North Carolina gun owners are watching with growing frustration as the state House drags its feet on overriding Governor Josh Stein’s veto of the constitutional carry bill, HB 650. What started as a promising push for permitless carry—allowing law-abiding adults 18 and older to exercise their Second Amendment rights without jumping through bureaucratic hoops—has devolved into a series of mysterious delays. The latest postponement came just this week, with House leaders citing vague procedural needs, leaving the override vote in limbo despite strong Republican majorities in both chambers. This isn’t just procedural foot-dragging; it’s a masterclass in political theater, where pro-2A lawmakers risk squandering momentum after the bill sailed through the legislature with bipartisan support earlier this year.
Digging deeper, these delays smack of internal GOP infighting or cold feet from leadership wary of Stein’s inevitable campaign attacks painting constitutional carry as reckless. Remember, North Carolina already permits concealed carry with a permit, but stripping that requirement aligns the state with 29 others embracing permitless carry, backed by data showing no spike in crime post-adoption—Louisiana’s recent implementation, for instance, has seen zero chaos. Stein’s veto, framed as protecting public safety, ignores mountains of evidence from places like Florida and Texas where armed citizens deter threats without permits fueling accidents. The implications for the 2A community are stark: if House Speaker Destin Hall and his caucus don’t act soon, this betrayal could embolden anti-gun Democrats in 2026 midterms, erode trust in Raleigh Republicans, and leave NC’s 8 million residents—many already licensed carriers—stuck in permit purgatory while criminals roam permit-free.
For the national 2A movement, North Carolina’s stall is a cautionary tale. With the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision demanding objective historical analogs for gun laws, states like this should be accelerating reforms, not hitting the brakes. Gun owners nationwide should flood their reps with calls—use the NCGA hotline at 919-733-3451—and rally at the Capitol. If the override fails, expect lawsuits galore, but victory here would turbocharge the constitutional carry wave, proving that delays are just detours on the road to restoring unalienable rights. Stay vigilant, NC—your House holds the key.
