North Carolina

Revised regulation: How did firearm restrictions change in North Carolina in 2023?

Published

2 years ago

January 3, 2024

Revised regulation: How did firearm restrictions change in North Carolina in 2023?

The debate surrounding current gun control laws has become an undeniable focal point in American politics, sparking complex discussions and challenging the nation’s leaders to navigate the intersection of rights and regulations.

Wilmington is no exception to this dialogue. Braver Angels, a nonprofit dedicated to political depolarization, hosted a bipartisan discussion about gun control at the Pine Valley Library in early December.

Gun control debates persist as an election year approaches. Staying informed about the current state of gun legislation, both cross-nationally and more specifically within North Carolina, is crucial.

With this in mind, an essential question arises: how did firearm legislation change in North Carolina in 2023?

A repeal of pistol purchase permits.

In March of 2023, North Carolina legislature overrode Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of Senate Bill 41 (SB-41), altering the necessary permit requirements and background checks needed to purchase a handgun in North Carolina.

Previously, a $5 pistol purchase permit received from the sheriff’s office in the county from which the gun owner resides was needed in order to acquire a handgun.

This process also allowed for local law enforcement to conduct background checks and confirm the intent of purchase was for “the protection of the home, business, person, family, or property,” “target shooting,” “collecting” or “hunting,” according to G.S. 14-404.

The new law eliminated these registration requirements.

However, gun stores will still need to run a background check on the purchaser’s name before finalizing the transaction and the required ATF form 4473, a Firearms Transaction Record Form, has not been removed by the law.

Federally licensed gun stores have access to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to complete this process.

Widened constraints on concealed carry rights.

Section 1 of SB-41 became effective on Dec. 1, 2023.

This section authorizes “concealed carry permit holder to carry firearms on certain school properties at certain times,” according to SB-41.

Amendments to this section allow for concealed carry permit holders to carry a concealed handgun into educational properties that “are the location of a school and a building that is a place of religious worship” outside of school operating hours.

School operating hours are defined by the bill as anytime during which any the following occur:

“The premises are being used for curricular or extracurricular activities.”
“The premises are being used for educational, instructional, or school-sponsored activities.”
“The premises are being used for programs for minors by entities not affiliated with the religious institution.”

Properties owned by local boards of education of county commissions, public and private institutes of higher education, and premises with posted notices prohibiting possession of firearms are excluded.

Additionally, effective July 1, 2023, “a person employed by a law enforcement agency” but who is “not a law enforcement officer sworn and certified” can carry a concealed handgun in certain law enforcement and correctional facilities.

General firearm regulations in North Carolina.

Manning Law Firm, PLLC., of Raleigh, provides a summary of the current basic gun laws statewide.

The North Carolina-based criminal defense law firm indicates that anyone 18 or older with no prior felony convictions can legally open carry in North Carolina, without limitations to the caliber size of magazine capacity of the firearm.

Concealed carry is only permitted with a permit issued by the local sheriff’s office. Firearm owners must be 21 years of age, complete a minimum eight-hour training course, and not have a mental or physical disability preventing the safe handling of a firearm, amongst other law requirements in order to carry a concealed weapon.

More information about where it is permissible to carry a firearm, firearm purchase restrictions, and requirements to inform law enforcement of firearm possession can be found on its webpage at manninglaw.com.

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North Carolina

Lower gas prices and open roads create ideal holiday travel conditions for NC travelers

Published

2 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Lower gas prices and open roads create ideal holiday travel conditions for NC travelers

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS0 — Nearly 3.7 million North Carolinians are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home over the 13-day year-end holiday period that started on Saturday, Dec. 20.

Thaissa Braga, a Florida resident who traveled by car to spend the holidays in Asheville.

WHITE CHRISTMAS UNLIKELY FOR MANY IN U.S. WITH WARM TEMPERATURES IN HOLIDAY FORECAST

“We thought we needed snow tires for the wheels and stuff, but it wasn’t anything like that. It was smooth sailing, not many accidents along the way. We did leave at 4:30 in the morning, so that was a little crazy, but it was worth it,” Braga said.

One plus for anyone traveling by car to their holiday destination this year is that gas prices are lower than they were last year, with the national average dipping below $3 per gallon for the first time in four years.

