Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Blog
What are the Concealed Carry Laws in North Carolina?
People in North Carolina are allowed to carry a firearm. Concealed carry is a term that applies to carrying a firearm in a way that is not visible to an ordinary observer. Concealment can be made in a number of ways. When on your person, a gun that is tucked into a waistband and under a shirt is considered concealed because it is not readily seen by others. The same holds true for carrying a gun in your pocket.
North Carolina Concealed Carry Laws
In North Carolina, a person may not carry a concealed weapon in public. It is legal to do so on your own property. Open carry means that a person can carry a gun in the open without having a permit. A gun owner must comply with federal and state laws. For example, a convicted felon is not permitted to own a firearm at all. If a person carries a concealed firearm without a permit, they are subject to criminal charges. It may be either a misdemeanor or felony to carry a concealed firearm without a permit and if convicted, you could be subject to penalties.
Concealed Carry Permit
Although residents in North Carolina are not required to obtain a permit to own a firearm. In North Carolina, you must obtain a concealed carry permit (CHP) in order to carry a firearm in a concealed manner. You must have your permit with you at all times when you conceal carry and must provide it to a member of law enforcement if requested to do so. You must obtain a permit from the sheriff in your local jurisdiction.
Requirements for Concealed Carry Permit
There are some essential requirements that you must meet in order to obtain a concealed carry permit.
- Must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
- Must be 21 years of age or older
- Must be a resident of North Carolina for at least 30 days immediately prior to application
- Must complete a firearms safety training course
- Must provide valid identification
In North Carolina, you can obtain a concealed carry permit from the local sheriff’s office in your jurisdiction. You must fill out an application and provide documentation to prove your identity, residency, and age. If you are a veteran, you need to provide a copy of your military discharge.
Concealed Carry in a Vehicle
While you can carry a handgun in your vehicle, if you don’t have a concealed carry permit, the gun must be visible to others. Concealment in a vehicle is quite specific. There are two parts to vehicle concealment as defined by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. A firearm is considered concealed if it is not readily seen by someone approaching the vehicle and the gun is readily accessible to you or others.
There are some legal vehicle storage methods for a firearm without the need for a concealed carry permit. These include inside a locked glove box, inside the trunk, or inside a locked center console. It is best to store a weapon as far away from others as possible and it should be kept in an unloaded condition.
Concealed carry charges can be serious, and it is often helpful to seek guidance from a skilled criminal defense attorney. Contact us today at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to request a consultation with our legal team.
ultation.
The criminal defense attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC make it their mission to zealously defend their clients on a wide range of criminal matters at both the state and federal levels. These matters may include any charge from traffic offenses; DWI/DUI; drug charges (from simple possession to possession with intent to distribute and trafficking); gun permit denials; weapons offenses; and property crimes (larceny, breaking and entering, robbery, fraud, embezzlement, white collar offenses); to sexually related offenses (indecent exposure; sexual assault, crimes against nature, removal from sex offender registry); and violent crimes (domestic violence; assault; manslaughter; homicide, murder). Other legal issues that Arnold & Smith, PLLC criminal clients may be facing include restraining orders, restraining order and probation violations, expungements; appeals; and immigration issues related to criminal charges. Our criminal defense attorneys are passionate about ensuring that individuals empower themselves by being informed about their constitutional rights and stand at the ready to fight in the defense of those facing criminal charges.
Source:
https://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bysection/chapter_14/gs_14-269.html
Image Credit:
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/air-soft-gun-1-1500175
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