Pistol Purchase in NC

[giggitygiggity]

I am in the military and recently got stationed in NC. It looks like you need to have a concealed carry permit in order to purchase pistols in NC. I do not have an NC permit. However, I have a PA permit. NC recognizes the PA permit with respect to reciprocity. However, is the PA permit recognized with respect to the NC handgun purchasing requirement? Thanks!

 

[George Dickel]

I think someone has given you some erroneous information, I've never heard that a concealed carry permit was required to purchase a handgun in NC.

 

[maxxhavoc]

Pretty sure that it has to be a NC Permit, specifically. Check with your gun shop to be sure. Otherwise, you can still get a Pistol Purchase Permit:
http://www.wakegov.com/sheriff/divisions/Pages/pistolpermits.aspx

 

[Bottom Gun]

When I lived there in the ‘70s, you needed a permit from the sheriff to buy a pistol. It wasn’t a carry permit but rather a permit to buy that you gave to the FFL when you bought the pistol. The FFL kept your permit. If you wanted another pistol, you needed to get another permit to buy it. The permits to buy were pretty easy to get.
Things may be different now but that’s the way they were in the “good old days”.

 

[giggitygiggity]

From what I have read, you can either buy a purchase permit every time you buy a pistol or use a carry permit which allows you to buy as many pistols as you want. If I can avoid having to spend money on a carry permit and wait for an application approval and simply use my PA permit, that would be great. My gut tells me that it'll still need to be a NC permit, but I know there are some lawyers and firearm law savvy folks on here that can clarify.

 

[GAF]

This site may help you understand better and then there is North Carolina`s version of .gov to check out too.

https://www.gunstocarry.com/gun-laws-state/north-carolina-gun-laws/

 

[NC9mm]

Just moved to NC last summer. You must apply to your local county sheriff office for purchase permits. Ours were $5.00 each, good for 5 years and maximum of 5 permits per application. One permit per handgun and I think 3 long guns per permit.
If you have a CCW permit issued in NC no purchase permits are needed and no limits on purchases.
At least this is how it is in Beaufort county, NC

 

[crestoncowboy]

Ive always lived in NC, and Bought many handguns before I got my ccw.
Either a ccw or a permit is required. You get a permit from the sheriff's office usually (not so in every county though, in my county it's in an office behind the jail. ) but not from the sheriff himself. It Must be from your county of residence. They are five dollars in every county ive been in, but that may or may not be a set price idk. You walk in, buy the max (I thought it was 4 but could be 5 as the above poster mentioned.) I think it's One permit per form, so multiple handguns per permit. But it's been a while, I know I bought 6 once at an auction in wilkesboro so I wouldn't have had that many permits. They aren't necessary for a long-gun. I have used all my permits on one coastal trip, then got more the next week, so there is no wait time to get more. Also, the permit isn't tied to a particular gun. No reason or serial or make/ caliber or anything is given. It's basically a paper that says "not exempted and paid 5 dollars". Its dumb but I just carried a couple in my pocket.

I even used one in Beaufort , my sister lived in Havelock in bordering Craven county (where you also had to buy a sticker for each bag of trash....) for a few years. Decent fishing (Atlantic beach) fort Macon, and seeing the bell recovered from the "queen Anne's revenge" were about it. I tend to avoid anything under 1000 ft elevation in the state unless going to the coast for a week or two, but it's ok in moderation.

 

[Milt1]

I was raised in N.C. and moved back to The Old North State when I got out of service. In my county you go to the sheriff's office and apply for a permit to purchase a handgun (usually $5.00 as previously mentioned). You'll need a permit for each handgun you purchase and as far as I know there isn't a limit. The more expensive (and better) option is to get your carry concealed permit (CCP) and when you have that a permit to purchase isn't required as you can purchase off the CCP as others have pointed out.

 

[drobs]

Jim Crow law.

 

[crestoncowboy]

Looking online I see that different counties do in fact have a different maximum. I see from 3 max (Brunswick) to 5 max in the first 5 google hits.

 

[NC9mm]

Crazy Laws, why can I have 5 permits because I live in Beaufort county, but less in another in the same state?
Makes no sense, as government usually does.

 

[Styx]

It's crazy to me to hear about some of the laws/restrictions in other states... They seem very unconscionable to me. Guess we are spoiled here in VA.

So let me get this right, if you do not have a carry permit, you have to pay $5 per handgun with a maximum limit on how many you are allowed to own? How much are the CC permits?

What about people moving to the state? So NC natives without a carry permit is only allowed to own 3-5 handguns, but I could move there from VA with hundreds of handguns if I owned that many?

 

[NC9mm]

There is no limit on the number of total purchase permits but only 5 per application @ 5 buck each. You can apply as many times as you want there is no restriction on total permits

Then if you have a CC permit you can purchase anytime without restriction.

First time CC permits I believe is 70 bucks plus another charge for fingerprinting if first time applicant.
Yea, drives me nuts as well, just how does someone come up with the system.

 

[crestoncowboy]

No. We can go get the maximum permits. It's 4 here. Buy 4 handguns that are completely free from that permit. The permit has no ties to the handgun. It's a blank permission slip. When you get the permit you don't tell them the make/ model/ type and the permit is good for years.
I can then walk back in and get 4 more the next day. No limit. And no limit to our hanguns/mags/nor do we have to register. It's just an excuse to collect 5 dollars. And in most counties create a state job to employ a family member to give the permits......
We can also open carry without a permit. And it's not all that rare.
I can stand in TN/NC/VA all at once from a marker 10 minutes from my house. I spend my time evenly between the three. Most of my shopping is in Bristol. VA would be my last choice, looking at the politics going on I wouldnt feel spoiled by the state at all. I once got asked to pull out a truck stuck in a foot and a half of snow and ice by a Va state trooper. I did so to help move traffic along. He thanked me by writing me a ticket for having snow chains on their road. Of course he let me help him out first. chains or cables are illegal. I guess wrecking is better.