According to the same AAA report, which anticipates nearly 3.7 million North Carolinians traveling over the year-end holiday period, it also says that most of them travel by car.

DEC. 21, 2025 – Nearly 3.7 million North Carolinians are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home over the 13-day year-end holiday period that started on Saturday, Dec. 20. (Photo: WLOS Staff)

To help drivers get to their destinations safely and on time, the North Carolina Department of Transportation removed all lane closures where possible across the state through Jan. 2.

However, David Uchiyama with NCDOT says there are some areas in western North Carolina where the lane closures must remain in place, like the stretch of Interstate 40 going through the Pigeon River Gorge.

“It’s open with one lane in each direction, a 35-mile-an-hour speed limit, narrow shoulders,” said David Uchiyama, the Western Communications Manager with NCDOT.

Uchiyama is reminding drivers to plan their trips ahead of time, and he says one helpful resource is drivenc.gov.

DEC. 21, 2025 - Nearly 3.7 million North Carolinians are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home over the 13-day year-end holiday period that started on Saturday, Dec. 20. (Photo: WLOS Staff)

One person who planned for her trip is Asheville resident Emily Lamb; however, she’s flying instead of driving to visit her family in Ohio.

“Preparing for this trip looked like calculating my PTO for one. And then really comparing plane ticket prices and timing of things. And overall, just being intentional with any gifts I take home,” Lamb said.

According to the AAA report, over 200,000 of the North Carolina Holiday travelers will travel by plane.

ASHEVILLE REGIONAL AIRPORT SHARES HOLIDAY TRAVEL TIPS AMID ONGOING RENOVATIONS

The Asheville Airport published holiday travel tips online, telling people to make a parking plan before arriving at the airport.

A helpful resource is their website, which has a map of their parking areas.

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North Carolina

Life-threatening injuries reported after shooting on I-73 South near Wendover Avenue, Greensboro police say

Published

14 hours ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

Life-threatening injuries reported after shooting on I-73 South near Wendover Avenue, Greensboro police say

GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — One person was left with life-threatening injuries in an overnight shooting Sunday, according to the Greensboro Police Department.

At 12:52 a.m., officers responded to a man down call at Interstate 73 South just before the Wendover Avenue exit and found one shooting victim with life-threatening injuries. They were taken to a local hospital.

I-73 South at Wendover Avenue was closed following the shooting. As of 10:22 a.m. Sunday, the road is still closed.

No suspect information was available.

The investigation is ongoing.

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North Carolina

Seth Trimble returns to lead No. 12 North Carolina past Ohio State 71-70

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

Seth Trimble returns to lead No. 12 North Carolina past Ohio State 71-70

ATLANTA (AP) — Henri Veesaar scored the winning basket on a dunk with 7.2 seconds remaining off a pass from a stumbling Seth Trimble, and No. 12 North Carolina held off Ohio State 71-70 on Saturday.

Trimble, playing his first game since breaking his left forearm in a Nov. 9 training mishap, wanted to shoot but tripped as he spun into the lane. As the senior guard was falling, he dished the ball to Veesaar, who slipped past his defender for the emphatic slam.

Ohio State had two chances to pull off the upset.

John Mobley Jr. missed a 3-point try, only to have Devin Royal grab the offensive rebound under the basket. He went back up ahead of the horn, but Caleb Wilson blocked the shot to preserve the win for the Tar Heels.

Trimble, who played with a wrap covering much of his left arm, and Veesaar both finished with 17 points. Wilson led North Carolina (11-1) with 20.

Trimble also did a stellar defensive job on Ohio State star Bruce Thornton, who was held to 16 points on 7-of-16 shooting. He came into the game hitting 60.2% from the field.

Royal led the Buckeyes (8-3) with 18 points.

Mobley put Ohio State ahead on a 3-pointer with 48.7 seconds to go, also drawing a foul that made it a four-point play for a 70-67 lead.

Trimble hit a drive in the lane to cut the margin, and Jarin Stevenson made a steal as Ohio State tried to get the ball into the frontcourt to set up the winning basket.

It was the second game of the CBS Sports Classic at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Kentucky defeated No. 22 St. John’s 78-66 in the opener.

Up next

Ohio State hosts Grambling State on Tuesday.

North Carolina is back in Chapel Hill to face East Carolina on Monday.

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