Six override votes are scheduled for the NC House of Representatives today. Included in the six is the override vote for SB50- Freedom to Carry NC. That is the bill that would make North Carolina the 30th state to allow permitless concealed carry. Open carry without a permit has already been legal in North Carolina for over a 100 years.
From the House Calendar under reconsideration of vetoed bills:
SB 50 Britt, Daniel and Settle (Primary Sponsors) FREEDOM TO CARRY NC. (Vetoed by Governor – 6/20/25) (Ratified Edition)
An override in North Carolina requires a 60% majority vote. By my calculations, it would take all 71 Republicans voting to override plus another one or more Democrats being absent in addition to Brockman for an override to succeed. The override vote for SB 50 plus five other vetoed bills has been calendared and then postponed multiple times. We will see if this time is any different.
The veto of North Carolina’s permitless concealed carry bill, SB-50 – Freedom to Carry NC, was overriden quite quickly in the NC Senate. However, the NC House is another matter. There are still some holdout Republican lawmakers who have not signaled that they will vote for override. I understand one of the lawmakers is mad at Rep. Keith Kidwell (R-Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, Pamlico) over an agricultural pesticide bill even though SB50 was a Senate bill and permitless carry has nothing to do with agricultural pesticides. Such pettiness is dismaying.
While the NRA-ILA is wishy-washy on SB-50 for their own arcane reasons, other national organizations such as CCRKBA and NSSF are stronger in their support of an override. As Larry Keane of NSSF notes, “Now, North Carolina is at a crossroad. Lawmakers can trust those who overwhelmingly obey the law or cave to gun control pressure.”
On the state level, both the official NRA affiliate North Carolina Rifle & Pistol Association and the independent Grass Roots North Carolina support an override of the veto. Having NCRPA on the side of a veto override is encouraging.
GRNC is pushing hard on the holdouts in the State House along with Speaker Destin Hall. In their latest alert, they had this to say.
It’s time to let the NC House Speaker Destin Hall that we want a floor vote on SB50. It’s time for Republicans to step up. And, we have more holdouts that we want to feel the heat and see the light so they vote to uphold constitutional rights by overriding the veto of SB50 “Freedom to Carry.
Your pressure is working Rep Howard Penny felt the heat and saw the light and will now support the Veto Override. We need to keep the pressure on.
Take Immediate Action:
CALL REPS Jimmy Dixon and Stephen Ross & Speaker Hall Immediately, let them know that you want them to vote YES to the SB 50 veto override. See phone numbers and message below.
Email REPS Jimmy Dixon and Stephen Ross & Speaker Hall Immediately, let them know that you want them to vote YES to the SB 50 veto override. See phone numbers and message below.
If you reach voicemail, leave a firm and clear message—let him know you expect him to be present and support your rights.
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED CALL THESE REPS LISTED BELOW IMMEDIATELY
Call and e-mail: Numbers and e-mails below.
DONATE TO GRNC: We are spending precious funds delivering phone and text messages into your districts. Please donate by going to: grnc.org/wp/2012/06/donate-to-or-join-grnc/ CONTACT INFORMATION
Phone numbers:
Jimmy Dixon: (919) 715-3021 Stephen Ross: (919) 733-5820
Phone Message for Reps Dixon and Ross
“I urge you to vote YES on the SB50 Veto override. I thank you for showing common sense on the HB193 Veto override, and I want you to show your resolve and support for common sense for freedom, the Second Amendment and your oath of office with a positive vote to override the SB50 Veto!”
Phone Number for Destin Hall NC House Speaker
Speaker Destin Hall:
Destin Hall: (919) 733-3451
Phone Message for Destin Hall “Speaker Hall I implore you to get SB50 to the floor and rally support within your party to push the veto override of SB50 over the finish line. Now is not the time for a delay or backpedaling. The DEMS don’t seem to have a problem getting their party in line so we are wondering why you do”
Subject: Bring SB50 Veto Override to the House Floor Immediately
Dear Speaker Hall,
I am writing to strongly urge you to bring SB50, the “Freedom to Carry NC” bill, to the floor for a veto override vote without delay. North Carolinians expect their elected Republican leadership to defend constitutional rights with courage and resolve.
The Democrats have no hesitation in rallying their caucus when it comes to restricting liberty. Why should Republicans falter when freedom itself is on the line? It is past time to prove that our state’s commitment to the Second Amendment is more than empty words.
Your leadership is critical. We are asking you to move SB50 forward now, and to ensure that your caucus stands together to override the Governor’s veto.
Now is not the time for delay or hesitation. We expect action. I will monitor your actions via Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts.
