North Carolina purchase permits

[S Roper]

I am considering moving to NC for a job opportunity. NC appears to only require a permit for the purchase or transfer of handguns but not the possession of handguns. Am I correct in assuming that there is nothing stopping someone from bringing handguns purchased as a resident of another state into NC?

 

[Talon]

Now son, why would the government have any interest in what private property you bring into a State that is located South of the Mason-Dixon.

I jest. As an immigrant myself into this great land known as Dixie, from the devilishly cold and barren land of Ohio, I advise you to take that job, and don't look back. Ever. You may hate it down here for a bit, until you get adjusted. It's a whole different world. One day you'll wake up, and have a hankerin' for some grits with that breakfast that you now find you have time to eat in the morning. One day, you'll find that the best way to spend a Sunday afternoon is sittin' out on the porch, listenin' to a couple guys on the radio talkin' about some fellers drivin' cars around and around a circular track, and pretty darn fast-like too. Yep, welcome to the South, brother. Welcome to the South.

 

[RoyG]

AFAIK you don't need a purchase permit for the ones you bring in to the state. Once you are here apply for you CCW permit. It does away with the purchase permits and the NICS phone call.

 

[Selfdfenz]

Once you are here apply for you CCW permit. It does away with the purchase permits and the NICS phone call.

Coolness! Walk in, show CCW, buy that six shooter or auto, and walk right out.
Just like Texas.

How are the gunshows up there in N. Carolina? Worth the effort or not?

S-

 

[fletcher]

NC appears to only require a permit for the purchase or transfer of handguns but not the possession of handguns. Am I correct in assuming that there is nothing stopping someone from bringing handguns purchased as a resident of another state into NC?

Yes, bring whatever you want (that's yours, of course ).

To purchase a handgun in NC, you either need to apply for a purchase permit (1 permit : 1 gun), or present your CCW License. Long guns have no such restrictions here.

 

[StudentoftheGun]

SelfDefenz:

Gun shows here are not what they used to be even 6 or 7 years ago. The Greensboro and Raleigh shows are ok at best. Once and a while you will find a gem, like the old Roadblocker 10 gauge I saw a couple months back. Other than that, everything seems to be really high.


S Roper:

You will also find that some counties are more gun friendly than others. The general rule here is that the farther you are away from the city, the better off you are. Another interesting anomally in this state is that the party of the sheriff is not the best indicator of their feelings about the 2nd. At least that is what I keep hearing from the Title 2, er Class 3, guys around here.

-Student

 

[Selfdfenz]

THX Student,

Good to hear from you.

Of course, after about mid June we can go Mark 1 eyeball a few shows together which will be a real treat for me. I'm thinking the chief county law enforcement agent where I am headed will be cool with permits till I close the switch on a CCW don't you think?

S-

 

[benEzra]

I am considering moving to NC for a job opportunity. NC appears to only require a permit for the purchase or transfer of handguns but not the possession of handguns. Am I correct in assuming that there is nothing stopping someone from bringing handguns purchased as a resident of another state into NC?

You are correct.

Here's a summary of NC firearms law: http://www.jus.state.nc.us/NCJA/ncfirearmslaws.pdf

The laws here aren't too bad. There are a couple of silly restrictions on where you can CCW (no carry into a restaurant that might serve a beer to somebody, even if you are a teetotaler and almost nobody drinks there), though.

I believe some sheriffs may want to you be an NC resident for some specific amount of time (6 months, a year?) before they'll approve a purchase permit. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's what I've heard. The residency requirement for an NC CCW permit is only 30 days, I think (somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but it's probably in the above link) and that may get you around the problem.

 

[gc70]

Bring your guns - NC doesn't want to know anything about them.

Handgun purchases in NC require a permit or possession of a NC CCW. The permit requirement sounds worse than it really is. You submit a permit application to the SO and they have up to 30 days to process your application; my youngest son just got his first permit and the turnaround time was less than a week. After your application has been approved, you go to the SO and pick up your permit(s) for $5 each. In my county, you can get up to 5 permits at a time and when you want more, just give the SO 24 hours notice to get an NCIS update. (The biggest urban counties are rumored to be less generous about multiple permits.) The individual permit slips are good for 5 years after you pick them up from the SO.

