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North Carolina

Summary of North Carolina Gun Laws

North Carolina is a shall-issue state with concealed handgun permits issued at the county level by the local sheriff’s office. In order to buy a handgun from a private individual or dealer, the buyer will need either a pistol purchase permit or a concealed handgun permit. Purchase permit applications include a question regarding the reason for acquiring the permit, such as protection or collecting and may take up to 30 days to process. There is no firearms registry in the state. Only residents are allowed to purchase handguns. Open carry is legal in North Carolina without a permit. Counties may regulate the display of firearms on public roads, sidewalks, alleys or other public property. The minimum age is 18 years old. Some areas are off-limits, including schools and the State Capitol grounds. Concealed carry is legal for residents with a North Carolina Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) and for non-residents with any valid license/permit. North Carolina CHP’s are issued to residents and members of the military permanently posted in North Carolina and require a firearms training course that has been approved by the state. The minimum age is 21 years old. In terms of reciprocity, North Carolina recognizes permits from all states.

Self-Defense

North Carolina is a Castle Doctrine state and has a “stand your ground” statute. A person is justified in the use of deadly force and does not have a duty to retreat in any place a person has the lawful right to be if he or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another; or if a person is in one’s home, vehicle or workplace and provided that the person against whom the defensive force was used was an unlawful intruder or was attempting to forcibly and unlawfully enter. Use of Force a person is justified in using force, except deadly force, when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that the conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against the other’s imminent use of unlawful force. Use of Deadly Force however, a person is justified in the use of deadly force and does not have a duty to retreat in any place he or she has the lawful right to be if either of the following applies:

• The person reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another.

The lawful occupant of a home, motor vehicle or workplace is presumed to have held a reasonable fear of imminent death or serious bodily harm to himself or herself or another when using defensive force that is intended or likely to cause death or serious bodily harm to another if both of the following apply:

• The person against whom the defensive force was used was in the process of unlawfully and forcefully entering or had unlawfully and forcibly entered a home, motor vehicle or workplace, or that person had removed or was attempting to remove another against that person’s will from the home, motor vehicle or workplace; and
• The person who uses defensive force knew or had reason to believe that an unlawful and forcible entry or unlawful and forcible act was occurring or had occurred.

“Home” is defined as a building or conveyance of any kind, including its curtilage, whether the building or conveyance is temporary or permanent, mobile or immobile, which has a roof over it, including a tent, and is designed as a temporary or permanent residence. Immunity from Liability Force which is intended or likely to cause death or bodily injury is immune from civil or criminal liability or the wrongful death of a person against whom such force was used if the use of such force was justified.

[N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. §§ 14-51.2 and 14-51.3]

North Carolina Permit Holders Only

More information for NC Sheriff's Association:

Because of your kind donation to the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association (NCSA) through your county firearm permit application, NCSA provides you with up-to-date information on gun laws and firearms purchasing laws that affect you as a North Carolina citizen.

Did you know that you have to renew your concealed handgun permit? That’s right, permits are not good forever in North Carolina. 

How often do I have to renew my permit?

Once you are issued a permit to carry a concealed handgun, you must renew the permit every five (5) years. 

Will someone remind me to renew my permit?

At least forty-five (45) days prior to the expiration date of your concealed handgun permit, you should expect to receive a written notice from the sheriff explaining that your permit is about to expire. 

What if I am in the military and will be deployed when my permit is up for renewal?

If you are serving in the military and are deployed, you are allowed to apply with the sheriff for an extension of your concealed handgun permit up to an additional ninety (90) days after your scheduled deployment is to end.

When should I apply to renew my permit?

If you apply to renew your permit before it expires, your permit will remain valid beyond the expiration date of the permit until you either receive a renewal permit or your renewal permit is denied, by the sheriff. 

If you apply to renew your permit after it expires, and your application is made within sixty (60) days after its expiration, the sheriff may waive the requirement of taking another firearms safety course. However, you may not carry a concealed handgun under this expired permit. 

What do I have to do to renew my permit?

To renew your permit, you must file an application for renewal with the sheriff’s office in the county in which you reside. Your application must be filed within the 90 day period prior to the expiration of your original permit. Along with this application, you must also submit to the sheriff: 

• a notarized affidavit stating that you remain qualified to hold the permit, 
• the renewal fee of $75.00; and 
• a newly administered set of fingerprints (unless your fingerprints were submitted to the Automated Fingerprint Information System (AFIS) after June 30, 2001.

What is the sheriff required to do in order to renew my permit?

For every renewal application, the sheriff must update the applicant’s criminal history and make another inquiry into the National Instant Criminal Search database. The sheriff is allowed to require any applicant to take another firearms safety and training course prior to approving a permit renewal. 

Are there any exceptions to this renewal process?

In emergencies, a sheriff may issue a temporary permit to an individual when the sheriff has reasonable belief that the individual’s safety, the safety of his/her property, or the safety of the individual’s family is in immediate danger. To obtain this emergency permit, the applicant must first establish with the sheriff that one of these circumstances exists. The individual must also submit an application, two (2) sets of fingerprints, and the non-refundable fee of $80.00. The temporary permit is valid for a maximum of forty-five (45) days, is non-renewable, and may be revoked by the sheriff at any time without a hearing.

