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Car carry for 16 year old

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10K views 19 replies 11 participants last post by  papa bear  
#1 ·
Hello, I am wondering about car carry legalities in NC.
Let me first say that I live in a very rural area and would like the security of having protection if it was needed, also the need to dispatch deer and other car wounded animals is quite common.
My quistion is at what age I (non-felon and so forth) can legally carry a firearm in a car, I know I cant purchase a handgun until I am 21, or a longarm until I am 18, but at what point can I posses said firearms in a car?
Also, I have heard that a loaded long arm is considered a (offensive) weapon by some law enforcement agencies, any truth to that?


Just FYI my thoughts on car carry are, (handgun) A .357 revolver with adjustable sights.
Or longarm, a mossberg 500 cruiser edition, or single shot cut to legal length barrel.
Please feel free to add any suggestions here also.
Thanks,
Tyler
 
#2 ·
Not a lawyer but a 16 years old MINOR without an adult equals bad juju.

§ 14‑269.7. Prohibitions on handguns for minors.

(a) Any minor who willfully and intentionally possesses or carries a handgun is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

(b) This section does not apply:

(1) To officers and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the United States when in discharge of their official duties or acting under orders requiring them to carry handguns.

(2) To a minor who possesses a handgun for educational or recreational purposes while the minor is supervised by an adult who is present.

(3) To an emancipated minor who possesses such handgun inside his or her residence.

(4) To a minor who possesses a handgun while hunting or trapping outside the limits of an incorporated municipality if he has on his person written permission from a parent, guardian, or other person standing in loco parentis.

(c) The following definitions apply in this section:

(1) Handgun. – A firearm that has a short stock and is designed to be fired by the use of a single hand, or any combination of parts from which such a firearm can be assembled.

(2) Minor. – Any person under 18 years of age. (1993, c. 259, s. 1; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 14, s. 5; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 597, s. 1; 2011‑183, s. 9; 2011‑268, s. 6.)
 
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#3 ·
Not a Lawyer as well, but your parents/guardian may face charges too:

§ 14‑316. Permitting young children to use dangerous firearms.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any parent, guardian, or person standing in loco parentis, to knowingly permit his child under the age of 12 years to have the possession, custody or use in any manner whatever, any gun, pistol or other dangerous firearm, whether such weapon be loaded or unloaded, except when such child is under the supervision of the parent, guardian or person standing in loco parentis. It shall be unlawful for any other person to knowingly furnish such child any weapon enumerated herein. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.
 
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#4 ·
well that answers the handgun question, now what about long guns?
 
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#5 ·
No disrespect, but at 16 I don't think carrying a firearm is a good idea. You may be a seasoned shooter but some of your friends may not be as "grown" as you may be or think you may be. Assuming they will be riding with you. Again, no disrespect. I'm 29 now and was 16 once and I would've thought with my training from my father I would've been capable to carry in the car but I'm glad I didn't. I had guns in my house at 16 and that's fine. Just do what I did then and carry a quick action knife on your person and a good balanced heavy tool in your car. Take care kid and remember, you mess up now and you'll never be able to carry, EVER.
 
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#6 ·
This sparked another question in my mind. What about a 16 year old with hunting rifle in the back of their truck? Are there any legal problems with that? I always carried my hunting rifle with me where ever I went when I was that age. Even places you would get in trouble for now. Granted that was a long time ago. Just wondering for my young ones.
 
#7 ·
Id say just carry a good folding knife. If you mess up and forget to take a gun out of your truck before going to school it could end up very badly for you. A knife or hatchet would still get you in trouble but it would be a lot less than a firearm, especially the type (short shotgun or pistol) you're talking about. In this environment you wouldn't get much if any benefit of the doubt. Be smart and don't carry a gun in your truck yet, like dusty said you could end up in a world of trouble and its just not worth it.
 
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#8 ·
I was pretty certain that pistol carry was out of the quistion, and as for the opinion of not carrying anything at all, not only do I not take offense (and appreciate the opinion) but most likely this will be the case. However, I do like to know my individual rights, and my father not only supports my carrying (car and on the person) but encourages it.
And yes I know that if I screw up now I will be scarred forever, hence my quistion to find my legal ground.
As of the school, well this is where it gets interesting, I am homeschooled and work around the old family farm (now almost disfunctional thanks to major operations) so I carry on my person almost every day, but only on the farm, obviously I am not going to go around wal-mart packing a pistol.
:draw:
[hr]
So pistol is no-go legal wise, hmmm that is interesting about the hunting rifle, I hunt deer every year as much as possible and am accustomed to having my chamber empty magazine full when in transit.
(unless riding with someone I am not farmiliar with) never really thought much about it because thats what daddy taught me I guess.
Could stir some trouble tho
 
#9 ·
Tyler, I do not think on your family's property (private property!) that carrying a handgun or long gun is illegal, especially a farm. In fact I would expect one to be within reach along with a good fixed blade most anytime on a farm. In your OP you really seemed to be saying in a vehicle so I assumed off your family's property were handguns are handled in the General Statues. Long guns are not specifically addressed I can find outside of TooManyPointsDowns's for off property so each LEO could see long guns differently. The SHP will be different from a local deputy and these gray areas can be dangerous for us gun owners. When there is a firearm in the vehicle the person, no matter what age, needs to make sure it is stored properly per the law with or without a CHP.

As to other forms of defense, be very careful here. Again different people look at the same item in different ways. Since you are on a farm a few tools need to always be within reach, a good ball peen hammer, utility shovel or such. It doesn't have to be a gun or a knife if you know how to use it in a defensive way.
 
