GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 3
SENATE BILL 50
Judiciary Committee Substitute Adopted 3/18/25
Third Edition Engrossed 3/20/25
Short Title: Freedom to Carry NC. (Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:
February 5, 2025
*S50-v-3*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO PROTECT A PERSON'S RIGHT TO CARRY A CONCEALED HAND GUN 2
WITHOUT A PERMIT AND TO CONTINUE ALLOWIN G PERSONS TO ACQUIRE A 3
CONCEALED HANDGUN PE RMIT FOR THE PURPOSES OF RECIPROCITY OR FOR 4
ANY OTHER REASON DES IRED AND TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT PAID FOR 5
LINE OF DUTY DEATHS AND TO ESTABLISH A SCHOLARSHIP FOR CHILDREN 6
OF PERMANENTLY DISAB LED OR SLAIN NC LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS 7
AND TO INCREASE THE PUNISHMENT FOR COMMI TTING AN ASSAULT WITH A 8
FIREARM AGAINST CERT AIN EMERGE NCY, MEDICAL, AND LA W 9
ENFORCEMENT PERSONNE L AND TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF DISCHARGING 10
A FIREARM BY A FELON DURING THE COMMISSI ON OR ATTEMPTED 11
COMMISSION OF A FELONY AND TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF POSSESSING A 12
FIREARM BY A FELON D URING THE COMMISSION OR ATTEMPTED 13
COMMISSION OF A FELONY. 14
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 15
SECTION 1. Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article 16
to read: 17
"Article 54C. 18
"Carrying Concealed Handguns. 19
"§ 14-415.35. Carrying concealed handguns. 20
(a) Carrying Concealed Handgun. – Any person who is a citizen of the United States and 21
is at least 18 years old may carry a concealed handgun in this State unless provided otherwise by 22
law. 23
(b) Offense. – It is unlawful for a person who meets any of the following criteria to carry 24
a concealed handgun: 25
(1) Is ineligible to own, possess, or receive a firearm under the provisions of State 26
or federal law. 27
(2) Is under indictment for a felony. 28
(3) Has been adjudicated guilty in any court of a felony, unless (i) the felony is 29
an offense that pertains to antitrust violations, unfair trade practices, restraints 30
of trade, or other similar offenses related to the regulation of business practices 31
or (ii) the person's firearms rights have been restored pursuant to 32
G.S. 14-415.4 or have been restored in another state pursuant to the laws of 33
that state. 34
(4) Is a fugitive from justice. 35 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 50-Third Edition
(5) Is an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana, alcohol, or any depressant, 1
stimulant, or narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance as defined in 21 2
U.S.C. § 802. 3
(6) Is currently or has been previously adjudicated by a court to be lacking mental 4
capacity or mentally ill. Receipt of previous consultative services or outpatient 5
treatment alone shall not disqualify any citizen under this subdivision. 6
(7) Is or has been discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States under 7
dishonorable conditions. 8
(8) Except as provided in subdivision (9), (10), or (11) of this subsection, is or 9
has been adjudicated guilty of or received a prayer for judgment continued or 10
suspended sentence for one or more crimes of violence constituting a 11
misdemeanor, including, but not limited to, a violation of a misdemeanor 12
under Article 8 of this Chapter except for a violation of G.S. 14-33(a), or a 13
violation of a misdemeanor under G.S. 14-226.1, 14-258.1, 14-269.2, 14
14-269.6, 14-277, 14-277.1, 14-283 except for a violation involving fireworks 15
exempted under G.S. 14-288.2, 14-288.4(a)(1), 14-288.6, 14-288.9, former 16
14-288.12, former 14-288.13, former 14-288.14, 14-414, 14-415.21(b), 17
14-415.26(d) within three years prior to the date on which the person is 18
carrying the weapon, or 14-415.36. 19
(9) Is or has been adjudicated guilty of or received a prayer for judgment 20
continued or suspended sentence for one or more crimes of violence 21
constituting a misdemeanor under G.S. 14-33(c)(1), 14-33(c)(2), 14-33(c)(3), 22
14-33(d), 14-134.3, 14-277.3A, 14-318.2, 50B-4.1, or former 14-277.3. 23
(10) Is prohibited from possessing a firearm pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) as a 24
result of a conviction of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. 25
(11) Has been adjudicated guilty of or received a prayer for judgment continued or 26
suspended sentence for one or more crimes involving an assault or a threat to 27
assault a law enforcement officer, probation or parole officer, person 28
employed at a State or local detention facility, firefighter, emergency medical 29
technician, medical responder, or emergency department personnel. 30
(12) Has had entry of a prayer for judgment continued for a criminal offense that 31
would make it unlawful under this section for the person to carry a concealed 32
weapon. 33
(13) Is free on bond or personal recognizance pending trial, appeal, or sentencing 34