I am urging you to stand firm and vote YES on the override of SB50, the “Freedom to Carry NC” bill. Gun voters are paying close attention, and we expect our Republican leaders to deliver on the promise of constitutional carry.
We appreciate your common-sense support on the HB193 veto override, but now we need you to show that same resolve by upholding your oath of office and protecting the rights of North Carolina citizens.
This is not the time for wavering. SB50 represents freedom, the Second Amendment, and the will of the people who elected you. We need you to be counted as a supporter of liberty and to vote YES to override the Governor’s veto. . I will monitor your actions via Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts.
When it comes to whipping the vote and voting as a solid bloc, the Democrats are damned good at it. The GOP not so much or at least not in the NC House of Representatives.
Such is the case of the override vote of Gov. Josh Stein’s veto of SB 50 – Freedom to Carry NC. That bill would allow permitless concealed carry in North Carolina. Permitless open carry has been legal in the state since the early 1920s. Senate President Pro-Tem Phil Berger did his work in the NC Senate which did vote to override the veto in a party-line vote.
However, the North Carolina House is one short of a super-majority which means all the Republicans must stick together and either get a Democrat to join them like with the override of HB 193 or have a couple be absent that day.
Currently, four Republicans stand in the way of overriding the veto as Speaker Destin Hall is not going to call a vote when he isn’t sure of success. You may remember that when the bill passed the House, two Republicans voted against it and 10 other Republicans were absent. One of the dissenters, Rep. William Brisson (R-Bladen & Sampson) has now indicated he will vote to override the veto. That now leaves Rep. Ted Davis, Jr. (R-New Hanover), Rep. Jimmy Dixon (R-Duplin & Wayne), Rep. Howard Penny (R-Harnett & Johnston), and Rep. Stephen Ross (R-Alamance) as being the roadblocks.
Rep. Ted Davis Jr.
Rep. Davis’ office phone is 919-733-5786. His email is teddavis@ncleg.gov. His Legislative Assistant is Martha Jenkins whose email is Martha.Jenkins@ncleg.gov.
Rep. Jimmy Dixon
Rep. Dixon’s office phone is 919-715-3021. His email is jimmydixon@ncleg.gov. His Legislative Assistant is Michael Wiggins whose email is michael.wiggins@ncleg.gov.
Rep. Howard Penny – will vote to override
Rep. Penny’s office phone is 919-715-3015. His email is howard.penny@ncleg.gov. His Legislative Assistant is Grace Rogers whose email is grace.rogers@ncleg.gov.
Rep. Stephen Ross
Rep. Ross’ office phone is 919-733-5820. His email is stephen.ross@ncleg.gov. His Legislative Assistant is Tammy Ross whose email is tammy.ross@ncleg.gov.
“We sent you to Raleigh for you to support our Second Amendment rights. Not for you to support the issuance of permission slips to exercise our rights. You need to stand up and support these rights and the will of the voters who put you in office.”
While Representatives Davis and Ross are in more urban/suburban districts, Representatives Dixon and Penny are definitely in rural (and more conservative) districts. None of these four are in marginal districts where a Democrat could use this vote against them. Indeed, that all won their seats in 2024 with 55% or greater percentage of the vote.
We have until the end of the 2025-2026 session to override the veto but I sure as heck don’t want to wait until next year. So call and email these four to make them see the light. Be polite but assertive.
UPDATE: I have learned from my friend John Petrolino that Rep. Howard Penny has now seen the light and will vote to override Stein’s veto of SB50. Thus, you should stop calls to his office unless it is thanking him for committing to vote for an override.
The hyperbole used by the anti-rights forces is always amusing even if it is downright disingenuous.
My case in point. I received a press release about an hour ago from an Olivia Eguia representing a trio of Bloomberg organizations. They included Everytown, the Demanding Moms, and the Demanding Students (or is it petulant Gen Z’ers).
Included in the press release is a quote from a Mary Lahr Cain who reportedly is a volunteer with the Demanding Moms. Ms. Cain, if her LinkedIn profile is to be believed, was the editor of a defunct weekly newspaper out of Fuquay-Varina called the Cleveland Post.
“After Governor Stein stood up for public safety and the will of North Carolinians, extremist Republican lawmakers are allegedly working behind closed doors to override his veto last week and make this dangerous bill law before their constituents even know what’s happening,” said Mary Lahr Cain, a volunteer with North Carolina Moms Demand Action. “I’m outraged that our legislators would do this in secret instead of listening to the people they were elected to represent. Our families deserve transparency and laws that keep us safe — not political games and backroom deals that put lives at risk.”
