§ 14-269.3. Carrying weapons into assemblies and establishments where alcoholic beverages are sold and consumed.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to carry any gun, rifle, or pistol into any assembly where a fee has been charged for admission thereto, or into any establishment in which alcoholic beverages are sold and consumed. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
(b) This section shall not apply to any of the following:
(1) A person exempted from the provisions of G.S. 14-269.
(2) The owner or lessee of the premises or business establishment.
(3) A person participating in the event, if the person is carrying a gun, rifle, or pistol with the permission of the owner, lessee, or person or organization sponsoring the event.
(4) A person registered or hired as a security guard by the owner, lessee, or person or organization sponsoring the event.
(5) A person carrying a handgun if the person has a valid concealed handgun permit issued in accordance with Article 54B of this Chapter, has a concealed handgun permit considered valid under G.S. 14-415.24, or is exempt from obtaining a permit pursuant to G.S. 14-415.25. This subdivision shall not be construed to permit a person to carry a handgun on any premises where the person in legal possession or control of the premises has posted a conspicuous notice prohibiting the carrying of a concealed handgun on the premises in accordance with G.S. 14-415.11(c). (1977, c. 1016, s. 1; 1981, c. 412, s. 4; c. 747, s. 66; 1993, c. 539, s. 165; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2013-369, s. 3.)
event noun
1
something that happens <dinnertime was devoted to talking over the day's events, not to watching television>
Synonyms affair, circumstance, episode, hap, happening, incident, occasion, occurrence, thing
Related Words coincidence, co-occurrence, fluke, freak; landmark, milepost, milestone, page, phenomenon, turning point; adventure, experience, time; happenchance, happenstance; accident, crisis, emergency, juncture; achievement, deed, exploit, feat; news, tidings
2
something that might happen <in the event of rain, graduation ceremonies will be held indoors>
Synonyms case, contingence, contingency, contingent, eventuality, possibility
Related Words probability; accident, chance, hap, hazard, risk
3
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize <figure skating is usually one of the most popular events in the winter Olympics>
Synonyms bout, competition, contest, event, match, matchup, meet, sweepstakes (also sweep-stake), tournament, tourney
Related Words athletics, sport; battle, conflict, scrimmage, skirmish, struggle, tug-of-war, tussle; championship, national(s); final, nightcap, play-off, semifinal; derby, field day, gymkhana, open, outing; biathlon, decathlon, heptathlon, pentathlon, triathlon; marathon, race, ultramarathon; heat, round, run, set; rally, volley; round-robin, rubber, runoff, sudden death; dead heat, photo finish, seesaw; classic
4
a social gathering <the mayor's evenings are often tied up with one event after another>
Synonyms affair, bash, binge, blast, blowout, do, event, fete (or fête), function, get-together, powwow, reception, shindig
Related Words benefit, fund-raiser; ball, dance, formal, prom; celebration, gala, occasion; bacchanal, bacchanalia, orgy, saturnalia; bake, clambake, cocktail party, hen party, house party, housewarming, icebreaker, kaffeeklatsch, kegger (also keg party), klatch (also klatsch), masquerade, meet and greet, mixer, salon, shower, social, soiree (or soirée), stag, supper, symposium, tea, tea party
From what I gather it would be hard to make a case for prosecution since dinner clearly is a event, and I was clearly given permission. This is not the first time this has come up. In fact a couple of years ago GRNC tried to have that particular line stricken from the statute. The attempt came up AFTER a OC dinner at a restaurant in Hillsborough that serves alcohol. IIRC the dinner was cleared by Hillsborough police and the county prosecutor as legal.
All in all I am not too concerned and in this case I would be willing to step up to the challenge, the law is clear, and the definition is clear. If the NCGA wants it to not mean what it says, then they need to change it.