People on this forum complain about NY's procedures to get a Pistol license. Here is how North Carolina (the other NC) does it:
Only NC Residents can apply for a permit:
1) Attend an eight hour concealed handgun class, pay tuition ($50 and up depending on the instructor), pass a NC use of force test, After eight hours of classroom instruction, shoot 30 rounds on paper (21 have to hit the paper). Get completion certificate
2) Go to your local county Sheriff's office. Fill out a long application. Pay them the fee ($90), get fingerprinted (but only when a different office in the Sheriff's office is open for fingerprinting), Bring original Birth certificate, Certificate of Naturalization (if a naturalized citizen), NC Driver license or NC state ID and proof of residence (they make copies of these documents and return them to you) and concealed handgun class completion certificate (which they keep). Go to the local mental health place, pay them a fee (about $20) for a records check mailed to the Sheriff's office. Go to the local court office. pay them a fee (about $20) for a records check mailed to the Sheriff's office.
3) Wait three months. (law says 45 days).
4) Get permit if everything checks out.
5) Your permit is good for five years. So after four years and nine months of getting the license you will need to get a renewal. To get a renewal, you have to go to your local Sheriff's office, fill out an application again, pay them the fee ($90) again, get fingerprinted (again) and they will send you a renewal permit in a few weeks.
The permit is a wallet size laminated piece of typewritten paper and is only valid with your NC state ID or driver's license. Your permit number and your driver's license number is the same number.
You do not need four character affidavits and they do not call your boss but otherwise the process is complicated and expensive in its own right. Also, once you get a concealed handgun permit, you do not have to go through a NICS check to buy a handgun. Although in theory NC is a Shall Issue state, in practice the local Sheriff can deny your application on a whim and you have very little recourse (much like in NY). The questions on the NC application are basically the same as those on ATF form 4473 plus a question about impaired driving in the last three years.
Procedure to get a handgun purchase document in North Carolina (you have to be a NC resident to buy a handgun in NC under Federal law):
If you do not have a concealed handgun permit and you want to buy a handgun from a private person or a gun store, you need a purchase document in NC that costs $5/handgun and is good for five years.
You go to your Sheriff's office. Fill out an application, pay $5/gun. You need a NC state ID or drivers license and proof of US citizenship and proof of residence. They will copy them for their files and give you back the originals. They will do a NICS check and in a few minutes (just like in Suffolk county if you have pistol license) give you a Purchase document (just like in NY) that allows you to purchase a handgun.
Only NC Residents can apply for a permit:
1) Attend an eight hour concealed handgun class, pay tuition ($50 and up depending on the instructor), pass a NC use of force test, After eight hours of classroom instruction, shoot 30 rounds on paper (21 have to hit the paper). Get completion certificate
2) Go to your local county Sheriff's office. Fill out a long application. Pay them the fee ($90), get fingerprinted (but only when a different office in the Sheriff's office is open for fingerprinting), Bring original Birth certificate, Certificate of Naturalization (if a naturalized citizen), NC Driver license or NC state ID and proof of residence (they make copies of these documents and return them to you) and concealed handgun class completion certificate (which they keep). Go to the local mental health place, pay them a fee (about $20) for a records check mailed to the Sheriff's office. Go to the local court office. pay them a fee (about $20) for a records check mailed to the Sheriff's office.
3) Wait three months. (law says 45 days).
4) Get permit if everything checks out.
5) Your permit is good for five years. So after four years and nine months of getting the license you will need to get a renewal. To get a renewal, you have to go to your local Sheriff's office, fill out an application again, pay them the fee ($90) again, get fingerprinted (again) and they will send you a renewal permit in a few weeks.
The permit is a wallet size laminated piece of typewritten paper and is only valid with your NC state ID or driver's license. Your permit number and your driver's license number is the same number.
You do not need four character affidavits and they do not call your boss but otherwise the process is complicated and expensive in its own right. Also, once you get a concealed handgun permit, you do not have to go through a NICS check to buy a handgun. Although in theory NC is a Shall Issue state, in practice the local Sheriff can deny your application on a whim and you have very little recourse (much like in NY). The questions on the NC application are basically the same as those on ATF form 4473 plus a question about impaired driving in the last three years.
Procedure to get a handgun purchase document in North Carolina (you have to be a NC resident to buy a handgun in NC under Federal law):
If you do not have a concealed handgun permit and you want to buy a handgun from a private person or a gun store, you need a purchase document in NC that costs $5/handgun and is good for five years.
You go to your Sheriff's office. Fill out an application, pay $5/gun. You need a NC state ID or drivers license and proof of US citizenship and proof of residence. They will copy them for their files and give you back the originals. They will do a NICS check and in a few minutes (just like in Suffolk county if you have pistol license) give you a Purchase document (just like in NY) that allows you to purchase a handgun.
