New guy from Georgia

A

a__l__a__n

New Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2023
Messages
10
Location
Canton, GA
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I'm glad to find the Carolina Firearms Forum!

A brief bio: I'm a 69-year-old geezer from Canton GA. I grew up in Jacksonville NC, hunted deer with my Dad in Pender County. Graduated from NC State in '76. Worked at Duke Power for 17 years. I've been in Georgia since 1995.

From what I read in the news, it sounds like a lot has changed recently in NC regarding firearms laws. I've read the statutes I've found online (hopefully current??) and I'm left confused on a few points. I'm hoping some folks here can clear up a few questions I have.

It sounds like there are some peculiar laws related to carrying a firearm inside a car in NC. I have reciprocity with my Georgia Weapons License (I'm on my third 5-year GWL). If I'm reading the NC law correctly, I think I'm not allowed to have a concealed weapon on my person inside a car, despite my licensed status. Instead I read that the gun must be in a locked container inside the car or in the trunk. Is that correct? How do people in NC with concealed carry licenses handle the situation with driving the car?

I also read that concealed carry is permitted in rest areas. So, does a person go to his trunk, get his firearm and holster it concealed before going into the bathroom? And then does he go to his trunk afterward and lock up the gun before resuming his trip? Surely not!

OTOH it seems there is the option in NC to have the firearm open-carried inside the car, as long as it is visible from outside the car. What constitutes "visible"?

My last concern is for my wife who is traveling with me. She does not have a GWL. If I have a gun locked in the trunk, and for some reason she drives the car without me also in the car, is she in violation of the law? If my wife has to drive me to the hospital with the gun locked in the trunk, can she drive the car home after I'm admitted?

I know I'm over-thinking this. But I thought it would be helpful to hear how others who are licensed for concealed carry handle situations like this.

If there is a better sub-forum for this topic please point me in the right direction.

Thanks everyone!
Alan
 
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Welcome and thanks for joining up with us here. We're hoping you'll find this site to be the very best internet hangout ever. Please reach out to others you know to join up with us here also.

And thanks for posting inside this section so we can extend a CFF welcome and get to know you!

We're SO MUCH MORE than a firearms forum!
 
@a__l__a__n,

Welcome to the CFF family!

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a__l__a__n said:
I'm glad to find the Carolina Firearms Forum!

A brief bio: I'm a 69-year-old geezer from Canton GA. I grew up in Jacksonville NC, hunted deer with my Dad in Pender County. Graduated from NC State in '76. Worked at Duke Power for 17 years. I've been in Georgia since 1995.

From what I read in the news, it sounds like a lot has changed recently in NC regarding firearms laws. I've read the statutes I've found online (hopefully current??) and I'm left confused on a few points. I'm hoping some folks here can clear up a few questions I have.

It sounds like there are some peculiar laws related to carrying a firearm inside a car in NC. I have reciprocity with my Georgia Weapons License (I'm on my third 5-year GWL). If I'm reading the NC law correctly, I think I'm not allowed to have a concealed weapon on my person inside a car, despite my licensed status. Instead I read that the gun must be in a locked container inside the car or in the trunk. Is that correct? How do people in NC with concealed carry licenses handle the situation with driving the car?

I also read that concealed carry is permitted in rest areas. So, does a person go to his trunk, get his firearm and holster it concealed before going into the bathroom? And then does he go to his trunk afterward and lock up the gun before resuming his trip? Surely not!

OTOH it seems there is the option in NC to have the firearm open-carried inside the car, as long as it is visible from outside the car. What constitutes "visible"?

My last concern is for my wife who is traveling with me. She does not have a GWL. If I have a gun locked in the trunk, and for some reason she drives the car without me also in the car, is she in violation of the law? If my wife has to drive me to the hospital with the gun locked in the trunk, can she drive the car home after I'm admitted?

I know I'm over-thinking this. But I thought it would be helpful to hear how others who are licensed for concealed carry handle situations like this.

If there is a better sub-forum for this topic please point me in the right direction.

Thanks everyone!
Alan
Click to expand...
Welcome
 
Hello from Raleigh, you're going to like it here on CFF.
 
Welcome, we're happy to have you with us.
 
Welcome to the forum. As to your questions about carrying when in a car, you must have us confused with some of the communist states like Maryland and New Jersey, etc. You just need to have your drivers license and carry permit ready to show the officer and announce that you are carrying if you are. No need to announce if not carrying. As for your wife, North Carolina is an open carry state and if stopped, simply put the weapon on the dash, in plain site, pointed toward the side the officer is not approaching from.
 
 
I am also new (and have not yet done an intro post) but welcome to another new member! Also I'm a retired (yet still working part time four days a week) LEO. As previously stated you are good but if you may want to get a NC CHP if you choose. The info you mentioned (locked glove compartment or dash) goes back to falling under open carry and those were defenses to a charge of Carrying a Concealed Weapon. Prior to the CHP laws (circa 1995) those were the "rules of the road."

One thing I'd mention though is NC allows ZERO alcohol consumption if carrying. The last I know was about 2015 but I know GA did not address this (thus allowing it would assume.) I don't even know if you are a drinker so this may not be relevant. The only reason I know is my wife is a GA girl and her brother-in-law came up and almost ran afoul of this. I called a knowledgeable GA LEO I know and was surprised to find out GA didn't address this.

I see you are from the Canton area-ironically I'll be in Ball Ground over Thanksgiving.
 
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