North Carolina § 14-269 - 4. Weapons on certain State property and in courthouses.

§ 14-269. 4. Weapons on certain State property and in courthouses.

It shall be unlawful for any person to possess, or carry, whether openly or concealed, any deadly weapon, not used solely for instructional or officially sanctioned ceremonial purposes in the State Capitol Building, the Executive Mansion, the Western Residence of the Governor, or on the grounds of any of these buildings, and in any building housing any court of the General Court of Justice. If a court is housed in a building containing nonpublic uses in addition to the court, then this prohibition shall apply only to that portion of the building used for court purposes while the building is being used for court purposes. This section shall not apply to any of the following: Repealed by S.L. 1997-238, s. 3, effective June 27, 1997. A person exempted by the provisions of G.S. 14-269(b). through (4) Repealed by S.L. 1997-238, s. 3, effective June 27, 1997, Any person in a building housing a court of the General Court of Justice in possession of a weapon for evidentiary purposes, to deliver it to a law-enforcement agency, or for purposes of registration. Any district court judge or superior court judge who carries or possesses a concealed handgun in a building housing a court of the General Court of Justice if the judge is in the building to discharge his or her official duties and the judge has a concealed handgun permit issued in accordance with Article 54B of this Chapter or considered valid under G.S. 14-415.24. Firearms in a courthouse, carried by detention officers employed by and authorized by the sheriff to carry firearms. Any magistrate who carries or possesses a concealed handgun in any portion of a building housing a court of the General Court of Justice other than a courtroom itself unless the magistrate is presiding in that courtroom, if the magistrate (i) is in the building to discharge the magistrate's official duties, (ii) has a concealed handgun permit issued in accordance with Article 54B of this Chapter or considered valid under G.S. 14-415.24, (iii) has successfully completed a one-time weapons retention training substantially similar to that provided to certified law enforcement officers in North Carolina, and (iv) secures the weapon in a locked compartment when the weapon is not on the magistrate's person. (5) State-owned rest areas, rest stops along the highways, and State-owned hunting and fishing reservations. (6) A person with a permit issued in accordance with Article 54B of this Chapter, with a permit considered valid under G.S. 14-415.24 , or who is exempt from obtaining a permit pursuant to G.S. 14-415.25 , who has a firearm in a closed compartment or container within the person's locked vehicle or in a locked container securely affixed to the person's vehicle. A person may unlock the vehicle to enter or exit the vehicle provided the firearm remains in the closed compartment at all times and the vehicle is locked immediately following the entrance or exit. (7) Any person who carries or possesses an ordinary pocket knife, as defined in G.S. 14-269(d) , carried in a closed position into the State Capitol Building or on the grounds of the State Capitol Building. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. History (1981, c. 646; 1987, c. 820, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 166; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1997-238, s. 3; 2007-412, s. 1; 2007-474, s. 1; 2009-513, s. 1; 2011-268, s. 5; 2013-369, s. 14; 2015-195, s. 1(b).) Editor's Note. - Session Laws 2007-412, s. 1, and Session Laws 2007-474, s. 1, each added new subdivisions designated as (4b). The subdivision added by Session Laws 2007-474, s. 1, has been designated herein as subdivision (4c) at the direction of the Revisor of Statutes. Session Laws 2011-268, which, in s. 5, amended this section by inserting "certain" in the section catchline, adding "any of the following" in the second paragraph, making stylistic changes in subdivisions (1a) and (4a) through (4d), and adding subdivision (6), provided in s. 26: "This act becomes effective December 1, 2011, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date. Prosecutions for offenses committed before the effective date of this act are not abated or affected by this act, and the statutes that would be applicable but for this act remain applicable to those prosecutions." Session Laws 2013-369, s. 28, provides: "Sections 1 through 6, 14 through 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, and 26 of this act become effective October 1, 2013, and apply to offenses committed on or after that date. Section 17.3 and this section are effective when they become law. Section 27 of this act becomes effective October 1, 2013, and applies to any judgment entered for a felony conviction on or after that date. Except as otherwise provided in this act, the remainder of this act becomes effective October 1, 2013. Prosecutions for offenses committed before the effective date of this act are not abated or affected by this act, and the statutes that would be applicable but for this act remain applicable to those prosecutions." Session Laws 2015-195, s. 18, made the amendment to this section by Session Laws 2015-195, s. 1(b), applicable to offenses committed on or after July 1, 2015, and further provided that: "Prosecutions for offenses committed before the effective date of this act are not abated or affected by this act, and the statutes that would be applicable but for this act remain applicable to those prosecutions." Effect of Amendments. - Session Laws 2007-412, s. 1, effective August 21, 2007, added subdivision (4b). Session Laws 2007-474, s. 1, effective August 29, 2007, added subdivision (4b). Session Laws 2009-513, s. 1, effective August 26, 2009, added subdivision (4d). Session Laws 2011-268, s. 5, effective December 1, 2011, in the section catchline, inserted "certain"; in the second paragraph, added "any of the following"; in subdivisions (1a) and (4a) through (4d), made a minor stylistic change; and added subdivision (6). For applicability, see Editor's Note. Session Laws 2013-369, s. 14, effective October 1, 2013, in subdivision (6), substituted "Chapter, with a permit" for "Chapter or," and inserted "or who is exempt from obtaining a permit pursuant to G.S. 14-415.25 ." For applicability, see editor's note. Session Laws 2015-195, s. 1(b), effective July 1, 2015, added subdivision (7). For applicability, see editor's note. § 14-269.5: Reserved for future codification purposes.