Open carry in NC?

H

HALLAUSTIN

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I have heard that it is legal to open carry in North Carolina at 18, I know you can buy a pistol at 18, just not from an FFL. I talked to LEOs and they said you can buy a handgun at 18, but I never asked about open carry. I had two questions,
1. How many people open carry (I think it might cause others around you to feel uneasy or provide as easy way to have your pistol taken)
2. Is open carry in NC legal, if so is it legal at 18?

I open carry while camping and hunting on private land (I hate copperheads). I wouldn't open carry in public because I wouldnt like to have my pistol stolen, HOWEVER unlikely it is, I wouldn't risk it. I would just like to know, so does anyone know?
 
I was stationed on Bragg for 11yrs and the only time I ever open carried was when we went 4-wheeling at Uwharrie National Forest but that was quite a bit......that's the only thing I miss about Bragg. :rolleyes:

Never really seen too many people open carrying the whole time I was stationed there ('97-'08).
 
The LEOs you talked to were incorrect. If you buy a pistol from an individual or get one as a gift, NC law still requires you to have a pistol purchase permit or CHL. And you have to be 21 to get either of those.

That said, I *think* it's legal to possess a handgun, and presumably to OC it, as long as you're 18. You just can't legally own it.
 
Open carry in NC is legal. I wouldn't do it around town as you're likely to get a lot of unwanted attention and nervous man-with-a-gun calls in to police who will likely go interupt what you're doing to ask you a few questions.

If traveling by vehicle and you don't have a concealed permit you are supposed to have it out and visible (dash or opposite seat) where an officer can see it. Hope that helps.
 
The previous two posts are correct. You have to have a permit from your local sheriff to legally purchase pistols in NC. Carrying in the car must NOT be concealed without a permit. I am pretty sure you can possess a handgun at 18 like was said, just not buy. You can buy a long gun without any permit and pretty sure do it at 18 too.
 
Open carry will vary from place to place. NC has some very old state supreme court decisions supporting open carry. However, the decision is largely left up to the local town.

I was talking to a former Sheriff last night and he said he was dead set that nobody was going to open carry when he was Sheriff. He didn't want people thinking his county was "backwoods."

In NC it is best just to get the permit at 21 and CC. If you do get heat for open carry it is real easy to smack a "going armed to the terror of the public" charge on the situation. If you scare some Bostonian transplant that isn't use to guns, you violated the law in letter if not spirit. You could probably hire a good lawyer and drag up the old NC Supreme Court cases. You might even get out of it in a few years. Is it worth the money, time, and stress?
 
Mike makes a good point. That "armed to the terror of the public" is their trump card. Yes you can open carry, but the first time some Jersey transplant on Wrightsville Bch sees you, you could have company. As stated, a lot would have to do with the area. I did see a dude OC in Walmart in Wilmington last week and it looked like no one even noticed.
 
As a transplant from the northeast, I've been living almost 20 years in the Raleigh area. I travel quite a bit and CC, and I have never seen anyone OC in NC. I believe OC would stand out like a sore thumb, and certainly get you unwanted attention.
 
I open carry all the time. I live in Idaho. Any number of wild animals could wander into your property anytime: Moose, Couger etc.
If i'm oblivious enough to let someone get MY fire arm then I might as well assume that they would have had the chance to just kill me in the first place. Sure it's possible (Anything is) but i'd have to be brain-dead or in bed to let it happen. Any one who CCs could have their weapon taken too, especially from some one who pays attention to deatil (looks for printing or has inside knowledge of your person). In reality anything is possible. I'm not going to stop OCing because of what MIGHT happen...Thats exactly why I carry in the first place.
I've walked right past LEO's on duty/patrol...not one hesitation on their part not one double-take, life goes on like any other day. If a sherriff is making his own laws in direct contradiction to THE LAW then that's a whole other crime in its self. Some people might be uncomfortable with it, but that's THEIR problem. I dont like a lot of things I see other people do that is completely within the confines of the law.
As for your local laws, I have no idea. Educate yourself as much as you can...knowledge of firearms laws is invaluable.
take care my friend.
 
In western NC Haywood ,Jackson, Swain, Cherokee, Macon counties you will see some open carry and no one much even notices. You go into Asheville( the granola bowl) of western NC and some willy-nilly will get upset and call on you.
 
I really enjoy the open carry/concealed carry option in NC/VA as opposed to the concealed only option in TX/SC/FL.

I don't, however, open carry. I like not having to give a thought to whether or not my shirt is not riding over or whether or not the wind blows my jacket open and gets temporarily stuck behind the butt of the handgun. It's just something else not to have to think about.

I spend time in SC and FL and am concerned about flashing or printing almost to distraction when off my home turf and need to be even more sharp mentally.

But, as to open carry at 18 in NC? Definately not worth the hassle it could/would cause.
 
NC is an open carry state. As long as your weapon is visible, you are not causing a public disturbance, and you are not in an establishment that prohibits it, it's legal. Also as with CC, your BAC is allowed to be 0.00 when carrying.

I carry my pistol In a thigh holster as a dispatch weapon when i'm hunting.

As for age, NC laws state that you must be 18 to "purchase or carry" firearms. You can open carry at 18, and you can also get your CCP at 18.


As always, if you're stopped by police, ensure you inform them of the weapon on your person (if it's on the blind side of your body), or in your vehicle (mist be carried in a manner that it is in plain sight, and not easily reached by vehicle occupants)
 
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Open Carry NC

I live in Charlotte NC. I have a CC permit for 15 years now. In that class a lot of these questions came up.
North Carolina is a traditional open carry state. However, localities may regulate the carrying of firearms under certain circumstances, due to creating a public disturbance.

You MAY open carry in a motor vehicle.
Handguns: if you have a concealed handgun license, you can transport concealed. Otherwise, it is permissible to transport loaded in plain view (such as on the seat with nothing covering it), as long as you aren't in an area where possession or display is banned (and there are a LOT of those). If you don't want to deal with hassles or be caught inadvertently transporting in a prohibited area, unloaded and locked in the trunk is the safest.

Yes you must be 21 to get a pistol permit or conceal carry in NC.
 
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