OMG! Those evil Republicans are working behind closed doors to carry out their constitutional duties under Section 22 of the North Carolina Constitution. I would go on to note that the committee hearings on SB 50 – Freedom to Carry NC – were open to the public in both houses of the General Assembly. Moreover, the votes on the bill were done in public and a roll call vote was held.
What the anti-rights forces are calling “the will of North Carolinians” is nothing more than a poll, which with the right wording, can be made to favor any position you want.
In his veto message, Gov. Josh Stein (D-NC) said, “authorizing teenagers to carry a concealed weapon with no training whatsoever is dangerous.” I am all for training regardless of whether a permit is required or not and for people of all ages However, teenagers age 18 and older can currently carry a weapon with no training whatsoever. They just are required to do it openly and that is their constitutional right per State v. Kerner (1921) Those with criminal intent already ignore the law and will carry in whatever manner they choose. Seriously, what is a misdemeanor penalty of 30 days for a first offender when compared to 17 years for armed robbery?
Lest anyone forget, a majority of the states in the US currently allow permitless concealed carry. The addition of North Carolina would bring the total number to 30 with five out of the 10 largest states allowing it.
Cherry-picking statistics to bolster your argument is not a convincing way to win. Looking at what has not happened in the states that have adopted permitless concealed carry is more instructive. That is, blood has not run in the streets.
To conclude, sure there are politics involved with any bill. It was political that the General Assembly passed SB 50, it was political that Gov. Josh Stein vetoed the bill to appease his constituency, and it will be political how and when the Republican leaders choose to hold an override vote.
The picture of the day is of Speaker Tim Moore (R-NC) who is posing with the official copy of SB 41 signed and stamped with both “veto” and “override”. He looks like a happy camper. He and Senate President Phil Berger made North Carolina gun owners happy campers as well.
SB 41 is now officially known as SL 2023-8. SL stands for Session Law and the General Statues will be updated at the end of the session.
The North Carolina House of Representatives joined the Senate in voting to over-ride Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of SB 41. The vote was 71 aye, 46 nay, and 3 absent or not voting. The vote transcript has not been published as of this writing. I will update it later today when it is available.
SB 41 now goes into law. One of the everlasting stains of North Carolina’s segregationist, white surpremacist past is now erased. It only took 104 years. The Jim Crow-era pistol purchase permit is now history.
Just as importantly, churches with attached private schools will be able to protect their congregations from those intent on doing evil. On the latter, the carrying of firearms is only allowed with church permission and only at times when students are not present including during extracurricular events.
I will be updating this post throughout the day with reactions.
UPDATE: The breakdown of the vote was finally posted yesterday. All 71 Republicans voted for the override. 46 Democrats voted no and 3 more had excused absences.
As I posted earlier, Carolina Forward wants Dems to eat their own. Interestingly, Rep. Cotham (D-Mecklenburg) says she had previously notified both the Speaker and Minority Leader she would be absent for a hospital procedure. Meanwhile, Rep. Brockman (D-Guilford) was reportedly being seen at an urgent care facility. Rep. Wray was an original sponsor of the repeal and it is thought this was his way of not voting “no”.
Rep. Willingham (D- Bertie, Edgecombe, & Martin) had previously voted for the bill and had said in reference to another bill that even with a veto he stuck by his vote. It is thought that knowing there would be two absences, he could vote no and be let off the hook by the Dems.
Bottom line, Speaker Tim Moore knew one way or another he had the votes going into yesterday morning.
A group called Carolina Forward which claims to be non-partisan posted a tweet after the vote to override the veto of SB 41 passed. They are most upset that the veto override passed and that some Democrats were absent.
These three Democrats "took a walk" this morning and refused to uphold @NC_Governor's veto of a dangerous bill to loosen NC's gun safety laws.
All three voted against SB 41 when it first came up in the House. Interestingly, Rep. Michael Wray (D-Halifax, Northampton, & Warren) was a sponsor of the standalone bill to repeal the pistol purchase permit.
Regardless of the self-description of themselves by Carolina Forward, their agenda reads like the Democrat’s platform. They call themselves “center-left” but that is stretching as I think AOC and “the squad” would feel right at home with them. Besides, if they are using Act Blue as their fundraising mechanism, that tells you all you need to know.
Gov. Roy Cooper (D-NC) vetoed SB 41 on Friday. SB 41 would have repealed the pistol purchase permit, allowed churches with schools to protect themselves, and provided for a statewide gun safe storage initiative.
Today, the North Carolina Senate voted to override the veto by a vote of 30 aye, 19 nay, 1 excused. Every Republican state senator was present and voted for the override.
