Transporting A Pistol To N.C.

[Good Ol' Boy]

Wife is going to the beach with some friends for a few days (leaving tomorrow). I checked Handgunlaw.us and its a bit confusing.

My wife HAD a valid VA CHP but did not renew until it had expired. She's waiting on the new one now.

So the issue at hand is just her having an unloaded firearm with her on the trip, in the car and at the motel.

What we were thinking was doing like we do here for guns that need to be unloaded when you're transporting. Pistol in a case with loaded mag NOT in the gun, case visible and not readily accessible.

Will this be legal and if not what is?

 

[Mark_Mark]

Here you go! you will be fine.

https://www.ncdps.gov/our-organization/law-enforcement/state-highway-patrol/faq/handguns-in-vehicles

Handguns In Vehicles
It is unlawful to carry a concealed handgun in a vehicle unless the person has a valid concealed carry permit."

A person who is not a convicted felon may carry a handgun if not concealed.

A handgun is concealed in a vehicle if it cannot be readily seen by a person approaching and if it is readily accessible. A handgun under the front seat or in an unlocked glove box or console is illegal. A handgun openly displayed or in a locked glove box, locked console, or in the trunk is lawful.

 

[firedawg60]

IMO, without a valid CHP honored by NC, the handgun has to be either plainly visible or in a locked container or locked part of the car. If the case is in the passenger compartment and unlocked, it would be considered concealed and illegal. I would either have the case in the trunk or locked, or the gun in plain view. Many people have the gun beside of them on the console or in the passenger seat and if stopped, put it on the dash before the officer approaches the vehicle.

 

[FL-NC]

I know NC has open carry with no permit. I THINK you can carry a loaded pistol in a car in open view as well.

 

[firedawg60]

I know NC has open carry with no permit. I THINK you can carry a loaded pistol in a car in open view as well.

Yeah, it either has to be locked up or in open plain view. In a gun case is not considered in open view.

 

[Mark_Mark]

velcro tape your holster to your dash, and open carry when you get out of your car.

honestly, if your headed to the beach, you will be fine

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

Yeah, it either has to be locked up or in open plain view. In a gun case is not considered in open view.

Yeah that was one of the questionables.

So it can be in a glove box with no holster and its ok, but stowed in a case with your luggage is a no go?

If true thats beyond retarded.

 

[firedawg60]

Yeah that was one of the questionables.

So it can be in a glove box with no holster and its ok, but stowed in a case with your luggage is a no go?

If true thats beyond retarded.

To meet the letter of the law, the glove box, case or luggage would have to be locked.

 

[Rule3]

Yeah that was one of the questionables.

So it can be in a glove box with no holster and its ok, but stowed in a case with your luggage is a no go?

If true thats beyond retarded.

Yep it is convoluted!

https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/resources/ccw_reciprocity_map/nc-gun-laws/

Carry in Vehicle?
Can you carry a concealed handgun in a vehicle in North Carolina?


Yes, with a permit. Without a permit, a weapon cannot be BOTH concealed and readily accessible to a person. Therefore a handgun would need to be either openly displayed or in a locked glove box, locked console or in the trunk. A handgun under the front seat or in an unlocked glove box or console is illegal.

[N.C. Dept. of Public Safety FAQs]

 

[Soupy44]

What was taught to me in NC CCH class and have always been told (neither legally binding of course) for traveling with a handgun was it is ok for anyone to open carry. If you don't wish to do that, then you will need to keep the gun and ammo separate (not readily accessible). In a separate bag from the case, and/or any bag the case is in is ok for ammo. This gets fuzzy if it's loaded magazines. A woman traveling alone to the beach could probably get out of loaded magazines in a bag with the cased gun, of course no promises.

At you accomodations, so long as they are not posted against firearms or concealed carry, you can have it loaded and ready to go in your room. Refer back to the first paragraph once you step foot out of your room.

 

[bangswitch]

I live in NC, and for a time was a CC instructor in NC.

If you have a VALID and CURRENT concealed carry permit, either a NC permit or an out-of-state permit recognized by NC, you can carry it loaded and concealed within the vehicle passenger compartment, in an unlocked glove box or console, under the seat, in a holster on your person, or you can have it in the open.

If you do NOT have a current and valid CC permit recognized by NC, the gun must be in plain view of an officer approaching the driver's window. It can be loaded, but must be plainly in view and immediately declared by the driver. If not in plain view, it must be in a locked container and not readily accessible to anyone in the car.

The key to carry in NC, in any case, is to immediately declare you have a firearm in the car, regardless of whether you have a CC permit or not. When you hand your license and registration to the officer, you also hand him your CC permit and declare the weapon. Keep both hands in plain sight, preferably on the steering wheel. You may be asked where the firearm is (location in the car); Describe the location without reaching or pointing, just say (in the locked glove box, under my seat, in the center console, etc.)

I've never had any issue with city, county or state LE when stopped, if I follow these guidelines. Since you are out-of-state, they may have more questions for you and look a bit harder.

I've been through a routine license check (yes, they do exist) while on my way to the wildlife club to shoot at the range, and I had two rifles and three handguns, in addition to my CC handgun. They were all cased and unloaded except for my CC, and the ammo was in the range bag. No problems there. if you are in a car, locking the gun in the trunk is probably your safest bet while on the road.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

I appreciate all of the responses.

She left this morning and made her own decision after our own research as well as reading responses here.

Thanks again to all who responded and feel free to keep this going for other folks if you guys want to.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I appreciate all of the responses.

She left this morning and made her own decision after our own research as well as reading responses here.

Thanks again to all who responded and feel free to keep this going for other folks if you guys want to.

North Carolina is fairly safe! She will be fine!

 

[rayatphonix]

My wife and I both drive SUVs. Is having the pistol in a case in the cargo area, the same as having it in the trunk? Both SUVs have rear seats.

 

[TarDevil]

Is having the pistol in a case in the cargo area, the same as having it in the trunk?

(NC resident here). As far from reach as possible, was what I was told. In such instances, I field stripped the gun.

 

[rayatphonix]

My feeling is it’s somewhat dependent upon the mood of whoever stops you. I live in NC also and I’ve never been given a definitive answer. That was a contributing factor for getting my carry permit.

 

[TarDevil]

My feeling is it’s somewhat dependent upon the mood of whoever stops you.

Exactly what the Assistant DA in our county said to our CCL instructor... the discretion of the LEO stopping you as to concealed or on plain view. Our instructor did not feel the car seat is in plain view.

 

[firedawg60]

Exactly what the Assistant DA in our county said to our CCL instructor... the discretion LEO stopping you as to concealed or on plain view. Our instructor did not feel the car seat is in plain view.

It's definitely open to officer interpretation. That is why many people I know that don't have a CHP put their handgun on the dash before the officer gets to the vehicle instead of leaving it in the seat.