North Carolina CCW Laws a Joke?

[TarpleyG]

As I have noted here a couple of times, the plan is to relocate to NC in the next 2 years. Not that I want to but My wife does. She followed me out to Florida from Texas so now I guess I must oblige her.

I signed up for the Grass Roots North Carolina news alerts and try to stay on top of gun laws and goings on there but it just seems to me that it is rather stagnate. How do you folks cope with these silly placating laws they have? You are essentially not allowed to carry anywhere that it may really matter and not to mention the convuluted nature of local laws vs. state laws that I have seen.

Anyway, it'll be a rough transition from the Gunshine state to NC. What can be done to help improve these laws?

Greg

 

[NCGUN]

Move to NC

You are correct, we have some significant problems here in NC with restrictions on carry. I am a GRNC Legislative team member and the NCGUN Administrator. Check out http://www.ncgun.com for places that are off-limits when carrying concealed. You might also want to join the NCGUN-chat mailing list since you are already getting GRNC Alerts.

As for whats going on, in the last election we lost many key pro-gun republicans in the House AND Senate, and obviously those that gained are Democrats. However, the Democrats that were elected, are radically anti-gun. So, with a Majority in the House and Senate, it is IMPOSSIBLE to remove the restrictions on carry this legislative session. Actually, GRNC is busting it's tail just trying to keep what gun rights we HAVE in place now.

How can you help? Stay on top of your GRNC Alerts, get others on the Alert system, get on NCGUN chat and start talking about the issues, meeting others like you, and be ready in 2008.

Michael

 

[spin180]

...what he said...

Keep on the legislators, be proactive, etc...

All in all, it's not too bad here. There are some inane regulations, but most of the population doesn't go 'nucking futs' if they see a gun; or at the idea of carrying one. Exceptions to that would be some of the bigger urban areas, like in and around the Triangle.

Eh, but I live on the relative edge of B.F.E. so my experience may be somewhat diluted.

Don't get too worked up over the state of things here; N.C. is a fairly decent place. For what it's worth, though, just remember concealed means concealed.

Any idea whereabouts you folks will be locating here?

 

[TarpleyG]

Any idea whereabouts you folks will be locating here?

Funny you mention the Triangle--Apex or Holly Springs area. I'm an IT guy so the Triangle only makes sense for us plus we want to be near my wife's sister and they are moving to Cary. We're coming up at Christmas to check things out for the first of what I am sure will be many times before we actually decide what town.

Greg

 

[Doug Add]

Case in point: it is illegal to carry in a movie theater (admission charged), yet once again the parking lot of a theater proves to be a dangerous place.

Four Teen Girls Robbed At Gunpoint At Movie Theater

POSTED: 4:57 pm EDT June 21, 2005
UPDATED: 5:04 pm EDT June 21, 2005

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Four teenage girls were held up at gunpoint at a movie theater in Raleigh Monday night, police said.

The four girls, ranging in age from 16 to 19, were in the parking lot of the Carmike theater near Atlantic Avenue and Spring Forest Road around 10:45 p.m. when two men came up to them, demanding money and displaying a gun.

Police said the two men then walked away after taking items from the girls, who were not injured.

Police said that one man is black, about 18 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 155 pounds and was wearing a white do-rag, and a blue hooded outfit. The other suspect was described as black, about 19 years old, between 6 feet and 6 feet 2 inches tall and was wearing black jeans.

http://www.wral.com/news/4635656/detail.html

 

[fletcher]

IMO, being able to carry in a place that serves alcohol (while not consuming, of course), and carrying in/around schools are the biggest problems. The provision that allowed for a CCL to count as a NICS check (and a pistol purchase permit, as \/ mentioned) seemed to come out of nowhere, as our local government here consists primarily of Democrats.

^ Unfortunate, but that's a pretty sketchy theater. Definitely a shame we can't carry there, as it "charges admission".

 

[Doug Add]

I was very pleased with the law doing away with the need to obtain purchase permits from the county sherriff for CHL holders. A good step in the right direction.

 

[LAR-15]

You need a permit in NC for blank firing handgun.

Just a heads up.

 

[NC Shooter]

Funny you mention the Triangle--Apex or Holly Springs area. I'm an IT guy so the Triangle only makes sense for us plus we want to be near my wife's sister and they are moving to Cary. We're coming up at Christmas to check things out for the first of what I am sure will be many times before we actually decide what town.

I live between Holly Springs and Raleigh, but my mailing address is Apex. Pretty nice area. Try to stay out of Cary if at all possible. High priced houses and very restrictive on real estate codes.

Lots of good places to shoot in the area with good indoor ranges and several outdoor ranges in the area.

The NC concealed carry laws are similar to the neighboring states laws, with the purchase of a handgun with a CCW permit a good step in the right direction. Been said before and I'll say it again. Concealed means concealed.

 

[azrael]

Well at least ya aint gonna move to Cary...

Raleigh area?? Heart of the liberal beast....

IT?? hmm can I have a job?

I live in the middle of nowhere...About 20 minutes from Greensboro

I will also restate the obvious...Concealed means concealed

 

[TarpleyG]

Concealed means concealed

Lemme ask a hypothetical then...let's say I decide to carry in one of the aforemetioned movie theatres and somehow (let's not worry about how for now) I get stopped by a police officer (Terry stop, whatever) and I divulge, by law, that I am carrying and have a permit. What happens? I'd hope I had a very cool cop that would use his better discretion and just tell me I can't do that and send me on my way. But, what if I get a hard case trying to do it "by the book"? What's the penalty beside obviously getting your license revoked? Felony or misdomeaner?