It now goes to the NC House of Representatives where an override vote appears to be on the agenda. The fact that is on the agenda would indicate that at least one Democrat has committed to vote for the override. With the current rules of House, the Speaker can call for a vote at any time without any notification or putting it on the agenda.
You may want to call the three Democrats or email them thanking them for their vote for SB 41 and ask them to stick with their vote. GRNC has more info here.
Grass Roots North Carolina released an alert yesterday evening urging people to contact those legislators on the bubble. It is time for them to decide if good people who merely want to protect their fellow churchgoers are more important or is party more important.
You know my feelings on the subject. I think the veto was not only disingenuous but evil.
OVERRIDE GOVERNOR COOPER’S VETO OF SB43
Since 1995, the majority of North Carolina churches have had the protections that SB43 would have extended to all places of worship. Guns have been present in those places for decades as a lifesaving protection against evil.
Despite solid bipartisan majorities in the legislature who voted not once but TWICE to send this bill to his desk, despite the thousands of emails and calls last week to the Governor’s office imploring him to correct an injustice recognized by all, Governor Cooper chose not to follow the will of North Carolinians but the dictates of the leftist anti-liberty lobby instead.
A veto override in both chambers will be required to remedy this clear and present danger to churchgoers across the state.
The antis object to the people being able to defend themselves based on a fanatical fear that someone, somewhere, sometime in the distant future may casually leave a gun laying around. Uncaring that they are endangering children because they are deathly afraid that guns might be present in certain places. Those who obtain a concealed carry permit have to undergo extensive background checks and training. They invest time and money in the proper holster and equipment to safely carry their firearms.
History has shown there is a far greater risk from crime or mass murderers than those who have show themselves to be of exemplary character in obtaining a concealed carry permit. We know we can count on the Republican members of the General Assembly to vote in favor of an override, but can we count on the support of the Democratic legislators who previously supported the bill to do the same?
We need the Democrat legislators to stand firm on their principles and not give in to political pressure and vote WRONG.
The following members of the NC Senate: Senators Sarah Crawford, Don Davis, and Kirk deViere; and members of the NC House: Representatives Charles Graham, Abe Jones, Brian Turner, Shelly Willingham, and Michael Wray, along with Senate Leader Pro Tempore Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore need to hear from you TODAY that we expect a veto override vote to be scheduled and won without delay. Those who would vote to deny this equal protection under the law for all, and certainly those who would change their prior vote of support for a blindly partisan vote of opposition will have blood on their hands if violence is perpetrated against a church unjustly prohibited to use all means available to protect themselves and their congregations during worship services.
We need not a thousand calls and emails but tens of thousands to demand the immediate override of this veto.
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!
Call the following list of Democratic Representatives along with Senate Leader Pro Tempore Berger and House Speaker Moore:
Senate Leader Pro Tempore Phil Berger (919) 733-5708 Senator Sarah Crawford (919) 733-5850 Senator Don Davis (919) 717-8363 Senator Kirk deViere (919) 733-5776 House Speaker Tim Moore (R) (919) 733-3451 Representative Charles Graham (D-47) (919) 715-0875 Representative Abe Jones (D-38) (919) 733-5758 Representative Brian Turner (D-116) (919) 715-3012 Representative Shelly Willingham (D-23) (919) 715-3024 Representative Michael Wray (D-21) (919) 733-5662
Hello, my name is (name). I am calling to direct the legislature immediately take action to override the dangerous veto of Senate Bill 43 (Protect Religious Meeting Places) and expect you to remain true to your previous votes in support of this measure. Don’t allow some churches to be singled out for violence merely because of petty partisan politics. I will be following this matter through GRNC legislative alerts. Thank you.”
Suggested Subject: “Don’t Single Out Certain North Carolina Churches for Violence ”
Dear Legislator:
Since 1995, the majority of North Carolina churches have had the protections that SB43 would have extended to all places of worship. Guns have been present in those places for decades as lifesaving protection against criminals and mass murderers who are stopped by silly rules or signs about massacre zones.
Those who object to the people being able to exercise their common sense civil right of armed self-defense do so based on the feeble excuse that someone, somewhere might leave a gun laying around. Those who take on the solemn duty of defending their family and their fellow man undergo extensive background checks and training and they invest a lot of time and money to safely carry their firearms.
They do not just leave them lying around as some would have you believe. Those who object to SB43 are endangering certain people based on a rare possibility instead of the real threat of crime or a mass shooting. They are rendering people unsafe based on this belief.
It is time that you step up to protect the people of North Carolina and override the governor’s veto. You voted twice previously to support this legislation and I now expect you to remain true to your previous votes in support of this measure. I will be following this matter through GRNC legislative alerts.
by 
Email REPS 
