Summary:
- Firearms are the leading cause of injury-related death for children and youth in North Carolina, and half of North Carolina gun owners say they aren’t securely storing their weapons
- Recent changes to NC law made it possible to purchase and own a handgun without a permit, though concealed carry still requires a permit.
- NC S.A.F.E. for Schools is providing every North Carolina school district with information for families to make better, safer choices related to firearm use and storage, and while organizations like Wake County public schools are distributing free gun safety locks, some NC gun owners are still holding out.
On Thursday, April 24th, Attorney General Jeff Jackson, Wake County Superintendent Robert Taylor, Garner Police Department officials, the Wake County Board of Education, and the state’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) gathered in Garner to kick off the NC S.A.F.E. for Schools program.
“S.A.F.E.” stands for “Secure All Firearms Effectively.”
Although the program was previously announced, it now provides North Carolina’s 115 school districts with information to share with families. NC S.A.F.E. educates parents on gun locks and safe gun storage, and the website also provides information in Spanish.
NC S.A.F.E.’s website contains valuable resources like “Safe Storage 101,” which demonstrates five ways to lock your firearm, a video tutorial with a firearm safety demonstration, and safe storage locations in North Carolina for gun owners who wish to store their firearms outside of the home.
In the “For Schools” section, there are key resources such as PDF flyers with information on how parents can promote gun safety. Other resources include a school resource officer flyer containing ways to talk about firearm safety, as well as talking points and statistics to discuss these firearm safety conversations; a useful handbook that school officials can distribute; and a ready-to-go PowerPoint presentation about firearm safety for gun owners and their families.
In addition, event participants noted that all Wake County public schools now have free gun locks available to parents, and the program hopes to expand access to free gun locks to other school districts.
The State of NC Gun Laws
In North Carolina, a permit is not necessary to purchase or own handguns, rifles and shotguns. While a permit was required to purchase a handgun, that law was repealed during the last session of the NC General Assembly.
Concealed handgun permits are issued by local county sheriffs, while open carry is legal without a permit. Concealed carry is legal for residents with a North Carolina Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP). It is legal for nonresidents to concealed carry if they have the proper permit.
North Carolina State law suspends students for 365 days if they bring a gun to school; parents who allowed the gun to be brought to school can also be charged, Garner Deputy Police Chief Chris Adams stated.
Startling Statistics
Despite the laws, there are still a startling number of instances of guns on school campuses. The DPS reports 87 guns were found on North Carolina school campuses last year, and 75 percent of those firearms were brought from home. In 2024, North Carolina had twelve instances of gunfire on school grounds with one death, and nine injuries.
In a 2021 survey, 30% of North Carolina high school students said it would take them less than an hour to get and be ready to fire a gun without permission from an adult. 42% of North Carolina adults have a gun “in or around the house”. North Carolina’s juvenile crimes involving guns have increased 300% in the last five years, and firearms are now the leading cause of injury-related death for children in North Carolina.
Some Gun Owners are Holding Out
A quarter of those who attended the safe gun storage event hosted by DPS said that they were willing to improve their gun safety regiment. That number grew to 75% when free gun locks were distributed. Some gun owners have held out on improving gun safety measures, worrying that they will not have quick access to their firearms in the case of an emergency. However, DPS Deputy Secretary of Juvenile Justice William Lassiter explained, “That’s not an excuse anymore … People can now buy gun safes with biometric locks that can be opened instantaneously with, for example, a thumbprint.”
In other words, we have the technology to secure guns safely and in a manner that they can be quickly accessed by adults in the case of an emergency, but adoption has been slowed by misconceptions.
NC S.A.F.E.’s Goals
The program’s stated goals are as follows:
- Reduce the percentage of households not securely storing guns by 40% in three years
- Reduce the number of guns found at schools
- Reduce the number of juveniles using guns in crimes
- Reduce the percentage of students who say they can easily access a gun
Given the breadth of resources and distribution of materials, the stated goals are feasible.
Is the Program Enough?
Given that the North Carolina legislature is composed of a Republican majority, the possibility of a gun buyback program, an assault rifle ban, increasing the legal purchasing age of guns, closing gun show loopholes, and other comprehensive reforms is low. Programs run through the executive branch, DPS, Council of State, and local governments are key until attitudes at the General Assembly – or the policy makers themselves – change.
While the NC S.A.F.E. program is not enough on its own, education, awareness, and safety measures are critical, will move the conversation forward, and make it more difficult for children to access guns. It is a long overdue improvement.
