steps to buy a gun in north carolina
Gun laws in North Carolina
To acquire a handgun in North Carolina ( including private sales , gifts , and inheritance ) an individual must go to the county sheriff 's office in the county in which they reside and obtain a pistol purchase permit . This is not required if one has a CHP ( Concealed Handgun Permit ) . State law requires the applicant to appear in person with government ID , pay a $5 fee , undergo a background check similar in scope and scrutiny to NICS , and have a reason for owning a pistol ( hunting , target shooting , self defense , or collecting ) . Because there are 100 different counties in North Carolina , there are different sets of rules and requirements for obtaining such a permit , which can be determined arbitrarily by the local sheriff . Some sheriffs impose other restrictions such as a limit on the number of permits applied for at a time , waiting periods , and / or proof of good moral character ( a witness or references , in some cases notarized with affidavits ) . The Pistol Purchase requirements are a holdover from Jim Crow laws that were designed to prevent African - Americans and other minorities from easily obtaining handguns . 
To acquire a handgun in North Carolina ( including private sales , gifts , and inheritance ) an individual must go to the county sheriff 's office in the county in which they reside and obtain a pistol purchase permit . This is not required if one has a CHP ( Concealed Handgun Permit ) . State law requires the applicant to appear in person with government ID , pay a $5 fee , undergo a background check similar in scope and scrutiny to NICS , and have a reason for owning a pistol ( hunting , target shooting , self defense , or collecting ) . Because there are 100 different counties in North Carolina , there are different sets of rules and requirements for obtaining such a permit , which can be determined arbitrarily by the local sheriff . Some sheriffs impose other restrictions such as a limit on the number of permits applied for at a time , waiting periods , and / or proof of good moral character ( a witness or references , in some cases notarized with affidavits ) . The Pistol Purchase requirements are a holdover from Jim Crow laws that were designed to prevent African - Americans and other minorities from easily obtaining handguns .
To acquire a handgun in North Carolina (including private sales, gifts, and inheritance) an individual must go to the county sheriff's office in the county in which they reside and obtain a pistol purchase permit. State law requires the applicant to appear in person with government ID, pay a $5 fee, undergo a background check similar in scope and scrutiny to NICS, and have a reason for owning a pistol (hunting, target shooting, self defense, or collecting). Because there are 100 different counties in North Carolina, there are different sets of rules and requirements for obtaining such a permit, which can be determined arbitrarily by the local sheriff.
To acquire a handgun in North Carolina ( including private sales , gifts , and inheritance ) an individual must go to the county sheriff 's office in the county in which they reside and obtain a pistol purchase permit . State law requires the applicant to appear in person with government ID , pay a $5 fee , undergo a background check similar in scope and scrutiny to NICS , and have a reason for owning a pistol ( hunting , target shooting , self defense , or collecting ) . Because there are 100 different counties in North Carolina , there are different sets of rules and requirements for obtaining such a permit , which can be determined arbitrarily by the local sheriff .