Skip to Main Content

North Carolina’s weak gun laws put its residents at risk. Lawmakers must do better to reduce gun violence in their state and save lives. 

In 2023, North Carolina’s legislature overrode the governor’s veto to repeal background checks and permits for handgun purchases. In 2021, North Carolina had the 22nd highest gun death rate among the states. North Carolina supplied crime guns to other states at slightly higher rate than the national average, but the state actually imports more crime guns than it exports. North Carolina imported crime guns at the 8th highest rate among the states.

What North Carolina Does Well

  • Certain domestic violence gun laws
  • Child access prevention laws
  • Some concealed carry permitting and safety training standards

What North Carolina Is Missing

  • Universal background checks
  • Extreme risk protection orders
  • Minimum age restrictions
  • Some domestic violence protections
  • Firearm relinquishment laws
  • Large capacity magazine ban
  • Assault weapon restrictions
  • Open carry regulations
  • Community violence intervention funding
featured-1-up

SPOTLIGHT

GUN LAW SCORECARD

The data is clear: states with stronger gun laws have less gun violence. See how your state compares in our annual ranking.

Read More

SUPPORT GUN SAFETY

We’re in this together. To build a safer America—one where children and parents in every neighborhood can learn, play, work, and worship without fear of gun violence—we need you standing beside us in this fight.