Need info on NC pistol purchase permit

[CrazyIrishman]

This December when my son graduates from Army BCT & AIT at Ft.Benning I plan on giving him one of my pistols as a present . This will be done after he gets home for some leave.

Considering that he lives in North Carolina and I live in Maryland could anyone tell me what is involved getting a purchase permit in NC and about the length of time it takes? An estimate is fine.

I tried to find this info in the ATF publication of State Firearms laws but was unsucessful. The information regarding Maryland is easier to find and understand plus I called the state police for verification on current regs. According to Md. law I can gift a regulated firearm w/o paperwork.

From what I found on the internet about NC laws the purchase permit is required and no distinction is made between a family gift/transfer or a private sale. Any information is appreciated.



THX
CI

 

[lurkersince03]

www.packing.org

 

[Bruce333]

All handgun transfers in North Carolina, whether through a dealer or via private sale, or presented as a gift, require that the intended recipient of the handgun obtain a Pistol Purchase Permit from his/her local Sheriff. You must go to your Sheriff, apply for a Pistol Purchase Permit (one per handgun you wish to purchase), and pay a $5 fee. When you take possession of the handgun you must present the Permit to the seller, who is required to retain it forever. If a Pistol Purchase Permit is not presented, both the buyer and the seller can be convicted of a Class I Misdemeanor.

As of 8/10/04 a new law was enacted, which permits someone with a valid North Carolina Concealed Handgun Permit to purchase a pistol without the need to obtain a Pistol Purchase Permit.

NC law makes no distinction between purchases or gifts, and makes no distinction between strangers or relatives when it comes to transfer of a handgun. You must go through the legal process in order to obtain a handgun in North Carolina. There are no exceptions, except for Concealed Handgun Permit holders.

The Sheriff has up to a week (I think 5 days) to issue the permit. Some Sheriffs are quicker than that. The NC 'pistol purchase permit' takes the place of the NICS check for handguns, and our CCW permit does the same for both handguns and long guns.

FYI, the packing.org site is fequently down...
http://ncrpa.org/ncgunfaq.htm
http://ncrpa.org/legis.htm

What County does he live in?

 

[eng23ine]

Here in Cleveland County a permit takes 3 days to process, and you must have 2 forms of ID and EXACT CHANGE when picking up your permit.

 

[Zach S]

You live in maryland. Your son lives in NC. AFAIK, gift or not, the handgun is going to a different owner, in a different state, and must be transfered through an FFL.

Where in NC does your son live? Does he have his NC CHP? If he has his permit, he doesnt have to get the purchase pemit. Just ship it to an FFL here in NC for a transfer.

If he doesnt, its not hard to get one. The worst part, IMO, is having to go downtown. Here in Buncombe county I had to fill out a simple form which asked for my address, full name, SSN, why I'm buying the handgun (I've wrote "good deal" in that spot), and a few questions found on a 4473. Then I'd have to take it to the desk, show him my driver's license, he'd look over the form and make sure it was legible, and five days later, I'd go back to the desk, hand him my license and a five dollar bill, and then he'd hand me my license back along with my permit. Then I'd hop in the car and deal with downtown traffic for the fourth friggin time over one piece of paper.

 

[spin180]

I always hated getting permits in Buncombe, when I lived there.

Had to put off buying one of my first guns because I didn't realize I'd have to wait on the sheriff. Made me sad.



My present sheriff issues purchase permits on the spot. A moot point for me now, as I have my CHL.



Shame a father & son have to jump through such hoops over something like this. Shouldn't be any more to it than you saying "congratulations" and handing it to him.

 

['Card]

In most counties you can purchase up to 5 permits at one time, and they're good for 5 years - so if your son is going to have to go through the hassle of getting a permit anyway, tell him to go ahead and get 5 while he's at it. Could save him a lot of hassle next time you want to give him a gun or he wants to purchase one.

These permit requirements are (let's face it) a fairly minor inconvenience, but they really irritate me because they are one of the few examples left of North Carolina's blatantly racist past. They were originally instituted during the Jim Crow period to give county sheriffs a legal way to keep blacks from arming themselves, just by denying them a permit - which is also why you're required to show up in person to apply. Hard to tell if someone is black when they apply by mail.

I guess it made lynching parties a lot less fun if the intended victim blew a few big holes in Luther and Cletus' white hoods before they got him subdued.

 

[ROCKSHUND]

The NC pistol permit game is a PITA in my opinion, should go directly to file 13 as of 40 years ago. The pistols that I own, I fortunately brought with me from a much more firearms friendly state, when I moved here. I personally hold the belief that it's none of the county Sheriff's office's business to know what pistols if any that I own. And, it's also my opinion that if I want to pass on my firearms to others as I near my eventual demise, it's no-one's business but mine and the recipient.

My oh my, have times changed during my lifespan thus far. We, as a people, are but frogs in a pot of slowly boiling water... -FNR.

 

[Bruce333]

I personally hold the belief that it's none of the county Sheriff's office's business to know what pistols if any that I own.

They don't know. All the Sheriff knows is he gave you a permit to purchase a pistol. When you buy a handgun the permit is kept by the seller. They don't know what you bought, and would only know you had bought anything if you go back for another permit (which is why its a good idea to get as many as you can at one time), but I do agree with you, it needs to be done away with.

It's a moot point for me, since the Concealed permit bypasses the permit system and the NICS check.

 

[AirForceShooter]

if he has a N.C. CCW he doesn't need the purchase permit.
Then you can just drive down and hand it to him in a pretty OD ribbon.

AFS

 

[CrazyIrishman]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the heads up on everything and the links!

BTW,bru333 he was living near Lumberton in Robeson County but now he lives close to Ft.Bragg in a private development(Cumberland Co). He is close enough to hear choppers through the day.

 

[boing]

if he has a N.C. CCW he doesn't need the purchase permit.
Then you can just drive down and hand it to him in a pretty OD ribbon.

See Zach's post. Federal laws still apply, and a transfer of any firearm across state lines requires an FFL.

 

[Tower.58]

Legal residence?

CI: Pleas clarify something for me: did you son live in North Carolina before he went to BCT & AIT at Ft. Benning in Gerogia.

If he is on active duty inthe Army, where he is living and his home of record/legal residence may be two different places. Find out where he is registered to vote. That should be the State where he has his "residence" and determine what local laws would govern the transfer.

As others here have noted there are federal restrictions on transfers between residents of two different states for handguns.

Please also be aware that army posts can have different requirements for firearms, usually at a post commanders whim. If he will be on active duty he may not be able to have a handgun where he is stationed.
Check this thread: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=218944&highlight=Military+Posts[/URL] You may wnat to consider something else, maby a high quality knife.

Please also tell your son thank your for his choice to serve, and for the sacrafice he is making for all of us.

 

[CrazyIrishman]

Hey Tower,

My son was living in Lumberton before enlisting. About three months before leaving for BCT/AIT he moved up to Fayettville. While he lives close to FT.Bragg, his place is on private property and not government property. For the time being he shouldn't have to worry about the Commander or Provost Marshall unless he moves on base and has it with him or asks permission to use range facilities. There may be other times when the PM needs to be made aware as well. If he ends up living on base I doubt there will be any problems.

This coming April he will be getting married and unless there are changes such as going to another state or being deployed to Iraq his current plans are to live off base. Until his change over to active duty happens,everything else might not be a problem.

I don't think he has changed the county where he votes yet either. For the moment he is in the ANG. There was some confusion in the beginning so now he's trying to go active duty. He tells me that it could take six months to change over.


When I write him a letter today I'll be sure and pass on your "THANK YOU" to him.


THX
CI