tell me about NC...

[texas bulldog]

due to family circumstances, the wife and i are considering a move to western NC where we can rely on her parents for childcare and where there is family land we could eventually build on. finding good jobs would be a concern, of course, as would any lapse in insurance coverage for the new kid.

yadda yadda...anyway, on to the firearms related part...
i'm wondering if you fine NC folks could tell me what you think of NC from a gun-rights perspective. TX doesn't have the best gun laws in the nation, but they're pretty darn good. open carry would be nice, and CHL is ridiculouosly expensive and takes way to long to process compared to other states. and the list of prohibited carry locations is too long for my taste. but the self-defense and defense of property laws, on the other hand, are second to none (IMHO).

so how does NC compare? and if you want to throw in your non-gun-related opinions of the area, i won't report you to the mods or anything...

thanks!

 

[J Lambs]

I love NC. You have beaches and mountains within driving distance and the area has traditionally been conservative and pro gun. Open carry is legal, but I don't see it very often. I obtained my CHL within 30 days of application, but that was over a year ago, before the rush. I think the western part of the state is beautiful and still votes Red as far as I know.

 

[RPCVYemen]

In general, pretty pro-gun. However, if you don't have a CCW and want to buy a handgun, then you need to get a pistol purchase permit from the local sheriff. And the sheriff seems to be pretty free to implement any procedure he/she wants - things vary quite a bit county to county. I would not expect there to be much of a problem in the western part of the state.

Jobs my be an issue in that part of the state. The other issue is that once you move there, you will probably never leave. Or if you do, you will constantly be telling your friends how beautiful the mountains were in the fall ...

Mike

 

[wccountryboy]

I've been in Eastern NC for about 2 years now. Coming from TX, the move will be a step backwards for you as far as CCW goes. The list of places where carry is prohibited is (to me) strange. For example, you cannot carry at a "public gathering" such as a parade or rally. You cannot carry at a "place of public assembely where a fee is charged for admission" ie a movie theater. Technicaly, you cannot carry in a resturant that serves alcohol, even if you are not drinking. To purchace a handgun (without a CHL) you need to get a purchace permit, issued by your county sheriff. Each sheriff sets his own standards and requirements. Some will only issue 1 every 30 days, one I know requires 3 LEO referances to issue a purchace permit.

 

[Landric]

Gun rights in NC are hit and miss. Its been pretty much covered above. The real "problems" in the laws are the excessively long list of places one cannot carry (pretty much all the prohibited places pre-date any sort of legal CCW in NC for anyone other than LEOs). When the CHP law was passed, nothing was done to address the long list of prohibited places, and so far, 13 years later, that hasn't changed.

The handgun purchase permit is a pain, though it can be easily avoided by obtaining a CHP (which is a recent development, 2005 I think). Prior to that one had to have a purchase permit, CHP or not, for each handgun one wanted to buy, trade for, etc. There are some strange requirements out there, and it really depends on the county. In my home county (where I no longer live), one had to live in the county (not NC, the county) for a year and provide three county residents as references who were not related to the applicant before the sheriff would issue a permit to purchase. Other counties were much easier, and I've heard of others that were tougher. Get a CHP, its governed by state law, and is shall issue to any resident who meets the statutory requirements. The sheriffs cannot monkey with it too much, at least not nearly as much as they tend to with purchase permits.

 

[brassdog]

In NC, the County Sheriffs issue the pistol perchase permits.
The requirements vary from county to county. Residence in said county from 90 days to a year. Some require references attesting to your moral character and a doctors' evaluation. Others have go in sign, pay and swear on the bible.

Rifle purchases are alot easier though. At least we don't have any waiting periods. The real issue though is where you can and can't carry. Although NC is an "open carry" state, we have a weird clause in our laws concerning "going armed to the terror of the public". Alot of the NC laws are worded very ambigously and so interpretations vary depending on whom you ask.

Which county are you moving to?

Good Luck!

 

[texas bulldog]

if we go, it would be haywood county...in the waynesville/asheville/clyde area.

 

[MeanGreenZ71]

NC has some odd gun laws in my opinion...Some are even contradictory. Better start reading up.

 

[brassdog]

Texas Bulldog,

Some beautiful country out that way! I take it your wife is a "mountain girl"?
If so, just remember to listen to what she has to say aout folks from there abouts. I know cause I married one myself. Just don't ever call em a "hillbilly" without first making it clear that you meant with love!

Best to read up on the regs yourself. You can find the NC laws online and download them in PDF format. Also wouldn't hurt to check out the other gunboard called carolinashootersforum.com. Alot of good folks to help steer you in the right direction locally.

Good Luck!

 

[AR-Aggie]

As long as you aren't going to Durham or Chapel Hill or something you're GTG.

My brother lives in Durham and tells me that they're anti-gun. Before he had a CCW, he had to get 2 signed/notarized statements on his "personal character" which are not required elsewhere to get a pistol purchase permit. Apparently Durham county also requests that pistols be registered, but it isn't required. I believe it has to be when purchased if you purchase it in Durham county, but I may have misunderstood him.

And, whether it's intentional or not (I bet it is) the CCW office in the Durham courthouse is in the basement with 1 other department - sex offender registry.

 

[brassdog]

Yep! Orange county too, I believe.

Durham county has a looooong history of gun registration dating back to the late 19th century.

Texas Bulldog,

If you got some time before you move. You should try the Grove Park Inn for night. Especially in the winter. Lots of places to see and visit with the kids over a lifetime. About 4 to 5 hours drive to the coast and the barrier islands. Lots to do!

 

[TStorm]

http://www.jus.state.nc.us/NCJA/ncfirearmslaws.pdf

This is a fairly depressing document. What a difference six miles makes!

 

[mulletguter]

On a side note NC (my mothers home state) has some wierd liquor laws. Depending on the city/county it's easer to buy a gun than a bottle of rum.

 

[thirdeagle]

I'm from Asheville and have spent a lot of time tramping across the western 14 or so counties in NC. Asheville is considerably more liberal than the surrounding areas, not to mention expensive. Waynesville would be the better choice although there would be fewer employment options compared to A'ville.

 

[Chihuahua Floyd]

I'll have to agree with almost everything said above. WNC is a great place to live if you have a job. I live in Swain County, Bryson City, and buying ahandgun is not hard. Just a few minutes at the Sheriffs office for a background check and $5.00 for each permit.
Gunshops with good supplies of reloading equipment are scarce. Waynesville has the best right now, with of all places, Wal-Mart in Franklin next.
I've obtained permits for pistol purchase in 4 counties in this state and Swain is the easiest. Not sure what the Haywood County regs are though.
CF

 

[jorb]

I live in NC. In our county we need to attend an approved course covering related laws and show proficiency with a pistol. Once you get that certification it goes to the sheriff's office where you are fingerprinted, drop off background check materials and $80.00. It takes a week or so if I remember correctly. If you are approved you may then pick up you permit which is good for five years.