 

[Flyboy]

The permit requirement sounds worse than it really is.

How can government permission to exercise a natural right sound worse than it really is?

 

[gc70]

How can government permission to exercise a natural right sound worse than it really is?

NC has a pretty benign process. Is Oklahoma any better?

 

[Waitone]

How can government permission to exercise a natural right sound worse than it really is?

We're talking reality, not theory. The reality of the situation is the laws are pretty much benign. Your local sheriff is the key. The urban counties (e.g. Mecklenburg) limits you to 3 permits per request. Other counties make up their own rules subject to state law. Some counties are profoundly liberal. Curiously enough they tend to host universities like UNC Chapel Hill (AKA Berkley on Grits), Duke University (Waaaaaaaaaay out in left field), and Wake Forest.

Make sure you check the comparable costs of living sites. North Carolina is only one of three states to have raised taxes during the 2000-2003 recession. Our Beloved Governor ( ) Mike Easley was rated by the National Taxpayers Union as the second most incompetent governor in the US. He slides right in between Gray Davis formerly of California and Jim McGreevey (formerly of NJ). With that as the competition you might suspect taxes are high and they are. Good ol' Charlotte is the eighth highest taxed city in the US and it will get worse by step increases over the next few years. If you have kids and are thinking public education, tread very, very carefully. Some school districts are very good and others profoundly suck.

The county you choose to live in will largely determine your tax load, gun hassles, quality of schools. Give us an idea of your target city.

That said, NC is generally a pretty good place to live.

 

[Bentley8]

I live in a "blue" county, Guilford, which is one of the larger counties with Greensboro being the large urban center. Home to about 30,000 screaming-liberal college students. Plenty of Quakers, too.

You'd think it'd be hard to get permits here.

However, our Republican Sheriff, BJ Barnes, had the distinction a few years ago of granting more CCW permits than all the rest of the sheriff's, combined.

Don't know if that's the case these days or not, but I know two years ago I got 8 purchase permits at one time with only a 3 day wait. Until he's voted out of office, there's no problem getting a permit here. Which reminds me, I do need to get that CCW.

However, there are pretty much no rifle ranges within 50 miles of here. Only one pistol range in town, but it's real nice. Keep in mind the Greensboro PD is not gun friendly. The Sheriff is, the PD is not, but the PD has nothing to do with permits.

I've heard that Buncombe County, where Asheville is, up in the mountains is gun-friendly, which is surprising considering the rampant hippy population.

Just depends on where you live.

 

[Selfdfenz]

Well, I'm originally from NC and have lived in many parts of the state.
I moved to TX in 1995 from Winston. At that time in Forsyth county the 5 permit rule was in play and CCW was beginning as I recall.

In Forsyth County you had to have 1-2 references (don't remember exaclty)that also lived in Forsyth Co come to the SO with you and fill out reference forms. Then, in a few days you could come back an get your permits.

It was, IMO, a genuine PITA policy and uncalled for. I looked upon it as one of the uniquely backward and punitive elements that grew out of that special "we are NC government and we know better that you unwashed masses" POV. Hard to describe but there none the less and political party had nothing to do with it. In TX, if the shop had instant check, and many did in 95 it was cash and carry, even at shows. Heaven, in other words.

I also noted with some concern that when one state was recognizing another states CHL or CCW, NC stubbornly drug it's feet until lately.

NC is a place with nice folks and many positives but their restrictive, pro-tax oriented patrician minded government isn't one of them.

S-

 

[Zach S]

How are the gunshows up there in N. Carolina? Worth the effort or not?

The past few that I've been to looked like a flea market.

I've heard that Buncombe County, where Asheville is, up in the mountains is gun-friendly, which is surprising considering the rampant hippy population.

Yeah, its pretty good, it could be better of course...

 

[greyhound]

Ditto what Talon said from a Marylander who moved to Alabama.

I love it here.

 

[snal]

"I've heard that Buncombe County, where Asheville is, up in the mountains is gun-friendly, which is surprising considering the rampant hippy population."

