GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001
H	2
HOUSE BILL 985
Committee Substitute Favorable 4/24/01

Short Title:	Out-of-State Handgun Permits Valid.	()	
Sponsors:	     	
Referred to:	     	
April 5, 2001

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO HAS A VALID CONCEALED HANDGUN PERMIT FROM ANOTHER STATE MAY CARRY A CONCEALED HANDGUN IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW IN NORTH CAROLINA AND TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO ENTER RECIPROCITY AGREEMENTS WITH ALL STATES THAT RECOGNIZE NORTH CAROLINA'S HANDGUN PERMIT AS VALID. 

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.  Out-of-state concealed handgun permits valid in North Carolina.
(a)	A nonresident who has a valid concealed handgun permit issued by another state of the United States to carry a concealed handgun in that state may, subject to provisions of North Carolina law, carry a concealed handgun in North Carolina, and the out-of-state permit shall be considered valid in North Carolina, if the other state grants permits pursuant to requirements substantially equal to the requirements set forth in G.S. 14-415.12.
(b)	The Department of Justice shall, not later than 30 days after July 15, 2001, 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.
The Department of Justice shall enter into a written reciprocity agreement with the appropriate agency in each state: (i) that agrees to permit North Carolina residents to carry concealed handguns in the other state on the basis of a North Carolina-issued concealed handgun permit, or  (ii) that will issue a license to carry a concealed handgun in the other state based upon a North Carolina concealed handgun permit. If a reciprocity agreement is reached, the requirement to contact the other state each six months shall be eliminated as long as the reciprocity agreement is in force. Each reciprocity agreement shall be a public record and shall be available to individual requesters free of charge for the first copy and at the normal rate for open records requests for additional copies."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.