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North Carolina’s weak gun laws put its residents at risk. Lawmakers must do better to reduce gun violence in their state and save lives. 

In 2023, North Carolina repealed background checks and permits for handgun purchases. Before that occurred, in 2022, North Carolina had the twentieth highest gun death rate among the states. In 2023, North Carolina had the twenty-first highest gun death rate among the states. In an average year, 1,714 people die from gun violence in the state. That means someone dies from gun violence every five hours. Fifty-three percent of those deaths are gun suicides, and 43% are gun homicides. In North Carolina, the rate of gun deaths increased 39% from 2014 to 2023, compared to a 33% increase nationwide.

What North Carolina Does Well

  • Certain domestic violence gun laws
  • Child access prevention laws
  • Some concealed carry permitting and safety training standards

What North Carolina Is Missing

  • Universal background checks
  • Extreme risk protection orders
  • Minimum age restrictions
  • Some domestic violence protections
  • Firearm relinquishment laws
  • Large capacity magazine ban
  • Assault weapon restrictions
  • Open carry regulations
  • Community violence intervention funding
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SPOTLIGHT

GUN LAW SCORECARD

The data is clear: States with stronger gun laws have less gun violence. See how your state compares in our annual ranking.

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