Then on the other end of the spectrum a vehicle doesn't need insurance or a hood nor any of that other fancy stuff in Tennessee. Tires bald? Take them off run the wheel they don't care. Lol. Oddly though open carry is not legal in tennessee without a permit although I've seen it plenty.

Anyway, no there is no limit. They don't track what you bought, they don't even ask and the paper isnt numbered or anything. It simply says "this guy isnt a know criminal so go ahead and run nics" and has the sheriff's stamped signature.

 

[NC9mm]

Thanks for setting it straight.

 

[crestoncowboy]

Didnt really help the op though. I thought maybe someone else in the service would chime in. Between /cherry point/ Bragg/seymour-johnson/lejune, surely someone knows about it. I know guys but they all lived here to begin with so not much help.

 

[George P]

Crazy Laws, why can I have 5 permits because I live in Beaufort county, but less in another in the same state?
Makes no sense, as government usually does.

More like why do you need a permit to purchase in the first place? And folks call NC gun-friendly......

 

[Texas10mm]

There is no limit on the number of total purchase permits but only 5 per application @ 5 buck each. You can apply as many times as you want there is no restriction on total permits

Then if you have a CC permit you can purchase anytime without restriction.

First time CC permits I believe is 70 bucks plus another charge for fingerprinting if first time applicant.
Yea, drives me nuts as well, just how does someone come up with the system.

The "system" was set up to deny newly freed slaves and poor white sharecroppers firearms.

 

[crestoncowboy]

And although it has been brought up many times to change, why would they? I know in my country they created not one but two jobs with state benefits to give to relatives. Their only job is ccw and purchase permits. I see them every 5 years to renew my ccw. I know of exactly 1 person in the 25 or more people I see weekly who doesn't have a carry permit though so it's not been mentioned to me in 20 years.

They do no background check or anything. Walk in give 20 bucks and walk out with 4 purchase permits. Literally 30 seconds of time wasted. Other than the loss of 5 bucks I never minded though. With 5 digit property taxes and yearly vehicle taxes and inspections on my 8 or so tagged vehicles, that 5 dollars and 30 seconds lost wasn't an issue. Actually, Having to go through a metal detector and nearly a strip search to get to the tag office or tax office because some A**hole decided to put it all in the courthouse really pisses me off far worse. I'll call it a 5 dollar donation to the fine folks patrolling my county. Actually they are more like the maytag man waiting on someone to call than patrolling 450 sq mile county but they do a great job. If not for drugs and alcohol in the "city" they would be pretty bored until christmas tree season.

 

[giggitygiggity]

So back to my original question... does an out of state concealed carry permit suffice for the purchasing of pistols in NC provided I’m now residing in NC and NC recognizes my home of record state’s concealed carry permit.

I really wish there was a way that we could simply undergo one screening (take my fingerprints, bloods, retinal scan, heck even a urine and stool sample) and get put on a “good guy” or “bad guy” list. You go to buy a gun, they run your drivers license and shows you being on the good guy list and you can take the gun/suppressor/etc and go about your business. And for those conspiracy theorists out there, if you think that information will help the government spy on you, you severely overestimate the interest the government has in Joe Schmo.

 

[Styx]

More like why do you need a permit to purchase in the first place? And folks call NC gun-friendly......

Yea... There have been times when I've transferred several firearms at one time (stripped lowers that were on sale and more). Having to go on multiple occasions to puchase 3-5 permits per visit would be a pain in the butt. Then adding $5 per firearm to the cost of the transfer fees also adds up. Has anyone ever pressed the issue by challenging this in court? How can they claim that basically taxing a right somehow help with public safety?

As to the OP's question, does NC publish there laws online? I know my state does. When and if I have a question like the one in the OP, I usually look up the relative statue.

As for the climate in VA, although we have a Democrat Governor and Attorney General, they are and have been pretty much been lame ducks being that Republicans have the majority everywhere else. Our firearm laws are pretty lax for the most part. It was just surprising to hear about some of the more restrictive gun laws in other states. My intent wasn't to put down NC or start a VA vs competition...

 

[Styx]

So back to my original question... does an out of state concealed carry permit suffice for the purchasing of pistols in NC provided I’m now residing in NC and NC recognizes my home of record state’s concealed carry permit.

I really wish there was a way that we could simply undergo one screening (take my fingerprints, bloods, retinal scan, heck even a urine and stool sample) and get put on a “good guy” or “bad guy” list. You go to buy a gun, they run your drivers license and shows you being on the good guy list and you can take the gun/suppressor/etc and go about your business. And for those conspiracy theorists out there, if you think that information will help the government spy on you, you severely overestimate the interest the government has in Joe Schmo.

Have you tried calling the office that issues the permits or a LGS gun shop to see what they say? Gun shops should still be open right now, and you might have until 5pm for the permitting office... You'll get an instant and more reliable answer to your question.

 

[crestoncowboy]

You will have to have an NC permit unless there is a provision for military.
A ccw from Tennessee or Virginia is honored to carry concealed. Its not honored to purchase. I know that much, living on the tri-state border ive seen that conversation a hundred times. But as far as military I don't know. I'd call a retailer. Then I'd call another. Sometimes they are dumb to the law too. Ive purchased longguns in TN and VA in the same day, Then was (incorrectly) told I couldn't purchase a long gun in TN (being an NC resident) by Mahoneys, one of the bigger gun stores in the area.

 

[giggitygiggity]

Thanks crestoncowboy! I figured that would probably be the case. I didn’t ask gun shops because often times, you’ll get an incorrect answer and/or easy answer.