How long does it take to get a license for a firearm in North Carolina?

Answer 1

What type of firearm are you buying, exactly? If you're purchasing a regular Title I long gun (rifle or shotgun), there is no licencing, and residents of most (but not all) states can purchase these in the State of North Carolina. If you're purchasing a handgun, there's a couple ways to go about it, but both require you to be a resident of North Carolina. First is the pistol permit system. You apply at your County Sheriff's Office, and you can initially purchase five permits for $5/ea. After 30 days, you may purchase an additional five permits. The background check for pistol permits normally takes a week, but it may take more depending on how busy the county is processing those permits. The other way is to obtain a concealed carry permit. A CCW in North Carolina serves as your pistol permit. After taking your class, you bring $90 with you to your County Sheriff's Office. You'll be fingerprinted, and an extensive background check is conducted. This normally takes two months, but may take more or less, again dependent on how busy the county is with processing permits.

If you wish to buy NFA Title II firearms (short barreled rifles/shotguns, machine guns, AOWs, Destructive Devices, Suppressors/silencers, etc.), your chances of obtaining a permit for those without being a licenced dealer is slim to none, and is absolutely zero in Wake, Johnston, and Cumberland counties. If you can get approved, you're looking at a two-to-four month wait period.

For military personnel, orders showing 30 days of being stationed in the State of North Carolina is enough to establish residence in the state. However, many gun shops will not sell you a firearm if you possess a drivers licence from a state where a non-military resident would not be permitted to purchase a firearm in North Carolina (ex. California, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, etc.). Although North Carolina drivers licences can be a bit overpriced (especially if you have a CDL), I would recommend that military personnel stationed in North Carolina just go ahead and switch it over to NC if they wish to purchase firearms - especially handguns - while in this state.