Gun law in the United States is defined by a number of state and federal statutes.  Sale or delivery of firearms is restricted in North Carolina like any other U.S. state.  In almost all the states of the US, an importer, manufacturer, dealer or collector shall be licensed under the federal Gun Control Act of 1968 to be a lawful seller.

In North Carolina, upon the retail commercial sale or transfer of any firearm, the seller or transferor shall deliver a written copy of G.S. 14-315.1 to the purchaser or transferee.  Any retail or wholesale store, shop, or sales outlet that sells firearms shall conspicuously post at each purchase counter the following warning in block letters not less than one inch in height the phrase, “IT IS UNLAWFUL TO STORE OR LEAVE A FIREARM THAT CAN BE DISCHARGED IN A MANNER THAT A REASONABLE PERSON SHOULD KNOW IS ACCESSIBLE TO A MINOR.”  A violation of this is considered as a Class 1 misdemeanor[i].

As per the laws of North Carolina, it is unlawful for any employee, officer or official of the State in the exercise of his official duty to sell or otherwise dispose of any pistol, revolver, shotgun or rifle to any person, firm, corporation, county or local governmental unit, law-enforcement agency, or other legal entity.

However, It shall be lawful for the Department of Administration, in the exercise of its official duty, to sell any such weapon.  For the purpose, law-enforcement agency files a written statement, duly notarized, with the seller of said weapon certifying that such weapon is needed in law enforcement by such law-enforcement agency.

Apart from this, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the North Carolina Department of Correction, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation may sell, trade, or otherwise dispose of any or all surplus weapons they possess to any federally licensed firearm dealers.  The sale, trade, or disposal of these weapons shall be in a manner prescribed by the Department of Administration.  Any moneys or property obtained from the sale, trade, or disposal shall go to the general fund[ii].

When a law enforcement agency finds or receives a firearm and the firearm remains unclaimed for a period of 180 days, the agency shall publish at least one notice in a newspaper published in the county in which the agency is located.  The notice shall include all of the following:

• A statement that the firearm is unclaimed and is in the custody of the law enforcement agency.
• A statement that the firearm may be sold or otherwise disposed of unless the firearm is claimed within 30 days of the date of the publication of the notice.
• A brief description of the firearm and any other information that the chief or head of the law enforcement agency may consider necessary or advisable to reasonably inform the public about the firearm.

If the firearm remains unclaimed for a period of 30 days after the publication of the notice, then the person who found the firearm and turned it over to the law enforcement agency may claim the firearm.  Provided the person satisfies the custodial law enforcement agency holding the firearm that the person is qualified under State and federal law to possess the firearm and also presents a pistol permit issued in accordance with Article 52A of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes.

If the law enforcement agency sells the firearm, then the proceeds of the sale shall be retained by the law enforcement agency and used for law enforcement purposes.  The receiving law enforcement agency shall maintain a record and inventory of all firearms received pursuant to this section[iii].

[i] N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-315.2

[ii] N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-63.1

[iii] N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15-11.2