for a crime that would make it unlawful under this section for the person to 35
carry a concealed weapon. 36
(c) Valid Identification Required; Disclosure to Law Enforcement Officer When 37
Carrying Concealed. – When carrying a concealed handgun, a person shall also carry valid 38
identification and shall disclose to any law enforcement officer that the person is carrying a 39
concealed handgun when approached or addressed by the officer and shall display the proper 40
identification upon the request of a law enforcement officer. 41
(d) Penalty. – Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section is guilty of a Class 42
3 misdemeanor. Any person who violates subsection (b) of this section is guilty of a Class 2 43
misdemeanor for a first offense and is guilty of a Class H felony for a second or subsequent 44
offense. Any person who violates subsection (c) of this section commits an infraction and shall 45
be punished in accordance with G.S. 14-3.1. 46
"§ 14-415.36. Unlawful to carry a concealed weapon into certain areas. 47
(a) It is unlawful to carry a concealed weapon into the following areas unless provided 48
otherwise by law: 49
(1) In an area prohibited by rule adopted under G.S. 120-32.1. 50
(2) In any area prohibited by 18 U.S.C. § 922 or any other federal law. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Senate Bill 50-Third Edition Page 3
(3) In a law enforcement or correctional facility. 1
(4) On any private premises where notice that carrying a concealed handgun is 2
prohibited by the posting of a conspicuous notice or statement by the person 3
in legal possession or control of the premises. 4
(b) Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of an infraction and may be 5
required to pay a fine up to five hundred dollars ($500.00)." 6
SECTION 1.9. G.S. 143-166.3 reads as rewritten: 7
"§ 143-166.3. Payments; determination. 8
(a) When any covered person is killed in the line of duty, the Industrial Commission shall 9
award a death benefit in the amount of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) one hundred 10
and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) to be paid to one of the following: 11
(1) The spouse of the covered person if there is a surviving spouse. 12
(2) If there is no surviving spouse, then payments shall be made to any surviving 13
dependent child of the covered person. If there is more than one surviving 14
dependent child, then the payment shall be made to and equally divided among 15
all surviving dependent children. 16
(3) If there is no surviving spouse and no surviving dependent child or children, 17
then payments shall be made to any surviving dependent parent of the covered 18
person. If there is more than one surviving dependent parent, then the 19
payments shall be made to and equally divided between the surviving 20
dependent parents of the covered person. 21
(4) If there is no surviving spouse, surviving dependent child, or surviving 22
dependent parent, then the payment shall be made to the estate of the deceased 23
covered person. 24
… 25
(e) On and after July 1, 2016, when any covered person is murdered in the line of duty, 26
in addition to the award under subsection (a) of this section, the Industrial Commission shall 27
award a death benefit in the amount of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) one hundred 28
and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) to be paid to one of the following: 29
(1) The spouse of the covered person if there is a surviving spouse. 30
(2) If there is no surviving spouse, then payments shall be made to any surviving 31
dependent child of the covered person. If there is more than one surviving 32
dependent child, then the payment shall be made to and equally divided among 33
all surviving dependent children. 34
(3) If there is no surviving spouse and no surviving dependent child or children, 35
then payments shall be made to any surviving dependent parent of the covered 36
person. If there is more than one surviving dependent parent, then the 37
payments shall be made to and equally divided between the surviving 38
dependent parents of the covered person. 39
(4) If there is no surviving spouse, surviving dependent child, or surviving 40
dependent parent, then the payment shall be made to the estate of the deceased 41
covered person. 42
…." 43
SECTION 2. Article 54B of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by adding 44
a new section to read: 45
"§ 14-415.10A. Purpose. 46
While G.S. 14-415.35 makes it lawful to carry a concealed weapon in this State without 47
obtaining a concealed handgun permit, it is often convenient to have a concealed handgun permit 48
for the purpose of reciprocity when traveling in another state, to make the purchase of a firearm 49
more efficient, or for various other reasons. Therefore, the State of North Carolina shall continue 50
to make a concealed handgun permit available to any person who applies for and is eligible to 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 4 Senate Bill 50-Third Edition
