A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to allow the concealed carry of a pistol or gun except where the pistol or gun is being carried for an illegal purpose.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 14‑269 reads as rewritten:
"§ 14‑269.  Carrying concealed weapons.
…
(a1)	It shall be unlawful for any person willfully and intentionally to carry concealed about his or her person any pistol or gun for an illegal purpose.

	
	
(b)	The prohibition set forth in subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to any of the following persons:
(1)	Officers and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the United States when in discharge of their official duties as such and acting under orders requiring them to carry arms and weapons.
(2)	Civil and law enforcement officers of the United States.
(3)	Officers and soldiers of the militia and the National Guard when called into actual service.
(3a)	A member of the North Carolina National Guard who has been designated in writing by the Adjutant General, State of North Carolina, who has a concealed handgun permit issued in accordance with Article 54B of this Chapter or considered valid under G.S. 14‑415.24, and is acting in the discharge of his or her official duties, provided that the member does not carry a concealed weapon while consuming alcohol or an unlawful controlled substance or while alcohol or an unlawful controlled substance remains in the member's body.
(4)	Officers of the State, or of any county, city, town, or company police agency charged with the execution of the laws of the State, when acting in the discharge of their official duties.
(4a)	Any person who is a district attorney, an assistant district attorney, or an investigator employed by the office of a district attorney and who has a concealed handgun permit issued in accordance with Article 54B of this Chapter or considered valid under G.S. 14‑415.24; provided that the person shall not carry a concealed weapon at any time while in a courtroom or while consuming alcohol or an unlawful controlled substance or while alcohol or an unlawful controlled substance remains in the person's body. The district attorney, assistant district attorney, or investigator shall secure the weapon in a locked compartment when the weapon is not on the person of the district attorney, assistant district attorney, or investigator. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, a district attorney may carry a concealed weapon while in a courtroom.
(4b)	Any person who is a qualified retired law enforcement officer as defined in G.S. 14‑415.10 and meets any one of the following conditions:
a.	Is the holder of a concealed handgun permit in accordance with Article 54B of this Chapter.
b.	Is exempt from obtaining a permit pursuant to G.S. 14‑415.25.
c.	Is certified by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission pursuant to G.S. 14‑415.26.
(4c)	Detention personnel or correctional officers employed by the State or a unit of local government who park a vehicle in a space that is authorized for their use in the course of their duties may transport a firearm to the parking space and store that firearm in the vehicle parked in the parking space, provided that: (i) the firearm is in a closed compartment or container within the locked vehicle, or (ii) the firearm is in a locked container securely affixed to the vehicle.
(4d)	Any person who is a North Carolina district court judge, North Carolina superior court judge, or a North Carolina magistrate and who has a concealed handgun permit issued in accordance with Article 54B of this Chapter or considered valid under G.S. 14‑415.24; provided that the person shall not carry a concealed weapon at any time while consuming alcohol or an unlawful controlled substance or while alcohol or an unlawful controlled substance remains in the person's body. The judge or magistrate shall secure the weapon in a locked compartment when the weapon is not on the person of the judge or magistrate.
(4e)	Any person who is serving as a clerk of court or as a register of deeds and who has a concealed handgun permit issued in accordance with Article 54B of this Chapter or considered valid under G.S. 14‑415.24; provided that the person shall not carry a concealed weapon at any time while consuming alcohol or an unlawful controlled substance or while alcohol or an unlawful controlled substance remains in the person's body. The clerk of court or register of deeds shall secure the weapon in a locked compartment when the weapon is not on the person of the clerk of court or register of deeds. This subdivision does not apply to assistants, deputies, or other employees of the clerk of court or register of deeds.
(5)	Sworn law‑enforcement officers, when off‑duty, provided that an officer does not carry a concealed weapon while consuming alcohol or an unlawful controlled substance or while alcohol or an unlawful controlled substance remains in the officer's body.
…
(b1)	It is a defense to a prosecution under this section that all of the following conditions were met:
(1)	The weapon was not a firearm.
(2)	The defendant was engaged in, or on the way to or from, an activity in which the defendant legitimately used the weapon.
(3)	The defendant possessed the weapon for that legitimate use.
(4)	The defendant did not use or attempt to use the weapon for an illegal purpose.
The burden of proving this defense is on the defendant.

	
	
…."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2021, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.