NC H842

Requires owners of assault weapons to register with their county sheriff within 5 days of obtaining the weapon and annually thereafter; persons owning assault weapons before the effective date have 90 days to register.

Defines "assault weapons" to include selective-fire firearms, specific semiautomatic rifle and pistol models by name, and semiautomatic firearms meeting certain criteria such as folding stocks, detachable magazines, or flash suppressors.

Registration requires submission of owner information, firearm manufacturer/model details, and source of acquisition; sheriff must fingerprint, photograph registrant, and conduct background checks; registration fee is $5.00.

All registration information is confidential and restricted to law enforcement agencies and courts; violation of registration requirements is a Class 3 misdemeanor.

Requires firearm owners to report loss or theft to local law enforcement or the State Bureau of Investigation within 48 hours of discovery; first violation is a Class 3 misdemeanor, subsequent violations are a Class I felony.