receive a concealed handgun permit pursuant to this Article. For the avoidance of doubt the 1
concealed handgun permit system maintained pursuant to this Article does not prevent a person 2
from carrying a concealed handgun pursuant to Article 54C of this Chapter." 3
SECTION 3. G.S. 14-415.12(b) reads as rewritten: 4
"(b) The sheriff shall deny a permit to an applicant who: 5
(1) Is ineligible to own, possess, or receive a firearm under the provisions of State 6
or federal law. 7
(2) Is under indictment or against whom a finding of probable cause exists for a 8
felony. 9
(3) Has been adjudicated guilty in any court of a felony, unless: (i) the felony is 10
an offense that pertains to antitrust violations, unfair trade practices, or 11
restraints of trade, or (ii) the person's firearms rights have been restored 12
pursuant to G.S. 14-415.4. 13
(4) Is a fugitive from justice. 14
(5) Is an unlawful user of, or addicted to marijuana, alcohol, or any depressant, 15
stimulant, or narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance as defined in 21 16
U.S.C. § 802. 17
(6) Is currently, or has been previously adjudicated by a court or administratively 18
determined by a governmental agency whose decisions are subject to judicial 19
review to be, lacking mental capacity or mentally ill. Receipt of previous 20
consultative services or outpatient treatment alone shall not disqualify an 21
applicant under this subdivision. 22
(7) Is or has been discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States under 23
conditions other than honorable.dishonorable conditions. 24
(8) Except as provided in subdivision (8a), (8b), or (8c) of this section, is or has 25
been adjudicated guilty of or received a prayer for judgment continued or 26
suspended sentence for one or more crimes of violence constituting a 27
misdemeanor, including but not limited to, a violation of a misdemeanor under 28
Article 8 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes except for a violation of 29
G.S. 14-33(a), or a violation of a misdemeanor under G.S. 14-226.1, 4-258.1, 30
14-269.2, 14-269.3, 14-269.4, 14-269.6, 14-277, 14-277.1, 14-277.2, 14-283 31
except for a violation involving fireworks exempted under G.S. 14-414, 32
14-288.2, 14-288.4(a)(1), 14-288.6, 14-288.9, former 14-288.12, former 33
14-288.13, former 14-288.14, 14-415.21(b), or 14-415.26(d) within three 34
years prior to the date on which the application is submitted. 35
(8a) Is or has been adjudicated guilty of or received a prayer for judgment 36
continued or suspended sentence for one or more crimes of violence 37
constituting a misdemeanor under G.S. 14-32.5, 14-33(c)(1), 14-33(c)(2), 38
14-33(c)(3), 14-33(d), 14-277.3A, 14-318.2, 14-134.3, 50B-4.1, or former 39
G.S. 14-277.3. 40
(8b) Is prohibited from possessing a firearm pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) as a 41
result of a conviction of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. 42
(8c) Has been adjudicated guilty of or received a prayer for judgment continued or 43
suspended sentence for one or more crimes involving an assault or a threat to 44
assault a law enforcement officer, probation or parole officer, person 45
employed at a State or local detention facility, firefighter, emergency medical 46
technician, medical responder, or emergency department personnel. 47
(9) Has had entry of a prayer for judgment continued for a criminal offense which 48
would disqualify the person from obtaining a concealed handgun permit. 49 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Senate Bill 50-Third Edition Page 5
(10) Is free on bond or personal recognizance pending trial, appeal, or sentencing 1
for a crime which would disqualify him from obtaining a concealed handgun 2
permit. 3
(11) Has been convicted of an impaired driving offense under G.S. 20-138.1, 4
20-138.2, or 20-138.3 within three years prior to the date on which the 5
application is submitted." 6
SECTION 4. G.S. 14-269 reads as rewritten: 7
"§ 14-269. Carrying concealed weapons. 8
(a) It shall be Except as otherwise provided by law, it is unlawful for any person willfully 9
and intentionally to carry concealed about his or her person any bowie knife, dirk, dagger, slung 10
shot, loaded cane, metallic knuckles, razor, shuriken, stun gun, or other deadly weapon of like 11
kind, except when the person is on the person's own premises. For purposes of this subsection, 12
the term "weapon" does not include a firearm. 13
(a1) It shall be unlawful for any person willfully and intentionally to carry concealed about 14
his or her person any pistol or gun except in the following circumstances:firearm, except a 15
handgun carried pursuant to Article 54B or Article 54C of this Chapter. 16
(1) The person is on the person's own premises. 17
(2) The deadly weapon is a handgun, the person has a concealed handgun permit 18
issued in accordance with Article 54B of this Chapter or considered valid 19
