GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2003

S                                                                                                                                                    D

SENATE DRS75025-LH-31  (1/30)

Short Title:     Concealed Handgun Reciprocity.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Senator Thomas.
Referred to:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT TO PROVIDE RECIPROCAL CONCEALED HANDGUN RIGHTS TO CONCEALED HANDGUN PERMIT HOLDERS OF OTHER STATES.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 54B of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 14-415.24. Reciprocity; out-of-state handgun permits.

(a) A valid concealed handgun permit or license issued by another state is valid in North Carolina if that state both:

(1) Grants permits pursuant to requirements substantially equal to the requirements set forth in G.S. 14-415.12.

(2) Grants the same right to residents of North Carolina who have valid concealed handgun permits issued pursuant to this Article in their possession while carrying concealed weapons in that state.

(b) The Attorney General shall determine which states meet the requirements of this section, maintain a registry of such states on the North Carolina Criminal Information Network, and make the registry available to law enforcement officers for investigative purposes.

(c) The provisions of G.S. 14-415.11(a) and (c) apply to a nonresident whose concealed handgun permit or license from another state is honored by North Carolina in accordance with the reciprocity provisions of this section.

(d) The Department of Justice shall, not later than 30 days after July 15, 2003, and not less than once every six months thereafter, make written inquiry of the concealed handgun permitting authorities in each other state as to: (i) whether a North Carolina resident may carry a concealed handgun in their state based upon having a valid North Carolina concealed handgun permit, and (ii) whether a North Carolina resident may apply for a concealed handgun permit in that state based upon having a valid North Carolina concealed handgun permit. The Department of Justice shall attempt to secure from each state permission for North Carolina residents who hold a valid North Carolina concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed handgun in that state, either on the basis of the North Carolina permit or on the basis that the North Carolina permit is sufficient to permit the issuance of a similar license or permit by the other state."

SECTION 2.  G.S. 14‑415.24(b), as enacted by this act, is effective when this act becomes law.  The Attorney General shall implement G.S. 14‑415.24(b), as enacted by Section 1 of this act, within 60 days after this act becomes law.  The remainder of this act becomes effective 60 days after this act becomes law.