Also, it appears that my growing "switchblade" collection is going to have to be sold off since they appear to be illegal there as well. Jesus, can't the law just leave us alone!!!

Greg

 

[Cacique500]

Just keep driving a little further up I-95 to the Virginia border...much of the silliness goes away at the state line!

 

[cuervo]

Switchblades

IIRC, switchblades are legal in NC as long as they are NOT concealed.

Now, one could argue whether the pouch on your belt that is hidden by your out-of-shape belly counts as concealed or not.

 

[RoyG]

Switchblades

Switchblades

- 14-269.2... (d) It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to
possess or carry, whether openly or concealed, any...
bowie knife, dirk, dagger... switchblade knife... razors
and razor blades (except solely for personal shaving), and
any sharp-pointed or edged instrument, except
instructional supplies, unaltered nail files and clips and
tools used solely for preparation of food... on
educational property [or to cause, encourage, or aid a
minor to do likewise].

 

[azrael]

Auto's?? Ya can own them but not carry them, if your a civilian...Some how a few weeks at the local communtiy college give's LEO's the ability to handle a dangerous weapon of this type...

TarplayG

Prolly get taken downtown for that one...Alot of the cops doing "mall duty" tend to be younger and "by the book" than some of the more elder bretheren...

I dont worry to much about it, CONCEALED means concealed and my lawyer is Jewish...

 

[cuervo]

RoyG,

I'm not saying you're wrong, but 14-269.2 defines carrying weapons, including switchblades, on educational property, not carrying switchblades in general.

 

[TarpleyG]

^

That's what I got out of that little blurb...

Greg

 

[Navy joe]

I carry in NC since I go there quite often to shooting matches. I guess by the letter of the law concealed carry at and IPSC or IDPA match is illegal since you are charged admission? Lots of silly rules, thanks to VCDL VA is down to about one, that being the restaurant ban.

 

[neoncowboy]

I will also restate the obvious...Concealed means concealed

+1

...let's say I decide to carry in one of the aforemetioned movie theatres and somehow (let's not worry about how for now) I get stopped by a police officer (Terry stop, whatever) and I divulge, by law, that I am carrying and have a permit. What happens?

So, hypothetically..you'd break one unjust law (requiring that you not exercise your human right to keep/bear arms) by carrying in a place where that unjust law prohibited...but you'd feel somehow compelled to obey the other unjust law (the one where you must disclose whether you're carrying or not)?

Personally, the officer stopping me would have to frisk me to find my weapon...I wouldn't disclose anything except my name. Since I didn't do anything wrong, he wouldn't have PC to search me...and since he wouldn't have PC, any evidence that turned up in the search would be inadmissable...and my attorney would have fun with the whole matter.

Concealed really does mean concealed...but you have to be low key and keep your nose clean. Stay off their radar screen.

 

[TarpleyG]

Okay cowboy but that is EXACTLY what the Terry v. Ohio law (Terry Stop) is in the books for. Officer does NOT need PC to simply pat you down if he/she feels he/she needs to do so to make sure you are not armed to his/her danger. See the dilema here? If you disclose per NC CCW law, you are screwed. If you do not disclose per law and the officer does a cursory Terry Stop pat down, you are screwed.

What about open carry? I could technically carry concealed up to said movie theatre's front door and take off my jacket, exposing my firearm, and go inside not breaking any laws. Problem is that now the management will probably ask me to leave or I could get hassled for "going armed to the terror of the public" or some other such nonsense, especially around the Raleigh area. Anyone have any experiance open carrying around there?

Greg

 

[misANTHrope]

I've never open carried whilst going about my daily business, but I have seen a few people carrying openly. It never bothered me, of course, and I've never personally seen anyone make a stink about it. I think the vast majority of the public are to oblivious to even notice, and many of those who do notice assume it's a plainclothes officer.

With that said, my very limited exposure to open carry in no way constitutes a conclusive opinion on the subject. From the reading I've done, the general consensus is that while open carry is not specifically illegal, that damned "going armed to the terror of the public" has lots of potential for, at the very least, some police attention/ harassment, and, at worst, getting hauled downtown.

A very questionable practice in my opinion. On the other hand, maybe we need to start carrying openly so someone can get arrested and get some kind of legal precedent for GATTTOTP not covering simple open carry. Any volunteers?

 

[neoncowboy]

See the dilema here?

Maybe I'm being naive. Thanks for the Terry reference, I wasn't aware of that. They can pat me down if there's 'reasonable suspicion' that I was involved in a crime. OK...I don't give them 'reasonable suspicion'.

Here in Ga. I carry with a special (PI) class of permit which has almost the same priveleges as LEO. The only issue there is that it's valid only 'to or from work or while exercising my duties/on the job'. To say that I'm always on the job is a little bit of a stretch...but I guess I would expect that permit/license along with reasonable behavior on my part to keep me out of handcuffs in all but the most radically unlucky of situations.

I just go about my business, keeping my nose clean and not acting like a jackass and the police more or less totally ignore me.

'Concealed means concealed' has as much to do with how you carry yourSELF as how you carry your gun.

Is there some risk that one might be violated? Of course there is. I just believe the greater risk comes with being disarmed in public.

I was in N. Carolina last week and walked right past a 'firearms not allowed' sign with my CDP tucked into my right hip. No sirens went off, no JBTs rushed in to throw me to the floor, no spotlights or laser sights were trained on me. It was a non-event. That has overwhemingly been my experience whenever I carry everywhere (which is everywhere I go).

Your mileage may vary.