NC: Pistol Puchase Permit Law

[netbrad]

What would it take to repeal the Pistol Purchase Permit? From what I understand this was a Jim Crow era law, and NICS makes it obsolete.

I've also read where a local group has been trying to get the law repealed for a number of years to no avail. I'm willing to write and/or meet my state legislators, but if this is an effort already in progress I would like to get involved somehow.

 

[stevemis]

Netbrad, I agree the purchase permits are redundant.. but I'm more concerned about the open records laws as they pertain to concealed licenses and purchase permits.

The Wake Sheriff's office happily supplied me with a list of all CHP licensees in the county since the inception of the program. Interestingly, the list contained names *and* addresses. Think of it as a free, government-compiled shopping list for someone looking to steal a pistol. Scary.

Steve

 

[paintballdude902]

i have no problem with the permits

it took 10 mins to fill out the paper worka t a gun show here then i payed 5 bucks or what ever and walked over to buy my revolver

 

[netbrad]

Paintballdude:

I don't believe anyone should have to "ask permission" to buy a handgun, the NICS decides whether the purchaser is allowed to own one.

To get my permit, I had to take time off of work to drive downtown to the sheriff's office and fill it out. Now I wait a week or so (maybe longer) and have to repeat the process to pick it up.

The sheriff can reject my application for any reason, despite the fact that I am a law abiding citizen and a NICS check on me would come back clean. I also have a C&R FFL, so the Federal Government considers me worthy enough to purchase and own firearms.

I was not aware you could complete this form at a gun show, even so you have to wait for a show to occur in your area, and again the sheriff can deny it for any reason. The main issue is the law is no longer necessary, so how do we get rid of it?

Stevemis:

Do you think changing the open records law pertaining to firearms would be easier?

 

[gc70]

The main issue is the law is no longer necessary

From what I understand this was a Jim Crow era law

The law was never necessary.

 

[realtor]

Hope you can get your "permit" system repealed. We had a similar law in Missouri since the early 1920s and yes, it was exactly that...a Jim Crow law. In our state you had to apply to purchase each and every concealable weapon (barrel length less than 16 inches) and wait up to seven days for the "permission slip" to be granted by the local County Sheriff. Some counties would do it instantaneously and others make you wait. Some added on requirements that didn't exist in the law. It also became a de facto "registration" system as copies of all Permits To Acquire (PTAs) went back to the Sheriff with firearm description and serial number. It was also misuesd as an "ownership system" whereby if you couldn't "prove" you acquired the handgun "legally", it was often "acquired" by the police.

On August 28, 2007, that system was repealed in Missouri and exists no longer. Good riddance. No one should have to put up with that.

 

[stevemis]

NetBrad: Obviously, I'd much rather see the open records law change to exclude certain gun-related documents (purchase and carry permits, for example) rather than do away with things like carry permits..

The state records law, as it was explained to me, makes *everything* publicly available, with exceptions. In other words, if what you are looking for isn't on the "it's not public" part of the list, then it's public. An example of something specifically exempted from the records law.... autopsy photos.

I believe Virginia and several other states have changed their legislation to exclude CHP records from the public record. Unfortunately, nothing had been done until some newspapers put the database online and/or published it in the paper, exposing the names and addresses of retired and undercover police, women trying to hide from abusive partners, etc.

Steve

 

[wheelgunslinger]

Yeah. It's a pretty antiquated system.
Probably if you were to do a real study on how much it would save the taxpayers in wages and time to employees, you could persuade a politician to do something. But, surely by now you know that NC has one of the MOST convoluted legal systems in the Nation. And, no one is in a hurry to make it less so.

 

[mbs357]

Also in NC. Would like to help if possible...

 

[bohicaconcepts]

30 year LEO can't get a purchase permit

I know a retired 30 year LEO (Forsyth County) deputy sheriff that is convinced the currrent sheriff of Forsyth county will NOT issue him any pistol purchase permits. Even though the retired deputy still works in law enforcement as a campus police officer at a private college. Since the retired deputy still lives in Forsyth county he cannot purchase any handguns legally until the current Forsyth county sheriff retires.
Now tell me again how this system doesn't really cause any problems and doesn't deny anyone their rights.

 

[mekender]

i dont like the system either, but there is one good point to it... once you get said permit, you no longer need to go through a NCIC check at a dealer...

this helped me lately as court information from 5 years ago popped up incorrectly when the sheriff ran me for the permit... she was able to call the other state and get the correct info and approved my permits... a FFL couldn't do that and it would potentially cause me some headaches...

even in this case, im not a fan of the system

 

[mbs357]

Come to think of it, my dad told me not long ago that he couldn't get a purchase permit when he turned 21 just because the local LEOs didn't like him. He had (and still does) a clean record... =\

 

[Citroen]

Grassroots North Carolina

If you want to change any of the firearms laws in NC, sign up with Grassroots NC and support their lobby efforts. They need the dollars and the volunteer effort.

Also, you could consider getting a permit to carry; that allows you to purchase without a purchase permit.

You can enter North Carolina Legislature in your search engine and be directed to a site with the e-mail addresses of each member of the House and of the Senate. A courteous, well reasoned note might help.

Generally only those elected officials who actually represent your area will respond.

I believe that you have to be 21 to purchase a handgun, regardless of who you are and who likes or dislikes you.

John
Charlotte, NC

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I just recently acquired a pistol from out-of-state which requires FFL transfer even tho it came from a private citizen - well that was 25$$ for the FFL to handle. also had to have a courthouse 'record search' done - 15$$ for about 5 minutes (I'm a county resident - at that rate of pay I'm dern sure in the wrong business!) and of course clear the Sheriff's dept for the permit (5$$ each - I got 3, they are good for 5 years) and a mandatory 5-day waiting period. and of course fill out the form at the FFL which is sort of redundant since I had the 'search' done anyhow!. seems like a $$ racket to me.
Tom in Transylvania county.

 

[Zach S]

Get your CHP, no more purchase permits.

 

[mekender]

no, only resident permits work... and marlin... why was a records search needed?

 

[drizzico]

+1 on get your NC CCW permit. Since NC is a must issue state the friend of bohicaconcepts would not have to worry about purchase permits the minute the current sheriff signs the permit.

Dave