NC Senate Bill 50: Constitutional Carry Debate

0:00It's April 28th. I'm Corey with the story. This is Durham News Today, driven by AI. North Carolina's Senate Bill 50 has gun rights, folks, and safety advocates going head-to-head. The bill, which cleared both the House and Senate last year, got vetoed by Governor Josh Stein. It would let 18-year-olds carry concealed handguns without needing a permit, training, or fees. Basically, constitutional carry. Right now, you gotta be 21 or older. Make a fire arm safety course, shell out $80, prove residency, and pass a background check. Dropping those rules would match what 29 other states already do, opening it up to more young adults who pass basic checks. At a rally in Raleigh on Tuesday, April 28th, shooting survivor John Owens shared his story from getting hit point blank back in 2005. He called it dangerous for untrained 18-year-olds to pack heat, saying he risks more folks like him getting shot. Ahaski Mayor Wailing White echoed that, worried about chaos from skipping education on safe

1:01carry and laws. On the flip side, Paul Vellone, from grassroots North Carolina, pushes back hard. He argues no other constitutional right, like voting demands mandatory training, and this just cuts government red tape for law-abiding citizens who. Could already get permits. Talks with House Speaker Destin Hall, point to a real shot overriding the veto needs every House Republican, plus one more vote. With the Senate already on board by a veto-proof margin, eyes are on whether this pushes North Carolina into the Constitutional Carry Club.