WhiteKnight
Member
Guys, I've been reading over North Carolina's laws regarding handguns lately, and frankly I'm a bit baffled. I have bolded all of my questions in order to make this post with accompanying excerpts from North Carolina Firearms Laws easier to read.
I interpret this law to mean someone OVER the age of 18 can possess/carry a handgun, although they cannot legally purchase it from a federally licensed dealer. Well, how would anyone get anything without purchasing it? A gift! So would I be correct in saying an 18 year old in NC can possess/carry a handgun he/she was given as a gift?
I recently learned that North Carolina is indeed an "open carry" state. What are the age restrictions on this? I know that you must be 21 years of age and have taken a CCW class (along with other requirements) in order to get a concealed carry permit.
However, what about open carry? Could an 18 year old legally carry a handgun openly?
Would any of the exemptions above allow a minor to transport a handgun to a gun range for target practice/competition?
North Carolina law does not currently address specific age requirements for the purchase of weapons. Rather, they look to the federal standards for such restrictions. Under federal law, at 18 U.S.C. 1922(b)(1), federally licensed gun dealers are prohibited from selling handguns to persons under the age of 21. Further, all other purchasers of shotguns and rifles are required to be at least 18 years old.
North Carolina General Statute 14-269.7 provides that it is a misdemeanor for any person under the age of 18 to possess or carry a handgun. A handgun is defined as a firearm that has a short stock and is designed to be fired by the use of a single hand, or any combination of parts from which such a firearm can be assembled. The punishment for this misdemeanor is imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of up to $500.00, or both.
I interpret this law to mean someone OVER the age of 18 can possess/carry a handgun, although they cannot legally purchase it from a federally licensed dealer. Well, how would anyone get anything without purchasing it? A gift! So would I be correct in saying an 18 year old in NC can possess/carry a handgun he/she was given as a gift?
I recently learned that North Carolina is indeed an "open carry" state. What are the age restrictions on this? I know that you must be 21 years of age and have taken a CCW class (along with other requirements) in order to get a concealed carry permit.
However, what about open carry? Could an 18 year old legally carry a handgun openly?
This prohibition does not apply to the following:
(1)Officers and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the United States when in discharge of their official duties or acting under orders requiring them to carry handguns.
(2)A minor who possesses a handgun for educational or recreational purposes while the minor is supervised by an adult who is present.
(3)An emancipated minor who possesses such a handgun inside his or her residence.
(4)A minor who possesses a handgun while hunting or trapping outside the limits of an incorporated municipality if he has on his person written permission from a parent, guardian, or other person standing in loco parentis.
Effective January 1, 1995 North Carolina law found in G.S. 14-315, to prohibit any person from selling, offering for sale, giving away, or in any way transferring to aperson under the age of 18 any pistol cartridge, brass knucks, bowie knife, dirk, shurikin, leaded cane, or slingshot. Any person who violates this law is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and, in addition, shall forfeit the proceeds of any sale made in violation of this prohibition.
This statute will further provide that it is a Class H felony for a person to sell, offer for sale, give, or in any way transfer to a person less than 18 years of age any handgun as defined in G.S. 14-269.7. Additionally, an individual guilty of this offense would forfeit the proceeds of any sale made in violation of this section. This law does not apply to the following circumstances:
(1)When the handgun is lent to a minor for temporary use if the minor's possession of the handgun is lawful under G.S. 14-269.7 and G.S. 14-316 and is not otherwise unlawful.
(2)When the handgun is transferred to an adult custodian pursuant to Chapter 33A of the General Statutes, and the minor does not take possession of the handgun except that the adult custodian may allow the minor temporary possession of the handgun in circumstances in which the minor's possession of the handgun is lawful under G.S. 14-269.7 and G.S. 14-316 and is not otherwise unlawful.
(3)When the handgun is a devise or legacy and is distributed to a parent or guardian under G.S. 28A-22-7, and the minor does not take possession of the handgun except that the parent or guardian may allow the minor temporary possession of the handgun in circumstances in which the minor's possession of the handgun is lawful under G.S. 14-269.7 and G.S. 14-316 and is not otherwise unlawful.
Would any of the exemptions above allow a minor to transport a handgun to a gun range for target practice/competition?