By Becky Long
Publisher
North Carolina will no longer require sheriff’s offices to issue pistol purchase permits following a late March vote by the N.C. Senate.
Like others across the state, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office has ceased processing pistol purchase permit applications including pending applications, according to a release from Sheriff Mark Buchanan.
In addition, refunds are not expected to be issued for fees already paid for pistol purchase permit applications.
In Clay County, 361 handgun purchase permits were issued in 2022 at $5 per gun purchased, according to Buchanan. Each permit allows a person to buy one handgun.
One reason given for the removal of the sheriff’s office from issuing purchase permits was redundancy. Federal law requires those attempting to purchase a handgun to undergo the National Instant Criminal Background Check System — and that’s still required under current law.
Until now, anyone who wanted to sell, buy or transfer a pistol in North Carolina was required to either have a concealed carry permit or get a pistol purchase permit from the sheriff’s office in the home county of the person buying or receiving the gun, per General Statute 14-402.
Criminal penalties still apply for anyone who knowingly transfers a handgun to a person who may not lawfully possess the firearm (such as a convicted felon). “It is important for citizens to remember that anyone wishing to obtain or transfer any firearm, including a handgun, must still comply with federal and state laws governing who may lawfully possess a firearm,” Buchanan said in a press release.
The sheriff also said it is important for people to understand North Carolina concealed handgun laws have not changed.
Any person residing in Clay County wishing to carry a “concealed” handgun in North Carolina must still apply for and be issued a concealed handgun permit by the sheriff.