LOL!...I just applied for 5 last week...I was told that it would take 5 days...they were ready in 2.
Hippies?...most refer to them as "freaks"...least they do in the redneck population...LOL!
I just ordered 2 revolvers from Davidson's...picked them up in Haywood County (west of Asheville)...they couldn't believe that I had to "wait" for my permits.

As for moving to NC...come on!...best advice is to pick a spot out in the country...and put a tiny amount of effort into "fitting in"...this will be well rewarded! The worst thing to do is tell a native how you did things "where I come from"....as if there's no other way.

 

[Morty76]

Where do you Western, NC folks gun shop?

I go to On Target in Asheville and Rex's outside of Hendersonville. Are there any other good shops in the area?

 

[Flyboy]

To answer your question, it's a matter of degrees. We're better on the purchase--the only requirement being the ability to write a cheque--but we still have permits to carry. I didn't mean to thumb my nose and say we're better than you; rather, I meant to point out a disturbing turn of a phrase. And, until we all live in Vermont or Alaska, I think it's important to keep that thought at the front of our consciousness. Sorry if I came off a bit brusque.

 

[Byron Quick]

NC has a pretty benign process. Is Oklahoma any better?

I don't know about Oklahoma but Georgia is. No permit required. No NICS check with carry permit. Cash and carry.

I lived for a while in Troy, NC. Pretty country, nice people. Didn't much care for some of the laws. Moved back to Georgia.

Don't get me wrong. I work in SC. They have some screwy laws. I live in Georgia and we have some screwy laws. But I'm accustomed to our screwy laws. Got to remember who makes the laws-politicians. The surprise would be if more laws made sense.

 

[gc70]

No offense taken, Flyboy - and none intended in return.

I also hate the sound of the word "permit" in relation to buying a gun.

Once you get past the semantics, being able to get a Brady check pre-certification that you can plop down anytime in the next 5 years to buy and immediately walk away with a gun is functionally pretty nice.

 

[Zach S]

I go to On Target in Asheville and Rex's outside of Hendersonville. Are there any other good shops in the area?

I got most of mine from On Target, I hang out there so much on the weekend its almost like a second home, lol. Never been to Rex's.

Prices Creek General store (AKA Max Blue's) in Burnsville used to have a pretty good selection, but I havent been there in years so I dont know about now.

 

[ulflyer]

S. Roper....as others have said, the number of permits you can get at a time from the SO varies by county. In Davidson Co. they let you get up to 10 (or is it 12?) at a time...$5 each. If you only get one, go back a week later for another, you gotta fill out the same paperwork again! Doesn't make sense; and this too varies by county. Some counties, you go back later and get one without any problem. Some counties let you have only a couple or so at a time. All are good for 5 years.

The way to go is get a CC permit then you can walk in, buy your gun, walk out. You gotta take a CC course...$60 to $90 in my general area. Usually done in one day. Take the certificate of completion to the SO, fill out some paperwork (not really all that detailed), be fingerprinted, give them about $90, and wait. Can take up to 90 days...usually less. Permit is good for 5 or 6 years (can't remember) before having to renew. At renewal, they have to fingerprint you again....I guess to make sure you're still the same person? Weird! And of course give them some more money. If an officer stops you for some reason, you have to tell them you have a CC permit as it will be listed by the drivers lic bureau.

 

[S Roper]

Thanks for the relpies. I am moving to Winston-Salem for those who are curious.

 

[Selfdfenz]

S Roper

I lived in Winston for several years. There was a Hi-Power club that used the NG armory range off MArtin LK for 22 practice and they had a 200 yrd range up at Pilot Mtn. Old codger type of outfit but great guys once you became accepted.

I cannot for the life of me remember the name and I was a member! I can't find a webpage for them so perhaps they shut down. The NG armory thing was shaky even when I was there.

Anywho, that was a while ago. Winston is not the best or worst of the state.
I didn't care for the place at first but eventually I liked the place. I lived over near Salem Lake which used to be a great place for a walk in the fall. Clean enough that the loons hole up there in the winter.

If you hunt there are some decent Gamelands not too far from you to the north east.

Best

S-