All four conditions need to be met. If you are going about your business acting in a reasonable manner, and your weapons holstered properly, there is no danger in getting charged for this crime.
Q: Is storing a gun under the seat of my car or in a bag in the back seat considered Concealed Carry?
A: Yes.
Q: Is storing a gun on the seat cushion of my car with a coat laid over it considered Concealed Carry?
A: Yes.
Q: Is storing a gun in the glovebox of my car considered Concealed Carry?
A: Yes.
Q: What if the glovebox is locked?
A: NC law defines concealed carry as "on or about the person," and the courts have construed this to also mean weapons that are stored within easy access. Does a locked glovebox prevent "easy access?" This interpretation will be up to law enforcement, and ultimately the Judge.
Q: I don't want to bother with a Concealed Handgun permit, but I want to carry a gun in my car. Is this legal?
A: Maybe. If the gun is in plain view (such as on the seat, with nothing covering it), most law enforcement personnel would not consider it concealed. There are lots of places and areas in NC where a non-concealed firearm is not permitted though, and there may be law enforcement personnel who take a different view of what constitutes "concealed."
Q: I don't want to get a Concealed Handgun Permit; I just want to carry a gun openly in a holster. Is this legal?
A: In North Carolina there is no State law specifically prohibiting the open carry of firearms. Under the theory that if it isn't specifically prohibited it's not illegal, open carry is possible. There are some glaring exceptions to this. They are:
1. Private property owners and businesses can post "no guns."
2. Firearms are strictly prohibited on state-owned property, except rest areas and state lands where hunting is permitted.
3. Local governments can (and do) enact prohibitions against "display of firearms" in cities and/or specific areas within cities or counties, which means they can't be visible. Under this statute there is absolutely no requirement for the city or county to post notice of the display ban.
4. Local governments can (and do) enact firearms bans on local government property and in parks and recreational areas.
5. Any federally-owned property or federally-regulated property like banks and Post Offices is of course a prohibited area.
6. Much of the Outer Banks is "National Seashore," and firearms are prohibited in those areas.
So in theory that leaves everywhere else in the state - except for one more thing. There is a common-law offense in NC called "going armed to the terror of the people." Basically what this means is that if someone sees you carrying a firearm and calls the police to report "person with a gun," you can be charged with this offense. It's not often used in rural areas, but has been used in populated areas. If you are an out-of-state visitor who is not here lawfully hunting or engaged in some overt firearms-related event such as a competition, it will be hard to talk your way out of it.
So is open carry legal in NC? In theory, yes. In practice, maybe. It seems to us like a very good way to get arrested.
Sec. 22-51. Prohibition of the carrying and display of firearms and other weapons at certain public locations. (a) Firearms generally. No person shall possess firearms in town-owned buildings, on the grounds or parking areas of those buildings, or in town parks or recreation areas, including greenways, except nothing in this section shall prohibit a person from storing a firearm within a motor vehicle while the vehicle is on these grounds or areas. (b) Posting required. The director of public works or his designated representative is hereby authorized and instructed to post conspicuous signage at appropriate locations on or within each park, including greenways, and each building or portion of a building owned, leased as lessee, operated, occupied, managed or controlled by the town, as well as the appurtenant premises to such buildings, indicating that carrying a concealed handgun or possessing or displaying any firearm or any other deadly weapon, as defined in G.S. § 14-269(a), on the properties and locations described in this section is prohibited therein and thereon unless specifically permitted or authorized by state law or the provisions of the town's code of ordinances. (c) Location. Signs on buildings shall be visibly posted on the exterior of each entrance by which the general public can access the building. The director of public works or his designated representative shall exercise discretion in determining the number and appropriate location of signs to be placed on or within appurtenant premises and parks, including town greenways. (d) Applicability to other public locations. No person shall display any firearm or other deadly weapon as defined in G.S. § 14-269(a) while on any public street, alley, sidewalk or other public property within the town unless specifically permitted or authorized by law. (e) Exceptions. The following exceptions to the provisions of this section are authorized: (1) The chief of police, or designee, has authorized the public possession or display of a firearm, or other weapon, as part of an official program or event sponsored or sanctioned by the town; (2) The possession or display of the firearm, or other weapon, was the result of an individual(s) exercising his legitimate right to self defense or the defense of others as allowed by law; (3) The possession or display of the firearm, or other weapon, was conducted by a person(s) authorized by law to carry and display such items as part of their official or otherwise recognized lawful duties (e.g., law enforcement officers, military personnel, security guards, etc.); or (4) The possession or display of the firearm, or other weapon, was necessary for the temporary transport and securing of the item and was not otherwise in violation of existing statutes or ordinances (e.g., recent purchase and movement to vehicle for transport, securing of firearm by CCH permit holder in vehicle, found item to be turned in to authorities, firearm in approved vehicle gun rack, etc.). (f) Violation. The carrying of concealed handguns or the possession or display of any firearm or other dangerous weapon as defined in this section, in or upon any of the locations specified by this section, shall constitute a misdemeanor and subject any violator(s) so convicted to such penalties as may be imposed by the court. (Code 1982, § 13-9.1; Ord. No. 95-031, 12-14-1995; Ord. No. 01-010, 5-24-2001; Ord. No. 06-010, 6-22-2006) State law references: Local regulation of firearms, G.S. 14-409.40.
Wow... that doesn't sound like the Fayetteville I know... but then, I've only been going up there for about 5 years or so now.
I carry concealed, I'd rather not advertise the fact that I'm loaded. However, before I got my CCW, I always had a loaded and chambered P220 in the passengers seat, and was never questioned about it even during liscense checks.
In the last two years, I've had a firearm brandished at me and my wife almost walked in on an armed robbery.
I was thinking that throughout this thread also.Your pistol purchase permit is handed over to the FFL dealer when purchasing your weapon. That is the last time you'll see it! Therefor, to open carry you do not have to present one. Just let LEO know you have one. It's very simple