Introduction
Over 2.3 million North Carolina residents experience intimate partner violence in their lifetimes. Fortunately, many victims survive these traumatic events; however, North Carolina reported 1,100 domestic violence related homicides from 2011 to 2020. Although North Carolina doesn’t report the mechanism of death, evidence suggests firearms are a significant contributing factor. An abuser’s access to firearms can determine a victim’s chances of survival; domestic violence firearm prohibitions and removal laws save lives.
North Carolina does not prohibit purchase or possession of firearms or ammunition by persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence. A judge issuing a final domestic violence protective order may prohibit the respondent from purchasing a firearm and if the court orders the subject of an emergency, ex parte, or final domestic violence protective order to surrender firearms, the respondent shall be prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms. Under certain circumstances, North Carolina requires removal of firearms from persons subject to emergency, ex parte, or final domestic violence protective orders.