under G.S. 14-415.24, and the person is carrying the concealed handgun in 20
accordance with the scope of the concealed handgun permit as set out in 21
G.S. 14-415.11(c). 22
(3) The deadly weapon is a handgun and the person is a military permittee as 23
defined under G.S. 14-415.10(2a) who provides to the law enforcement 24
officer proof of deployment as required under G.S. 14-415.11(a). 25
(a2) This prohibition does not apply to a person who has a concealed handgun permit 26
issued in accordance with Article 54B of this Chapter, has a concealed handgun permit 27
considered valid under G.S. 14-415.24, or is exempt from obtaining a permit pursuant to 28
G.S. 14-415.25, provided the weapon is a handgun, is in a closed compartment or container 29
within the person's locked vehicle, and the vehicle is in a parking area that is owned or leased by 30
State government. A person may unlock the vehicle to enter or exit the vehicle, provided the 31
handgun remains in the closed compartment at all times and the vehicle is locked immediately 32
following the entrance or exit. 33
(a3) Some of the exceptions listed in subsection (b) of this section include a condition that 34
the person have a concealed handgun permit. In those circumstances, a person must still have a 35
concealed handgun permit issued in accordance with Article 54B of this Chapter or considered 36
valid under G.S. 14-415.24 to qualify as an exception. 37
… 38
(b1) It is a defense to a prosecution under this section that:if all of the following apply: 39
(1) The weapon was not a firearm; 40
(2) The defendant was engaged in, or on the way to or from, an activity in which 41
the defendant legitimately used the weapon;weapon. 42
(3) The defendant possessed the weapon for that legitimate use; anduse. 43
(4) The defendant did not use or attempt to use the weapon for an illegal purpose. 44
The burden of proving this defense is on the defendant. 45
(b2) It is a defense to a prosecution under this section that: 46
(1) The deadly weapon is a handgun; 47
(2) The defendant is a military permittee as defined under G.S. 14-415.10(2a); 48
and 49
(3) The defendant provides to the court proof of deployment as defined under 50
G.S. 14-415.10(3a). 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 6 Senate Bill 50-Third Edition
(c) Any Except as otherwise provided by law, any person violating the provisions of 1
subsection (a) of this section shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Any person violating the 2
provisions of subsection (a1) of this section shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor for the first 3
offense and a Class H felony for a second or subsequent offense. A violation of subsection (a1) 4
of this section punishable under G.S. 14-415.21(a) is not punishable under this section. 5
…." 6
SECTION 5. G.S. 14-269.1 reads as rewritten: 7
"§ 14-269.1. Confiscation and disposition of deadly weapons. 8
Upon conviction of any person for violation of G.S. 14-269, G.S. 14-269.7, 14-269.7, 9
14-415.35(b), or any other offense involving the use of a deadly weapon of a type referred to in 10
G.S. 14-269, weapon, including a firearm, the deadly weapon with reference to which the 11
defendant shall have been convicted shall be ordered confiscated and disposed of by the presiding 12
judge at the trial in one of the following ways in the discretion of the presiding judge. 13
…." 14
SECTION 6. G.S. 14-269.3 reads as rewritten: 15
"§ 14-269.3. Carrying weapons into assemblies and establishments where alcoholic 16
beverages are sold and consumed. 17
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person consuming alcohol, or at any time while the person 18
has remaining in the person's body any alcohol or in the person's blood a controlled substance 19
previously consumed, to carry any gun, rifle, or pistol into any assembly where a fee has been 20
charged for admission thereto, or into any establishment in which alcoholic beverages are sold 21
and consumed. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 22
misdemeanor. 23
(b) This section shall not apply to any of the following: 24
(1) A person exempted from the provisions of G.S. 14-269. 25
(2) The owner or lessee of the premises or business establishment. 26
(3) A person participating in the event, if the person is carrying a gun, rifle, or 27
pistol with the permission of the owner, lessee, or person or organization 28
sponsoring the event. 29
(4) A person registered or hired as a security guard by the owner, lessee, or person 30
or organization sponsoring the event. 31
(5) A person carrying a handgun if the person has a valid concealed handgun 32
permit issued in accordance with Article 54B of this Chapter, has a concealed 33
handgun permit considered valid under G.S. 14-415.24, or is exempt from 34
obtaining a permit pursuant to G.S. 14-415.25. This subdivision shall not be 35
construed to permit a person to carry a handgun on any premises where the 36
