{"id":2894,"date":"2020-06-26T14:00:07","date_gmt":"2020-06-26T14:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.ncleg.gov\/library\/?p=2894"},"modified":"2020-07-13T13:28:23","modified_gmt":"2020-07-13T13:28:23","slug":"masks-and-firearms-the-law-in-nc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.ncleg.gov\/library\/masks-and-firearms-the-law-in-nc\/","title":{"rendered":"Masks and Firearms: the Law in NC"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>With many businesses requiring customers to be masked, and now a statewide order from Governor Cooper requiring it, the question naturally arises: Is it illegal to carry a concealed weapon while wearing a mask?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is no law specifically prohibiting a person with a concealed handgun permit from lawfully carrying a handgun concealed while wearing a mask.\u00a0However, it is illegal to wear a mask <strong><u>for any reason<\/u><\/strong>, according to these statutes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncleg.gov%2FEnactedLegislation%2FStatutes%2FPDF%2FBySection%2FChapter_14%2FGS_14-12.7.pdf&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJulia.Covington%40ncleg.gov%7Cf1ba2b0bc22f4680207c08d819d6883b%7Ccdb33c844db840fbb92401791d2b9e5b%7C0%7C0%7C637287756479546646&amp;sdata=QLaDai1zzrOZ5zvebioBliB%2Frfa8PhZMmCJeLA5RP0o%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">G.S. 14-12.7<\/a> \u2013 Wearing of masks, hoods, etc. on public ways \u2013 Class 1 misdemeanor<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncleg.gov%2FEnactedLegislation%2FStatutes%2FPDF%2FBySection%2FChapter_14%2FGS_14-12.8.pdf&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJulia.Covington%40ncleg.gov%7Cf1ba2b0bc22f4680207c08d819d6883b%7Ccdb33c844db840fbb92401791d2b9e5b%7C0%7C0%7C637287756479546646&amp;sdata=4AWXoafqpNveQtif8h1QFGGlyimnai6pRGp%2B%2FUeShu0%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">G.S. 14-12.8<\/a> \u2013 Wearing masks, hoods, etc. on public property \u2013 Class 1 misdemeanor<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncleg.gov%2FEnactedLegislation%2FStatutes%2FPDF%2FBySection%2FChapter_14%2FGS_14-12.9.pdf&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJulia.Covington%40ncleg.gov%7Cf1ba2b0bc22f4680207c08d819d6883b%7Ccdb33c844db840fbb92401791d2b9e5b%7C0%7C0%7C637287756479556602&amp;sdata=8s6wQPjLFCAxD29rC0QX1gSVYrDbUQBA2L8Q6SMgYL8%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">G.S. 14-12.9<\/a> \u2013 Entry, etc. upon premises of another while wearing mask, hood or other disguise \u2013 Class 1 misdemeanor<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncleg.gov%2FEnactedLegislation%2FStatutes%2FPDF%2FBySection%2FChapter_14%2FGS_14-12.10.pdf&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJulia.Covington%40ncleg.gov%7Cf1ba2b0bc22f4680207c08d819d6883b%7Ccdb33c844db840fbb92401791d2b9e5b%7C0%7C0%7C637287756479556602&amp;sdata=4Dne8fsUrj39Afk42uTW4MceBixUMpOcDZbpvcUvL4Y%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">G.S. 14-12.10<\/a> \u2013 Holding meetings or demonstrations while wearing masks, hoods, etc. \u2013 Class 1 misdemeanor<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncleg.gov%2FEnactedLegislation%2FStatutes%2FPDF%2FBySection%2FChapter_14%2FGS_14-12.13.pdf&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJulia.Covington%40ncleg.gov%7Cf1ba2b0bc22f4680207c08d819d6883b%7Ccdb33c844db840fbb92401791d2b9e5b%7C0%7C0%7C637287756479566557&amp;sdata=Js6zD4WHVvULhxJo58DQbEwc7%2BU%2BzMVBs4vHSdlC9Vk%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">G.S. 14-12.13<\/a> \u2013 Placing exhibit with intention of intimidating, etc, another (applies whether masked or unmasked) \u2013 Class H felony<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncleg.gov%2FEnactedLegislation%2FStatutes%2FPDF%2FBySection%2FChapter_14%2FGS_14-12.14.pdf&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJulia.Covington%40ncleg.gov%7Cf1ba2b0bc22f4680207c08d819d6883b%7Ccdb33c844db840fbb92401791d2b9e5b%7C0%7C0%7C637287756479566557&amp;sdata=5W2KzuZyzskSdEJBkoE1Hp9UD1UbsgbUGuDn2rUCHoE%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">G.S. 14-12.14<\/a> \u2013 Placing exhibit while wearing mask, hood, or other disguise \u2013 Class H felony<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncleg.gov%2FEnactedLegislation%2FStatutes%2FPDF%2FBySection%2FChapter_14%2FGS_14-12.11.pdf&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJulia.Covington%40ncleg.gov%7Cf1ba2b0bc22f4680207c08d819d6883b%7Ccdb33c844db840fbb92401791d2b9e5b%7C0%7C0%7C637287756479576515&amp;sdata=SiXvZ8wxUE%2B9puIATl7weIgqbQ4nkXm7zzYBCJ0l384%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">G.S. 14-12.11<\/a> provides some exceptions. The exceptions apply to all of the offenses listed above <strong><u>except<\/u><\/strong> for G.S. 14-12.13. Also, Section 4.3 of <a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncleg.gov%2FSessions%2F2019%2FBills%2FSenate%2FPDF%2FS704v6.pdf&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJulia.Covington%40ncleg.gov%7Cf1ba2b0bc22f4680207c08d819d6883b%7Ccdb33c844db840fbb92401791d2b9e5b%7C0%7C0%7C637287756479576515&amp;sdata=I4op%2BuNJM7L4FZV%2BgBq7M82z5nhb6N4ia83s4xQ4BVg%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">S.L. 2020-3<\/a> allows masks worn \u201cfor the purpose of ensuring the physical health or safety of the wearer or others.\u201d&nbsp;This exception expires on August 1, 2020, unless the General Assembly extends it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><u>Bottom line<\/u><\/strong>: At least until August 1, 2020, you can wear a mask for health purposes <strong><u>and<\/u><\/strong> carry a concealed weapon (unless you are also committing acts prohibited by G.S. 14-12.13). If\/when this exception expires, it is illegal to wear a mask for any reason other than the exceptions listed in G.S. 14-12.11.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With many businesses requiring customers to be masked, and now a statewide order from Governor Cooper requiring it, the question naturally arises: Is it illegal to carry a concealed weapon while wearing a mask? There is no law specifically prohibiting a person with a concealed handgun permit from lawfully carrying a handgun concealed while wearing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2894","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\r\n<title>Masks and Firearms: the Law in NC - North Carolina Legislative Library<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.ncleg.gov\/library\/masks-and-firearms-the-law-in-nc\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Masks and Firearms: the Law in NC - North Carolina Legislative Library\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"With many businesses requiring customers to be masked, and now a statewide order from Governor Cooper requiring it, the question naturally arises: Is it illegal to carry a concealed weapon while wearing a mask? 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