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#10 ·
Sorry for the confusion, my first quistion was regarding car carry off the farm, but I just wanted to express my situation, I dont see leaving a firearm in your car/truck in the school parking lot advisable either.
And as for the hammer/screwdriver/hatchet idea, I agree that in a self defense situation these would by far be better than nothing, but truly I am not as concerned about self defense against humans around the farm, as I am about little critters we got. Within the past 12 months there have been many sightings of fox-coyote-bobcat-wild dogs ect ect and one encounter with one that attacked my mother while mowing the grass, yes yes I know thats a situation that the fox was threatened and defending her cubs, but when the chips are down it really cuts down to one thing, self preservation.

Anyway, my real quistion isnt about around the farm and I appoligise for jumping off topic.
Really, the most likely situation of me carrying any firearm in the car will be A: gone hunting B: gone fishing or C: when I know I am within my rights and want to carry for self defense. That is why I asked the quistion anyway, to know my rights.

Ok I was expecting somthing about how unlikely it is that any situation will come that I would need the gun anyway, well I will skip around the farm since I need one there about every other weeek for some unruly critter.
So here she is, all my life I have been taught that the point of having a firearm other than sport, is so that you are not helpless, my father was robbed several years ago, would have been killed if he had not had a revolver with him, didnt even need to fire it, man that was trying to rob him (armed with a hammer) turned tail and ran.
And for the ringer....some of you may know a little about the Pine Lake nursing home Shooting, well my grandmother was killed there, and anyone there that had a gun in his/her vehicle could have stopped it, maybe my grandmother still would have died, maybe not, but no one there would have been helpless.

Not trying for sympathy either, just want to show why I feel the way I do about being armed.
Thanks for your information and opinions.
 
#11 ·
Patience Grasshopper, these guys are right. Exercise extreme caution when off of the farm as your age is a big issue here. The laws are the laws, so please do the research, print them off, read, re-read. If still in doubt, contact your local Sheriff directly, but DON'T carry off of your property, regardless of the firearm unless you're absolutely SURE you are within the bounds of the law and Have it IN WRITING on your person in case you are approached about it. Not worth the risk, nor the ensuing penalties.
 
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#12 ·
I agree completely, it is rather frustrating though, I have talked to two local cops and two State troopers.
Both the local boys said not to worry about carrying a long gun, but not to even think about a pistol off private property.
And both State troopers said that if they EVER caught me with ANY firearm, loaded or unloaded, that wasnt locked in a trunk that they would take the gun and it would be on my record. :facepalm:

So much irony. But I really dont want to do anything that is not completly legal here, since doing so could very well grant me firearm free for life :(
 
#13 ·
Tyler, I kind of understand your position here since my 14 year old son is out and about on our property around the barn, pond and back area. I do allow him a .22LR or 20 gauge on the tractor or 4 wheeler but not quite ready for a handgun yet. Now if he ever needs to use any firearm in a defensive situation, man or beast, on our property I really do not care what the law says about pistol, long gun or rocket launcher he has the green light for any thing he needs and we'll deal with it afterwards. He is well trained with long guns and we're working on handguns and I trust him more than most others I see handling firearms lately. I have been thinking about what is going to happen when he hits that 18 to 20 year old range and no CHP but now the 16 to 18 is an even more gray area. I may open up a can of worms but I guess the Constitution and Bill of Rights doesn't count until you are 18 years old if not 21 before people are protected by them.
 
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#14 ·
So for right now I will just carry my good ole kershaw assisted open when im off the farm.
Might talk to some more cops and see if there is any general rule here, I know the locals are extremely leniant on us good ole boys but this really isnt somthing that I want to risk.
Again, thanks for the input, had done some research but wasnt able to find much that pertained to minors off private property.
 
#15 ·
Yeah, on your private property, you're fine.. Both long guns and handguns you can carry at 18 in public. In your car, once you're 18, you can either have them locked/secured and out of reach, or open on the seat or dashboard.
 
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#18 ·
Ahh ok, I have always purchased anything through my dad, and was under the impression you have to be 21 to legally buy one.

Never been much of a handgun fan really, only one that ever seemed to fit me was a colt military issue 1911 .45 or a smith and wesson 686 .357. Well what can I say I got good taste!

Again thanks for all the info and personal opinions, I will stall till im 18, then re-asess the situation. Guns have always just been part of life to me and honestly, being told I cant have one with me is a little bit of a shock, I mean I was hunting by myself at 14 and shooting around the house at 13 so its just different. But no sense in being foolish about it.
Again, thanks,
Tyler
 
#19 ·
Tyler, to legally acquire a handgun all you need to do is on or after you turn 18 go see your sheriff and apply for a Pistol Purchase Permit. A lot of counties say 21 years old but North Carolina statutes say 18 years old but the CLEO can issue if you apply and from your previous post your county locals seem to be more 2A friendly.

Federal says to purchase from a FFL you must be 21 but as long as you have the PPP you can purchase or be gifted a handgun legally from an individual (your Dad) but if you do not have the PPP he is just loaning it to you or it is borderline Straw purchase. Just learn and observe the rules for open carry and especially in a vehicle. The other thing you may run into is purchasing (not possessing) ammo for handguns is 21 years old so just mind the amount you have on hand so you can arrange to have enough before you have to ask for help from others.
 
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#20 ·
just wanted to pass along this story
i was approached at a gun show one time by a girl, she looked about 17. she related a story of how she had been out 4 wheeling. they had been shooting with her family early that day, so she had a firearm on her four wheeler. (didn't get what kind)
she had stopped and a guy jumped out and drug her off the 4wheeler and tried to rape her she broke free and got the firearm and shot him. he died. she was 16 at the time. if she hadn't had a gun she would have had to live with a rape the rest of her life. as it was she had to live with killing someone. i like the later better
 
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