person in legal possession or control of the premises has posted a conspicuous 37
notice prohibiting the carrying of a concealed handgun on the premises in 38
accordance with G.S. 14-415.11(c)." 39
SECTION 7. G.S. 14-269.4 reads as rewritten: 40
"§ 14-269.4. Weapons on certain State property and in courthouses. 41
It shall be unlawful for any person to possess, or carry, whether openly or concealed, any 42
deadly weapon, not used solely for instructional or officially sanctioned ceremonial purposes in 43
the State Capitol Building, the Executive Mansion, the Western Residence of the Governor, or 44
on the grounds of any of these buildings, and in any building housing any court of the General 45
Court of Justice. If a court is housed in a building containing nonpublic uses in addition to the 46
court, then this prohibition shall apply only to that portion of the building used for court purposes 47
while the building is being used for court purposes. 48
This section shall not apply to any of the following: 49
… 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Senate Bill 50-Third Edition Page 7
(6) A person with a permit issued in accordance with Article 54B of this Chapter, 1
with a permit considered valid under G.S. 14-415.24, or who is exempt from 2
obtaining a permit pursuant to G.S. 14-415.25, who has a firearm A person 3
carrying a concealed handgun in a closed compartment or container within the 4
person's locked vehicle or in a locked container securely affixed to the person's 5
vehicle. A person may unlock the vehicle to enter or exit the vehicle provided 6
the remains in the closed compartment at all times and the vehicle is locked 7
immediately following the entrance or exit. 8
(7) Any person who carries or possesses an ordinary pocket knife, as defined in 9
G.S. 14-269(d), carried in a closed position into the State Capitol Building or 10
on the grounds of the State Capitol Building. 11
Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor." 12
SECTION 8. G.S. 14-277.2 reads as rewritten: 13
"§ 14-277.2. Weapons at parades, etc., prohibited. 14
… 15
(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to concealed carry of a handgun at a 16
parade or funeral procession by a person with a valid permit issued in accordance with Article 17
54B of this Chapter, with a permit considered valid under G.S. 14-415.24, or who is exempt from 18
obtaining a permit pursuant to G.S. 14-415.25. procession. This subsection shall not be construed 19
to permit a person to carry a concealed handgun on any premises where the person in legal 20
possession or control of the premises has posted a conspicuous notice prohibiting the carrying of 21
a concealed handgun on the premises in accordance with G.S. 14-415.11(c)." 22
SECTION 9. G.S. 14-401.24 reads as rewritten: 23
"§ 14-401.24. Unlawful possession and use of unmanned aircraft systems. 24
… 25
(c) The following definitions apply to this section: 26
… 27
(5) Weapon. – Those weapons specified in G.S. 14-269, 14-269.2, 14-284.1, or 28
14-288.8 and any other object object, including a firearm, capable of inflicting 29
serious bodily injury or death when used as a weapon. 30
…." 31
SECTION 9.1.(a) G.S. 14-34.5 reads as rewritten: 32
"§ 14-34.5. Assault with a firearm on a law enforcement, probation, or parole officer, or 33
on a member of the North Carolina National Guard, or on a person employed at 34
a State or local detention facility. 35
(a) Any person who commits an assault with a firearm upon a law enforcement officer, 36
probation officer, or parole officer while the officer is in the performance of his or her duties is 37
guilty of a Class D felony. 38
(a1) Any person who commits an assault with a firearm upon a member of the North 39
Carolina National Guard while the member is in the performance of his or her duties is guilty of 40
a Class D felony. 41
(b) Anyone who commits an assault with a firearm upon a person who is employed at a 42
detention facility operated under the jurisdiction of the State or a local government while the 43
employee is in the performance of the employee's duties is guilty of a Class D felony.any of the 44
following persons who are in the performance of their duties is guilty of a Class B1 felony: 45
(1) A law enforcement officer. 46
(2) A probation officer. 47
(3) A parole officer. 48
(4) A member of the North Carolina National Guard. 49
(5) An employee of a detention facility operated under the jurisdiction of the State 50
or a local government. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 8 Senate Bill 50-Third Edition
(6) An emergency medical technician or other emergency health care provider. 1
(7) A medical responder. 2
(8) A firefighter. 3
(9) A telecommunicator employed by a law enforcement agency." 4
SECTION 9.1.(b) G.S. 14-34.6(c) reads as rewritten: 5
"(c) Unless a person's conduct is covered under some other provision of law providing 6
greater punishment, a person is guilty of a Class D felony if the person violates subsection (a) of 7
