endanger the public. He even trotted out the old chestnut about “making the job of a law enforcement officer more difficult,” as if officers are sitting around praying that bureaucratic red tape will save them from armed criminals.
Let’s be honest. This bill doesn’t arm criminals. It restores rights to law-abiding citizens — you know, the people who already own guns legally and are simply asking not to be treated like criminals for exercising a constitutional right. SB 50 would allow adults — yes, 18 is legally an adult, despite what liberals pretend — to carry concealed without being forced to go through a permit process that does little to stop actual crime. Spoiler alert: criminals don’t ask for permits.
The National Association for Gun Rights hit the nail on the head. “Stein’s gutless veto proves he’s cut from the same anti-Second Amendment cloth,” said political director Dustin Curtis, adding that North Carolina voters already rejected the gun control platforms of Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, and Hillary Clinton. He’s not wrong. In 2016 and 2020, North Carolina leaned red, and with good reason. People here still believe in the right to protect their families without a stack of government paperwork.
The real kicker? Republicans passed this bill in both the Senate and the House — and now, thanks to two GOP defectors, Reps. William Brisson and Ted Davis, it might be tough to override the veto. With Democrats uniformly opposed (because of course they are), Republicans need a three-fifths majority to push it through. Brisson and Davis better decide fast if they’re more loyal to their constituents or to Josh Stein’s political ambitions.
If North Carolina wants to catch up to the 29 states that already trust their citizens to carry responsibly, it’s time to stop playing games. The Constitution doesn’t come with a permit requirement.
These politicians keep pushing this agenda thing about guns from 18-21. You can enlist in the military at 18 and the US government TRAINS you how to use the very weapons the Demonrats want to BAN!!! Make sense to anyone!!!! If we push the age limit for everything to 21 then push the age limit to 21 for enlistment so 18-20 year olds stop DYING for a government that doesn’t support them!!!!!