North Carolina gun laws are considered permissive with a “Shall Issue” policy. There are no
restrictions on calibers or magazine size and limited restrictions on open carry. We thought it
would be helpful to provide you with information on how to purchase a Firearm in North
Carolina. More information is below!
Purchasing a Gun from a (FFL) Dealer
AS OF MARCH 29 th 2023 PURCHASE PERMITS ARE NO
LONGER REQUIRED FOR HANDGUN PURCHASES.
Purchasing a Gun from a (FFL) Dealer
Long guns require a valid NC Drivers License / NC ID or a Valid Drivers License / ID from
another Free State, and a NICS background check.
(If you have a NC Concealed Handgun Permit no NICS background check is required)
Military Personal can purchase a long gun with a Military ID/DOD ID in conjunction with
supplemental documentation to prove residency and a NICS background check.
Handguns require a valid NC Drivers License / NC ID.
(If you have a NC Concealed Handgun Permit no NICS background check is required)
Military Personal can purchase a pistol with a Military ID/DOD ID in conjunction with
supplemental documentation to prove residency and a NICS background check.
(If you have a NC Concealed Handgun Permit no NICS background check is required)
Supplemental documentation is listed below:
You must be at least 21 years old to buy a Handgun from a licensed dealer.
You must be at least 18 years old to purchase a rifle or shotgun from a licensed dealer.
If you are under 21 years old, you are subject to an automatic 10-day background check
delay from NICS.
Below you will find more information on how to obtain a NC Concealed Handgun Permit
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Follow these steps to obtain a concealed carry permit;
A NICS background check is required for all new applications and renewals. Non-Residents
North Carolina does not issue concealed carry permits to non-residents.
All renewal applications require a NICS background check.
Concealed carry permits/licenses are issued by the Sheriff of the county the applicant resides in.
45 Days Once the application is received it will take about 45 days to complete all the necessary checks.
If your CCW permit is denied you can appeal the decision to the District Court.
Section 14-415.15(c) states that any person denied a CCW permit has the right to appeal the decision.
The appeal must be in written format and filed with the District Court citing the reasons for the appeal.
In general appeals are considered without a hearing with the decision being sent to the appellant in writing. (Probably seek out legal advice, because that is not us)
For a handgun you would need to be 21 and for a long gun or shotgun 18 to buy from a licensed dealer. If you have a purchase permit and are 18 years or older you could buy a handgun from a private seller.
For now as of 7/20/2023.. The only guns that need to be registered are NFA guns..
There is no law in North Carolina that states how long you need to be a resident in your county before making an application. However, the sheriff in each county can set minimum residency requirements.
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