(A) Concealed handguns.
(1) Possession prohibited. No person shall carry a concealed handgun or other dangerous weapon on or within any city-owned building and/or their appurtenant premises or in city recreational facilities as defined by G.S. § 14-415.23, which are all city athletic fields and athletic facilities. A list of recreational facilities shall be set out in a Schedule of Recreational Facilities at which Concealed Handguns are Prohibited which shall be updated as necessary and retained permanently in the office of the Director of Parks and Recreation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this section shall prohibit a concealed handgun permittee from securing the handgun within an enclosed compartment of a locked motor vehicle.
(2) An appropriate notice of the prohibition shall be posted in a conspicuous place in each city- owned building and/or their appurtenant premises and in city recreational facilities as defined by G.S. § 14-415.23 notifying persons of the prohibition against carrying a concealed handgun therein.
(B) Other firearms and weapons.
(1) No person shall display any firearm in public-owned buildings, on the grounds or parking areas of those buildings, or in public parks and recreation areas, including city greenways. On all other public property within the city, including public streets, alleys, and sidewalks, display of firearms shall comply with the following:
(a) No firearms other than handguns, as defined in G.S. § 14-409.39, may be displayed;
(b) The handgun shall be bolstered such that firing of the weapon is not possible;
(c) The handgun shall be clearly visible and not concealed or partially concealed;
(d) Display of handguns is prohibited for any person while consuming alcohol or at any time while the person has remaining in the person's body any alcohol or in the person's blood a controlled substance previously consumed, but a person does not violate this condition if a controlled substance in the person's blood was lawfully obtained and taken in therapeutically appropriate amounts;
(e) Display of handguns is prohibited on any public streets, including adjacent sidewalks, that have been closed by the chief of police or designee pursuant to § 98.80.
(2) No person shall display any deadly weapon as defined in G.S. § 14-269(a), or any knife having a blade of three inches or longer, BB gun, air gun, paintball gun, airsoft gun, bow and arrow or any type of lethal weapon, while on any public street, alley, sidewalk or other public property within the town, including town greenways, unless specifically permitted or authorized by law. No person shall carry or have possession of a knife having a blade of three inches or longer, a BB gun, air gun, paintball gun, airsoft gun, bow and arrow or any type of lethal weapon in any park, including city greenways.
(3) This division (B) is not applicable to concealed handguns, which are governed by division (A) above.
(C) Exceptions. The possession or display of a firearm or other weapon is exempt from the provisions of this § 130.07 in the following situations:
(1) If the chief of police, or designee, has authorized the public possession or display of a firearm, or other weapon, as part of an official program or event sponsored or sanctioned by the town.
(2) If the possession or display of the firearm, or other weapon, was the result of an individual(s) exercising his or her legitimate right to self-defense or the defense of others as allowed by law.
(3) If the possession or display of the firearm, or other weapon, was conducted by a person(s) authorized by law to carry and display such items as part of their official or otherwise recognized lawful duties (e.g., law enforcement officers, military personnel, security guards, etc.).
(4) If the possession or display of the firearm, or other weapon, was necessary for the temporary transport and securing of the item and was not otherwise in violation of existing statutes or ordinances (e.g., recent purchase and movement to vehicle for transport, securing of firearm by CCH permit holder in vehicle, found item to be turned in to authorities, firearm in approved vehicle gun rack, etc.).
(5) The possession or display of a knife with a blade longer than three inches for the performance of the duties of a town employee or contractor.
(D) Violation. The carrying of concealed handguns or the possession or display of any firearm or other weapon as defined in this section, in or upon any of the locations specified by this section, shall constitute a misdemeanor and subject any violator(s) so convicted to such penalties as may be imposed by the court.
(Ord. 1995-51, passed 8-7-95; Am. Ord. 2021-31, passed 9-7-21)
Penalty, see § 10.99
Cross-reference:
Firearms, see § 130.01