Online reporting to local law enforcement agency of lost or stolen firearm

(a) Authorization. - Any local law enforcement agency that has an online crime reporting system that allows individuals to file online reports of crimes may allow individuals to file online reports of lost or stolen firearms. (b) Reports Are Not Public. - Online reports of lost or stolen firearms submitted to any local law enforcement agency are records of criminal investigations or records of criminal intelligence information as defined in G.S. 132-1.4 and are not public records as defined by G.S. 132-1. (c) False Reports. - A person who willfully makes or causes to be made a false, deliberately misleading, or unfounded report of a lost or stolen firearm is guilty of a violation under G.S. 14-225 and shall be punished in accordance with that section. (d) Construction. - Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring a local law enforcement agency to acquire and implement an online crime reporting system that allows individuals to file online reports of crimes. (2025-70, s. 23(a).)