Suppressor law
Carve-out in flux
Legal, but the state exception is written for federally registered owners. Since the ATF's October 9, 2026 policy, new purchases cannot register — the statute is untested for them.
| Statute | G.S. 14-288.8(a), (b)(5), (c)(3); SL 2023-8 § 2(e) (repeal of G.S. 14-402 et seq.) |
| Notes | COMMON MISREAD CORRECTED: NC does not outright ban silencers. Possession offense is G.S. 14-288.8(a) (Class F felony), but (b)(5) exempts persons possessing in compliance with 26 U.S.C. ch. 53 (NFA) — federalKeyedCarveout. Statute is keyed to federal NFA registration (26 U.S.C. 5801-5871 / NFRTR). ATF's Oct. 9, 2026 guidance (https://www.atf.gov/firearms/update-to-nfa-transfer-guidance) stopped NFA approval/registration for covered suppressors; a suppressor bought after that date may be unregistered, and whether it satisfies this state's federal-keyed language is untested — flagged, does not change the statutory text. |
| Hunting | Legal — G.S. 113-291.1(c)(2) excludes from the taking-wildlife possession offense a 'suppressor or other device designed to muffle or minimize the report of a firearm or short-barreled rifle that is lawfully possessed by a person in compliance with 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53, §§ 5801-5871.' |
Federal context: suppressor tax $0 since Jan 1, 2026 (OBBBA); ATF stopped enforcing NFA approval/registration Oct 9, 2026. State law is unchanged and independently controls.
Carry law
Your permit is honored by all states.
| Permit type | Shall Issue |
| Constitutional carry | No |
| Duty to inform | Yes — Must immediately disclose permit to law enforcement upon contact |
| Open carry | Allowed |
| Minimum age | 21 |
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Get 2A Law Alerts (free)Statute-verified October 16, 2026 · General information, not legal advice · Live interactive map: ccw.workmanfirearms.com