North Carolina

In Your State

North Carolina

North Carolina has had 96 mass shootings since 2020 and guns are the number one leading cause of death of children. Lawmakers must do more to keep kids safe from gun violence. Learn more about what you can do to help in your state and community.

Take Action Now

Join us right now and urge your representatives to make North Carolina safer by passing Federal School Violence Prevention Laws.

North Carolina had the

20th

highest firearm death rate in the U.S. in 2021.

Gun fire was the

1st

leading cause of death for North Carolina children in 2021.

North Carolina had the

20th

highest firearm death rate in the U.S. in 2021.

Gun fire was the

1st

leading cause of death for North Carolina children in 2021.

Take Action Now

Join us right now and urge your representatives to make North Carolina safer by passing Federal School Violence Prevention Laws.

Increase School Violence Prevention

After the tragic school shooting in Parkland, Florida, bipartisan legislators from both sides of the aisle came together to prevent school shootings by passing the STOP School Violence Act. It supports and funds lifesaving violence prevention programs. Because of this law, students around the country have access to no-cost suicide prevention and violence prevention training. If STOP has helped your community, please share your story here.

Every year, Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund asks Congress to continue funding this program. Without the STOP School Violence Act, more children are at risk. You can help make sure your elected officials support school safety.

Take Action

119

children died by gun fire in 2021.

916

North Carolinians died by suicide with a firearm in 2021.

mass shootings in 2023.

Mass Shooting in North Carolina

Among the recent mass shootings in North Carolina, Sampson County was rocked by a mass killing in October 2023. Altogether, five people were found fatally shot in a home in southeastern North Carolina. Authorities said they received a 911 call from someone who spoke to a victim earlier that night and later found the bodies upon entering the home.

Potential mass shootings and other forms of violence have been prevented in North Carolina because upstanders knew the signs and how to get help. Tragedy was averted in Elkin City, when Sandy Hook Promise’s National Crisis Center for their Say Something Anonymous Reporting System (SS-ARS) received multiple calls and texts about a student’s violent plan for a mass school shooting attack. In Cumberland County, a loaded gun was seized from a school locker due to tips through the same system.

Gun Laws in North Carolina

Enhanced background checks

Restricts certain semi-automatic rifles

Secure storage

Temporary transfer

Our Impact in North Carolina

Throughout North Carolina, Sandy Hook Promise has engaged youth & adults in our mission and prevention programs.

82291

Supporters in the state

499

Volunteer Promise Leaders who help raise awareness & engage communities

819k

Trained students and adults in 8,173 schools to Know the Signs and prevent violence

12k

Students involved in 826 SAVE Promise Clubs throughout the state

Prevent gun violence in North Carolina

You can help make North Carolina a safe place for kids and for your whole community. We urge the legislature to pass proven policy solutions, including emergency temporary transfer and closing the stranger-to-stranger loophole to prevent gun violence and tragedy. These policies keep the public safe from harm while protecting individual rights.

State Issue

Pass Temporary Transfer Laws

Everyone experiences temporary moments of crisis. When that crisis is combined with a firearm, the outcomes can be deadly. Temporary transfer supports gun owners in crisis while protecting their rights and gets them help before things turn tragic.

Take Action

State Issue

Close Dangerous Loopholes

A deadly loophole allows guns to be sold between a seller and a buyer who don’t know each other – and no background check is required. North Carolina can close this “stranger-to-stranger” loophole and expand background checks to prevent dangerous people from buying guns.

Take Action

State Issue

Stop Traumatizing Drills

Active shooter drills have become a popular solution to prepare and protect students. But a dangerous variation of these drills hurts students rather than helping them. Active shooter simulations mimic a real-life shooting. Students should never have to participate.

Take Action

“We are proud to work with the bipartisan champions to ensure we're doing everything we can to protect our kids and that millions more students will be trained to know the signs of violence and act to save lives. Our work does not end here, we will continue to bring our prevention programs to schools and communities across the country and advocate for life-saving policies.”

Mark BardenSandy Hook Promise Co-Founder and Co-CEO