I don't remember there being a restriction on barrel length to start with.
So what barrel length are you talking about?You can now hunt with short barreled rifle in NC. According to a game warden i spoke to today
According to the National Firearms Act of 1934, possession a a short-barreled rifle (under 16' barrel) is illegal unless registered with ATF. The state cannot make a federal illegal weapon legal. They can allow you to use one for hunting if it is properly registered and the tax has been paid. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Firearms_Act
I seriously doubt that NC or any other state would allow non-registered NFA weapons to be used. Check with the state's attorney general's office.
Unless somebody can show me something to the contrary I don't recall the regulations ever saying anything about rifle barrel length and they still don't.I didn't see where anyone said the state was making the gun legal, only hunting with the gun.