House Bill 167 would create a new criminal offense for leaving a firearm in an unattended motor vehicle unless the vehicle is locked and the firearm is secured in one of two ways: either with a trigger lock or similar safety device, or inside a locked container. The bill defines “firearm” by reference to existing state law and places the new provision in Article 35 of Chapter 14 of the North Carolina General Statutes.
The measure is aimed at reducing the risk of theft, unauthorized access, and accidental use of firearms left in vehicles. It would make a violation a Class 2 misdemeanor and would take effect on December 1, 2025, applying only to offenses committed on or after that date.
HB167 would add a new section, G.S. 14-269.9, to North Carolina’s criminal code and expand the state’s firearm-storage requirements for unattended vehicles. It would affect gun owners, vehicle owners, and law enforcement by creating a specific legal duty to lock both the vehicle and the firearm, or otherwise store the firearm in a locked container or with a trigger lock. Violations would be punishable as a Class 2 misdemeanor, giving prosecutors a new enforcement tool and potentially increasing compliance obligations for firearm storage in vehicles.
Based on the bill text and available legislative history, the overall tone appears preventive and safety-oriented, with the sponsors framing the bill as a safe-storage measure rather than a broad gun restriction. There are no committee transcripts or recorded votes in the provided materials, so there is no documented debate or formal opposition to gauge broader sentiment. The bill’s introduction and referral suggest it was still in the early stages of the legislative process.
The main point of potential contention is the scope of the storage mandate and the criminal penalty it creates. Supporters are likely to view the bill as a commonsense public-safety measure to reduce stolen firearms and unauthorized access, while opponents could argue that it imposes new burdens on lawful gun owners and turns a storage lapse into a criminal offense. Because no committee discussion or votes are provided, specific objections or amendments are not available in the record supplied here.