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Bill Summary · HB 439

HB 439 — Allow Concealed Carry of Knife (North Carolina, 2025)

Main purpose
- To amend North Carolina’s concealed-weapons statute (G.S. 14-269) to permit the concealed carry of certain bladed weapons (beyond ordinary pocket knives) by qualifying individuals, subject to specified eligibility criteria and location-based restrictions.

Key provisions

  • Amends G.S. 14-269 to create an exception to the concealed-weapons prohibition when the concealed weapon is a “knife” and the carrier meets listed conditions.
  • “Knife” for this purpose is defined to include:
    • Bowie knife, dirk, dagger, switchblade (as defined in G.S. 14-269.2), and other bladed weapons “of like kind.”
    • The bill preserves that “ordinary pocket knife” (a small folding knife carried closed) remains excluded from the statute’s prohibition already.
  • Eligibility/conditions for lawful concealed carry of a knife (as included in the committee substitute):
    • At least 18 years old.
    • Carry and display valid identification upon law-enforcement demand.
    • No felony convictions under state, federal, or other-state law.
    • Not a fugitive from justice.
    • Not an unlawful user of or addicted to controlled substances.
    • Not adjudicated mentally defective or committed to a mental institution at age 16 or older.
    • Lawful immigration status (not illegally present).
    • Not dishonorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces.
    • Has not renounced U.S. citizenship (if previously a citizen).
    • Not subject to certain domestic-relations restraining orders, and not convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence.
    • Not carrying in locations where concealed handguns are prohibited under G.S. 14-415.11(c).
  • Effective date provision: the act becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.

Who would be affected

  • Adults (18+) in North Carolina who meet the eligibility criteria could legally carry certain concealed knives where previously prohibited.
  • Law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and entities operating locations where concealed firearms are restricted (since the same location-based prohibitions apply).
  • Persons barred by the enumerated disqualifications (felony history, domestic-violence convictions, immigration status, mental-health adjudications, etc.) remain prohibited.

Procedural status & timeline

  • Filed (initially) November 12, 2024; assigned in the 2025 legislative session.
  • Passed the House (amended/substitute versions) in late April 2025 and was transmitted to the Senate (regular message sent to Senate).
  • If enacted, becomes effective December 1, 2025.

Potential considerations / impacts

  • Expands legal carrying rights for many adults while retaining significant disqualifications (mirroring some firearms restrictions).
  • Enforcement will require officers to assess whether a person meets the statutory disqualifications and whether the location is covered by handgun-prohibition rules.
  • The bill does not create a permit or training requirement for concealed knife carry; policy and public-safety implications (training, incidents involving edged weapons, interaction with existing venue restrictions) may be debated during Senate consideration.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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