North Carolina concealed carry laws and reciprocity

A permit holder carrying a concealed handgun must disclose to any law enforcement officer that the person holds a valid permit and is carrying a concealed handgun when approached or addressed, and display the permit and ID on request (G.S. 14-415.11(a)); failure to disclose is an infraction (G.S. 14-415.21(a)).

Without a valid permit, a handgun in a vehicle must not be both concealed and readily accessible to an occupant, for example under a seat or in a bag within reach (G.S. 14-269(a1)); permit holders may carry concealed in a vehicle.

It is unlawful to carry a concealed pistol or gun about one's person off one's own premises unless the person holds a North Carolina permit or an out-of-state permit valid under G.S. 14-415.24 (G.S. 14-269(a1)).

The sheriff shall issue a concealed handgun permit to an applicant who meets the criteria of G.S. 14-415.12, including being 21 or older, a 30-day state resident, and completing an approved training course; permits are valid statewide for five years (G.S. 14-415.11(b)).

An applicant must have been a resident of North Carolina for 30 days or longer immediately preceding the application (G.S. 14-415.12(a)(1)).

North Carolina's carry prohibition in G.S. 14-269 applies only to concealed weapons; open carry is barred only in specific places, such as educational property and parades, picket lines and demonstrations on public property (G.S. 14-269.2, 14-277.2).

A permit does not authorize concealed carry on private premises where the person in legal possession or control has posted a conspicuous notice prohibiting it (G.S. 14-415.11(c)(8)); a permittee who violates this is guilty of an infraction with a fine of up to $500 (G.S. 14-415.21(a)).

Carrying into an establishment where alcohol is sold and consumed is a misdemeanor, but a valid permit holder may carry a handgun there unless the premises is posted (G.S. 14-269.3); no one may carry concealed while consuming alcohol or with alcohol remaining in the body (G.S. 14-415.11(c2)).

A person with a concealed handgun permit may carry a concealed handgun on the grounds or waters of a park within the State Parks System (G.S. 14-415.11(c1)).

No statute bars permit holders from places of worship, but private premises may be posted (G.S. 14-415.11(c)(8)); where a place of worship shares property with a school, a permittee may carry a handgun only outside school hours or while attending worship and related services (G.S. 14-269.2(k1)).

Possessing or carrying any firearm, openly or concealed, on educational property is a Class I felony (G.S. 14-269.2(b)); a permit holder may keep a handgun in a closed compartment or container in a locked vehicle or a locked container affixed to the vehicle (G.S. 14-269.2(k)).

A permit does not authorize carry on educational property (locked-vehicle exception), in law enforcement or correctional facilities, in buildings housing only state or federal offices or in state or federal offices, in the State Capitol, Executive Mansion and court portions of courthouses (G.S. 14-269.4), in areas barred by legislative rule, where federal law prohibits, or on posted private premises. Permit holders may carry at parades and funerals and in alcohol-serving or fee-charging venues unless posted, but not at picket lines or demonstrations on public property (G.S. 14-277.2).

A person is justified in using deadly force and has no duty to retreat in any place he or she has the lawful right to be if the person reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm (G.S. 14-51.3).

Chapter 14 of the North Carolina General Statutes contains no magazine capacity limit.

Chapter 14 of the North Carolina General Statutes contains no assault weapons ban.

Silencers are 'weapons of mass death and destruction' under G.S. 14-288.8, but the prohibition does not apply to persons who lawfully possess them in compliance with the National Firearms Act.

Rifles with barrels under 16 inches or overall length under 26 inches are 'weapons of mass death and destruction' under G.S. 14-288.8, but the prohibition does not apply to persons in compliance with the National Firearms Act.

Shotguns with barrels under 18 inches or overall length under 26 inches are 'weapons of mass death and destruction' under G.S. 14-288.8, but the prohibition does not apply to persons in compliance with the National Firearms Act.