Criminal Defense Lawyer for Concealed Weapon Charges

The crime of carrying a concealed weapon in North Carolina is a serious one and punishable with potential jail time. If you have been charged with carrying a concealed weapon, an experienced defense attorney will know how the law applies to the facts of your case and determine the best course of action for you. Call Mr. Rosensteel so that he can begin examining your case as soon as possible.

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In North Carolina, it is a crime to carry a concealed weapon unless you are on your own premises. To show that a person violated the concealed carry statute, the following elements must be evidenced:

the person must be off his own premises
the person must carry a deadly weapon
the weapon must be concealed about his person

A weapon does not include an “ordinary pocket knife” under the statute. An “ordinary pocket knife” is defined as a “small knife, designed for carrying in a pocket or purse, that has its cutting edge and point entirely enclosed by its handle, and that may not be opened by a throwing, explosive, or spring action.”

The concealed carry statute specifically lists weapons which are included in this section. They are:

bowie knife
dirk
dagger
sling shot
loaded cane
metallic knuckles
razor
shurikin
stun gun
other deadly weapon of like kind
any pistol or gun

A person who violates the concealed carry statute for the first time is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. The punishment for a Class 2 misdemeanor ranges from 1-60 days, depending on prior convictions. A person with no prior convictions can be sentenced to up to 30 days, but this punishment must be community punishment.

A person who violates the concealed carry statute for a second or subsequent time is guilty of a Class H felony. North Carolina law provides that a person who commits a Class H felony must receive a sentence between 4 and 25 months, depending on the person’s prior convictions. A person with no prior convictions may receive a community or intermediate punishment, but the court is permitted to sentence any person convicted of a Class H felony to active jail time.

Exceptions

There are certain exceptions to the concealed carry statute. The prohibition does not apply to

a person who carries a handgun, has a concealed handgun permit, and is carrying the handgun in accordance with the scope of the concealed handgun permit
a person who carries a handgun who is exempt from obtaining a permit as a law enforcement officer or qualified law enforcement officer, the handgun is in a closed compartment or container within the person’s locked vehicle, and the vehicle is in a parking area that is owned or leased by the State government

When prosecuting a concealed carry crime, the State does not have an initial burden of producing evidence to show that the accused’s carrying of a concealed weapon is not an exception under the statute. However, once the accused shows some evidence that his carrying of a concealed weapon is an exception under the statute, the burden of showing that the accused actions fall within the scope of the statute is on the State.

Defenses

The statute also sets out two defenses to the crime of carrying a concealed weapon. The first is that:

the weapon was not a firearm
the defendant was engaged in, or on the way to or from, an activity in which he legitimately used the weapon
the defendant possessed the weapon for that legitimate use
the defendant did not use or attempt to use the weapon for an illegal purpose

The burden of proving this defense is on the accused.

The second defense is that:

the deadly weapon is a handgun
the defendant carries a concealed handgun permit and is a member of the armed forces
the defendant provides to the court proof of deployment, such as the deployment orders or other written notification showing the defendant’s deployment dates

Call a criminal defense law attorney at Rosensteel Fleishman today at (704) 714-1450 to schedule a consultation for your prostitution case.

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Compliance with Concealed Handgun Permit

Having a concealed handgun permit does not entitle a person to conceal carry a handgun wherever and whenever he pleases. An important restriction of the concealed handgun permit is that it is unlawful for a person to carry a concealed handgun, even if the person has a concealed handgun permit, while consuming alcohol or when alcohol or a controlled substance remains in the person’s body. However, if a person has a controlled substance in his blood and the controlled substance was lawfully obtained and taken in therapeutically appropriate amounts, the person does not violate this provision.

In addition, the concealed handgun statute does not authorize a person to carry a concealed handgun:

on educational property
into an assembly for which admission has been charged for entry
into an establishment which sells alcoholic beverages
into the State Capitol Building, the Executive Mansion, the Western Residence of the Governor, or any building housing any court
at a parade, funeral procession, or demonstration
in an area prohibited by federal law
in a law enforcement or correctional facility
in State or federal offices
on any private premises where a notice prohibiting the carrying of a concealed weapon is conspicuously posted

A person who carries a firearm onto educational property commits a Class I felony. North Carolina law provides that a person who commits a Class I felony must receive a sentence between 3 and 12 months, depending on the person’s prior convictions. A person with no prior convictions must receive a community punishment, but the court is permitted to sentence a person with prior convictions to active jail time.

A person who carries a powerful explosive onto educational property commits a Class H felony. North Carolina law provides that a person who commits a Class H felony must receive a sentence between 4 and 25 months, depending on the person’s prior convictions. A person with no prior convictions may receive a community or intermediate punishment, but the court is permitted to sentence any person convicted of a Class H felony to active jail time.

A person who:

carries a gun, rifle or pistol into an assembly for which admission has been charged for entry or into an establishment which sells alcoholic beverages
carries a deadly weapon into the State Capitol Building, the Executive Mansion, the Western Residence of the Governor, or any building housing any court
possesses a deadly weapon at a parade, funeral procession or demonstration

commits a Class 1 misdemeanor. North Carolina statute provides that a person who commits a Class 1 misdemeanor receives a sentence between 1 day and 120 days, depending on their prior convictions. A person with no prior convictions cannot receive more than a 45-day sentence, and this sentence must be community punishment. However, it is possible for a person with one or more prior convictions to receive active jail time as a punishment.

Constructive Possession

Constructive possession can be sufficient to prove that a defendant “carried” a concealed weapon. Constructive possession occurs when a person does not have actual possession but “has the intent and capability to maintain control and dominion over” the weapon. For example, when a defendant drove a borrowed car in which a gun was concealed, he had the power to control the contents of the car. In addition, the fact that the gun was located near the driver’s seat and that the defendant admitted that he owned the gun showed that the defendant carried the concealed weapon.

Call a criminal defense law attorney at Rosensteel Fleishman today at (704) 714-1450 to schedule a consultation for your concealed weapon case.