North Carolina: Comprehensive Pro-Gun Reform Bill Takes Effect Today

Today, the most comprehensive pro-gun reform bill in the Tar Heel State since 1995 takes effect.  This law reforms the handgun purchase permit process and makes several improvements for gun owners and sportsmen.

While the outdated handgun purchase permit law has not been repealed in its entirety, the following changes were made to this law:

• Improves and streamlines the permit issuing process.
• Prohibits sheriffs from limiting the number of permits an individual may obtain.
• Requires each sheriff to maintain a publicly accessible record that details the reasons permits are denied, without including any personal information about the applicants who were denied.
• Establishes a revocation requirement for individuals issued a permit who later become prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm.
• Improves the reporting process to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) of the records of individuals who are prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms.
• Safeguards the confidentiality of individuals applying for and receiving a handgun purchase permit.

This new law also makes the following important changes:

• Allows Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) holders to lawfully carry their personal protection firearms into a restaurant that serves alcohol, provided they do not consume alcohol.
• Removes the prohibition on CHP holders carrying into a place where tickets are sold for admission. 
• Fixes the problem of anti-gun localities overstepping their authority regarding restricting CHP holders from carrying firearms into locally controlled parks.
• Allows CHP holders to transport their personal protection handguns in their motor vehicle while on all school property, as well as allows them to store those handguns in a closed container in their locked vehicles while parked on school property.
• Ensures the privacy of CHP holders by allowing access to the database of permittees only for law enforcement purposes.
• Removes the prohibition on CHP holders carrying their personal protection firearms during a parade or funeral.
• Allows employees of schools to keep handguns in their home when the home is located on the school’s grounds, as well as transport the handguns on and off campus in the employee’s vehicle.
• Brings North Carolina in compliance with the standards set forth in the federal NICS Improvement Amendments Act (NIAA) of 2007.
• Removes the prohibition on using firearms with sound suppressing devices while otherwise lawfully hunting game.

Your NRA will continue to work with state legislators on future efforts to fully repeal the outdated and unnecessary handgun purchase permit law and ensure we continue to bring pro-gun and pro-hunting reforms to North Carolina.