this section against a person not otherwise covered under G.S. 14-34.5 and uses a firearm." 8
SECTION 10. G.S. 14-409.40 reads as rewritten: 9
"§ 14-409.40. Statewide uniformity of local regulation. 10
… 11
(f) Nothing contained in this section prohibits municipalities or counties from application 12
of their authority under G.S. 153A-129, 160A-189, 14-269, 14-269.2, 14-269.3, 14-269.4, 13
14-277.2, 14-415.11, 14-415.23, 14-415.35, including prohibiting the possession of firearms in 14
public-owned buildings, on the grounds or parking areas of those buildings, or in public parks or 15
recreation areas, except nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a person from storing a firearm 16
within a motor vehicle while the vehicle is on these grounds or areas. Nothing contained in this 17
section prohibits municipalities or counties from exercising powers provided by law in states of 18
emergency declared under Article 1A of Chapter 166A of the General Statutes. 19
…." 20
SECTION 11. G.S. 14-415.4(e)(2) reads as rewritten: 21
"(2) The petitioner is under indictment for a felony or a finding of probable cause 22
exists against the petitioner for a felony." 23
SECTION 12. G.S. 14-415.11(a) reads as rewritten: 24
"(a) Any person who has a concealed handgun permit may carry a concealed handgun 25
unless otherwise specifically prohibited by law. The person shall carry the permit together with 26
valid identification whenever the person is carrying a concealed handgun, shall disclose to any 27
law enforcement officer that the person holds a valid permit and is carrying a concealed handgun 28
when approached or addressed by the officer, and shall display both the permit and the proper 29
identification upon the request of a law enforcement officer. In addition to these requirements, a 30
military permittee whose permit has expired during deployment may carry a concealed handgun 31
during the 90 days following the end of deployment and before the permit is renewed provided 32
the permittee also displays proof of deployment to any law enforcement officer." 33
SECTION 13. G.S. 14-415.22 is repealed. 34
SECTION 14. G.S. 74E-6 reads as rewritten: 35
"§ 74E-6. Oaths, powers, and authority of company police officers. 36
… 37
(c) All Company Police. – Company police officers, while in the performance of their 38
duties of employment, have the same powers as municipal and county police officers to make 39
arrests for both felonies and misdemeanors and to charge for infractions on any of the following: 40
(1) Real property owned by or in the possession and control of their employer. 41
(2) Real property owned by or in the possession and control of a person who has 42
contracted with the employer to provide on-site company police security 43
personnel services for the property. 44
(3) Any other real property while in continuous and immediate pursuit of a person 45
for an offense committed upon property described in subdivisions (1) or (2) 46
of this subsection. 47
Company police officers shall have, if duly authorized by the superior officer in charge, the 48
authority to carry concealed weapons pursuant to and in conformity with G.S. 14-269(b)(4) and 49
(5).G.S. 14-269(b)(4) and (b)(5) and G.S. 14-415.35. 50
…." 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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SECTION 15. G.S. 74G-6 reads as rewritten: 1
"§ 74G-6. Oaths, powers, and authority of campus police officers. 2
… 3
(d) Concealed Weapons. – Campus police officers shall have, if duly authorized by their 4
campus police agency and by the sheriff of the county in which the campus police agency is 5
located, the authority to carry concealed weapons pursuant to and in conformity with 6
G.S. 14-269(b)(5).G.S. 14-269(b)(5) and G.S. 14-415.35. 7
…." 8
SECTION 15.5. G.S. 14-415.1 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 9
"(a2) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section and discharges a firearm during 10
the commission or attempted commission of a felony under (i) this Chapter or (ii) Article 5 of 11
Chapter 90 of the General Statutes is guilty of a Class C felony." 12
SECTION 15.6 G.S. 14-415.1 reads as rewritten: 13
"§ 14-415.1. Possession of firearms, etc., by felon prohibited. 14
(a) It shall be is unlawful for any person who has been convicted of a felony to purchase, 15
own, possess, or have in his the person's custody, care, or control any firearm or any weapon of 16
mass death and destruction as defined in G.S. 14-288.8(c). For the purposes of this section, a 17
firearm is (i) any weapon, including a starter gun, which will or is designed to or may readily be 18
converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, or its frame or receiver, or (ii) any 19
firearm muffler or firearm silencer. This section does not apply to an antique firearm, as defined 20
in G.S. 14-409.11. 21
Every person violating the provisions of this section shall be punished as subsection is guilty 22
