Gov. Stein vetoes bill that would expand weapons permissions at some nonpublic schools

Gov. Josh Stein issued a veto message for House Bill 193 and the clerk read the message to the chamber. The governor objected to several provisions in the bill, saying it "would make our children less safe," and vetoed the legislation, returning it to the clerk for reconsideration.

In his message, Stein criticized language that would allow certain employees and volunteers at nonpublic schools to carry weapons on educational property when authorized by a school board or administrator; the message also referenced permitting concealed handguns at properties that are both schools and places of religious worship. Stein contrasted the proposed changes with law enforcement training, noting that "law enforcement officers receive more than $800 of public safety education, including firearms training," and argued that teachers and volunteers should not be asked to stand in for trained officers.

The governor said he supported some provisions in the bill that increase penalties for threats against elected officials and urged the General Assembly to send him a clean bill containing those protections. The clerk recorded that Gov. Stein returned the bill to the clerk of the North Carolina House at 03:02 p.m. for reconsideration; the bill was placed on the calendar for July 29. No override vote is recorded in the transcript.