N.C. laws aim to protect consumers, register criminals, stiffen penalties Monday, December 1, 2003 12:00AM EST By AMY GARDNER, Staff Writer Tougher criminal penalties and a handful of consumer protections are sprinkled among the new laws that take effect today in North Carolina. On the criminal side, a new law prohibits a person under a domestic violence protective order from purchasing a firearm, in some cases, as long as the order is in effect. A violation would be a felony. Another law creates a specific criminal offense for the practice of rebirthing, the controversial therapy in which a child is...