of a Class G felon.felony. 23
(a1) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section during the commission or 24
attempted commission of a felony under (i) this Chapter or (ii) Article 5 of Chapter 90 of the 25
General Statutes is guilty of a Class F felony. 26
(b) Prior convictions which cause disentitlement under this section shall only include: 27
(1) Felony convictions in North Carolina that occur before, on, or after December 28
1, 1995; and 29
(2) Repealed by Session Laws 1995, c. 487, s. 3, effective December 1, 1995. 30
(3) Violations of criminal laws of other states or of the United States that occur 31
before, on, or after December 1, 1995, and that are substantially similar to the 32
crimes covered in subdivision (1) which are punishable where committed by 33
imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. 34
When a person is charged under this section, records of prior convictions of any offense, whether 35
in the courts of this State, or in the courts of any other state or of the United States, shall be 36
admissible in evidence for the purpose of proving a violation of this section. The term 37
"conviction" is defined as a final judgment in any case in which felony punishment, or 38
imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, as the case may be, is authorized, without regard to 39
the plea entered or to the sentence imposed. A judgment of a conviction of the defendant or a 40
plea of guilty by the defendant to such an offense certified to a superior court of this State from 41
the custodian of records of any state or federal court shall be prima facie evidence of the facts so 42
certified. 43
(c) The indictment charging the defendant under the terms of this section shall be separate 44
from any indictment charging him with other offenses related to or giving rise to a charge under 45
this section. An indictment which charges the person with violation of this section must set forth 46
the date that the prior offense was committed, the type of offense and the penalty therefor, and 47
the date that the defendant was convicted or plead guilty to such offense, the identity of the court 48
in which the conviction or plea of guilty took place and the verdict and judgment rendered 49
therein. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 10 Senate Bill 50-Third Edition
(d) This section does not apply to a person who, pursuant to the law of the jurisdiction in 1
which the conviction occurred, has been pardoned or has had his or her firearms rights restored 2
if such restoration of rights could also be granted under North Carolina law. 3
(e) This section does not apply and there is no disentitlement under this section if the 4
felony conviction is a violation under the laws of North Carolina, another state, or the United 5
States that pertains to antitrust violations, unfair trade practices, or restraints of trade." 6
SECTION 16. G.S. 113-136 reads as rewritten: 7
"§ 113-136. Enforcement authority of inspectors and protectors; refusal to obey or allow 8
inspection by inspectors and protectors. 9
… 10
(d) Inspectors and protectors are additionally authorized to arrest without warrant under 11
the terms of G.S. 15A-401(b) for felonies, for breaches of the peace, for assaults upon them or in 12
their presence, and for other offenses evincing a flouting of their authority as enforcement 13
officers or constituting a threat to public peace and order which would tend to subvert the 14
authority of the State if ignored. In particular, they are authorized, subject to the direction of the 15
administrative superiors, to arrest for violations of G.S. 14-223, 14-225, 14-269, and 16
14-277.14-277, and 14-415.35. 17
…." 18
SECTION 16.7. The University of North Carolina Board of Governors shall develop 19
a scholarship program for any child, if the child is at least 17 years old but not yet 28 years old, 20
whose parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian is a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, 21
firefighter, volunteer firefighter, or rescue squad worker who is permanently and totally disabled 22
as a direct result of a traumatic injury sustained in the line of duty. 23
The scholarship program shall provide assistance with tuition, fees, educational 24
supplies, and boarding expenses not covered under Chapter 115B of the General Statutes and 25
shall be available for both undergraduate and graduate programs. 26
The Board of Governors shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight 27
Committee on the establishment of the program no later than July 1, 2026. 28
SECTION 17. Prosecutions for offenses committed before the effective date of this 29
act are not abated or affected by this act, and the statutes that would be applicable but for this act 30
remain applicable to those prosecutions. 31
SECTION 18. This act becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses 32
committed on or after that date. 33