| 12 | 13 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1 |
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| 13 | 14 | | AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE POSSESSION OR CARRYING OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON 2 |
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| 14 | 15 | | AT OR WITHIN A CERTAIN DISTANCE OF A VOTING PLACE . 3 |
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| 15 | 16 | | The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4 |
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| 16 | 17 | | SECTION 1. Article 35 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by adding 5 |
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| 17 | 18 | | a new section to read: 6 |
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| 18 | 19 | | "§ 14-269.5. Weapons at voting place. 7 |
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| 19 | 20 | | (a) Definition. – For purposes of this section, the term (i) "dangerous weapon" is as 8 |
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| 20 | 21 | | defined in G.S. 14-277.2 and (ii) "voting place" is as defined in G.S. 163-165. 9 |
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| 21 | 22 | | (b) Prohibition. – Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, it shall be 10 |
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| 22 | 23 | | unlawful for any person to possess or carry, whether openly or concealed, any dangerous weapon 11 |
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| 23 | 24 | | (i) at a location used as a voting place, (ii) within 100 feet from the door of entrance to a location 12 |
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| 24 | 25 | | used as a voting place, or (iii) while in line to vote at a location used as a voting place. The 13 |
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| 25 | 26 | | prohibition set forth in this subsection only applies while the location is open and being used as 14 |
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| 26 | 27 | | a voting place. 15 |
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| 27 | 28 | | (c) Punishment. – Any person who violates the prohibition set forth in subsection (b) of 16 |
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| 28 | 29 | | this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. 17 |
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| 29 | 30 | | (d) Exception. – The prohibition in subsection (b) of this section does not apply to a law 18 |
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| 30 | 31 | | enforcement officer acting in discharge of the officer's official duties." 19 |
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| 31 | 32 | | SECTION 2. This act becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses 20 |
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| 32 | 33 | | committed on or after that date. 21 |
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