GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

1987 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 554

HOUSE BILL 25

 

AN ACT TO MAKE THE LAW CONCERNING STATE PRIVILEGE LICENSE TAXES ON GUN DEALERS MORE EQUITABLE.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  G.S. 105-80 is rewritten to read:

"§ 105-80.  Firearms dealers and dealers in other weapons.-(a) Firearms.  Every person, firm, or corporation who is engaged in the business of selling or offering for sale firearms, other than antique firearms or firearms that are weapons of mass death and destruction, shall obtain a license from the Secretary of Revenue for the privilege of engaging in business and shall pay a tax of fifty dollars ($50.00) for the license.  As used in this subsection, the terms 'antique firearm' and 'weapons of mass death and destruction' have the same meanings as in G.S. 14-409.11 and G.S. 14-288.8, respectively.  As used in this subsection, the term 'engaged in the business of' shall mean devoting time, attention, and labor to selling or offering for sale firearms as a regular course of trade or business with the principal objective of profit through the repetitive purchase and sale, or the manufacture for sale, of firearms.  Such term shall not include the making of occasional sales, exchanges, or purchases of firearms for the enhancement of a personal collection, or the sale of all or part of a personal collection of firearms.

A license issued under this subsection authorizes the licensee to engage in business at the location for which the license is issued and at a gun show held in the State.  A 'gun show' is an event sponsored either by an organization devoted to the collection, competitive use, or other sporting use of firearms or by an organization that sponsors events devoted to the collection, competitive use, or other sporting use of firearms in the community.

(b)       Other Weapons. Every person, firm, or corporation who is engaged in the business of selling or offering for sale bowie knives, dirks, daggers, leaded canes, iron or metallic knuckles, or similar weapons shall obtain a statewide license from the Secretary of Revenue for the privilege of engaging in business and shall pay a tax of two hundred dollars ($200.00) for the license.

(c)       Local Licenses.  Counties and cities may levy a license tax on a business taxed under this section at an amount that does not exceed the State tax."

Sec. 2.  This act shall become effective October 1, 1987.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 6th day of July, 1987.