FFL Transfers

Once you find the gun you would like to purchase, select FFL dealer to have it shipped to and that will be in zip code: 28078 and then select Martial Arts Training Institute. Forward the tracking info to artpresley@mac.com when it is sent to you, and when the gun comes in, it will only be a $30 transfer fee if you have a Concealed Carry Permit and $40 for no permit.

Current Guns for Sale at Irwin Carmichael's Martial Arts Training Institute by Appointment Only: (704) 391-9999 Prices include tax & transfer.

South Carolina

Summary of South Carolina Gun Laws

South Carolina is a shall-issue state with concealed weapons permits issued at the state level by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). To apply, click on link below and go to CWP:

https://www.sled.sc.gov/cwp

There is no permit, background check or firearms registration required when buying a handgun from a private individual.

Based on the Governor’s signing of HB 3094, open carry as well as concealed carry is legal for residents with a South Carolina Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP) and for non-residents with a license/permit from a state that South Carolina honors as of August 15, 2021. A “concealable weapon” means a firearm having a length of less than 12″ in length carried openly on one’s person or in a manner that is hidden from public view in normal wear of clothing except when needed for self defense, defense of others, and the protection of real or personal property. Areas that are off-limits to concealed carry are also off-limits to open carry. In addition, private properties posted with signs stating ‘No Concealable Weapons Allowed’ prohibit both open and concealed carry.

CWPs are issued to residents, non-residents who own property in the state and military personnel stationed in South Carolina. Concealed carry permits require an 8-hour firearms training course that has been approved by the state. The minimum age to obtain a CWP is 21 years old. In terms of reciprocity, South Carolina honors resident permits from states that recognize South Carolina permits, provided that the reciprocal state requires an applicant to successfully pass a criminal background check and a course in firearm training and safety. Some areas are off-limits, including schools and courthouses.

Self-Defense

South Carolina is a Castle Doctrine state. A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in a place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground.

A person is presumed to have a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily injury to himself or herself or another person when using deadly force that is intended or likely to cause death or great bodily injury to another person if the person:

• Against whom the deadly force is used is in the process of unlawfully and forcefully entering, has unlawfully and forcibly entered a dwelling, residence or occupied vehicle, or if he removes or is attempting to remove another person against his will from the dwelling, residence or occupied vehicle; and
• Who uses deadly force knows or has reason to believe that an unlawful and forcible entry or unlawful and forcible act is occurring or has occurred.

A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in another place where he or she has a right to be, including but not limited to his place of business, has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his ground and meet force with force, including deadly force, if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent death or great bodily injury to himself or herself or another person or to prevent the commission of a violent crime.

“Dwelling” means a building or conveyance of any kind, including an attached porch, whether the building or conveyance is temporary or permanent, mobile or immobile, which has a roof over it, including a tent, and is designed to be occupied by people lodging there at night.

“Residence” means a dwelling in which a person resides either temporarily or permanently or is visiting as an invited guest.

“Vehicle” means a conveyance of any kind, whether or not motorized, which is designed to transport people or property.

[S.C. Code Ann. § 16-11-440]

SC & NC County Sheriff Office Links & FL Info

South Carolina Info:

Information to register for your CWP, please clink on link below:

https://www.sled.sc.gov/cwp

North Carolina Info:

Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office

700 E. 4th Street

Charlotte, NC 28202

phone: (704) 336-3665

https://mcso.permitium.com/ccw/start

Union County Sheriff’s Office

3344 Presson Road

Monroe, NC 28112

For question about your permit application for Union County:

Email: console@co.union.nc.us

Phone: (704) 283-3789

https://ucso.permitium.com/ccw/start

Gaston County Sheriff’s Office

425 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way

Gastonia, NC 28052

Telephone : (704) 869-6800

http://www.gastoncountysheriffsoffice.com/gun-permits/

Rowan County Sheriff’s Office

Landis Office:

102 N Central Avenue

Landis, NC 28088

Phone: (704) 216-8742

https://www.rowancountync.gov/624/Handgun-Permits

Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office

30 Corban Ave 

Concord, NC 28025

https://cabarruscounty.us/departments/sheriffs-office

Catawba County Sheriff's Office

P.O. Box 385100 Government Drive., Building E

Newton, NC 28658

https://www.catawbacountync.gov/county-services/sheriffs-office/

Iredell County Sheriff's Office

Iredell County Government Center

P.O. Box 788

Statesville, NC 28687

http://www.iredellsheriff.com/444/Permits

Lincoln County Sheriff's Office

700 John Howell Memorial Dr

Lincolnton, NC 28092

https://lincolnso.permitium.com

Question on Instruction Evaluation form:

How much time was used in the delivery' of instruction pertaining to the North Carolina Firearms Law and use of deadly force?

___4 ___hrs

How much time was used in the delivery of the subject of firearms 'safety and presentation?

___4 ___hrs

What type of target was used for your qualification?

___B27

How much time was used for the qualification process of the training?

___15minutes

NC CCH Certificate-Next Steps

• Go to your county Sheriff’s Office Website
  
• Click on “New Concealed Carry Permit”, fill out application, pay online.
  
• Do not have to put SS# on application.
  
• Take your original certificate to your appointment.
  
• Replacement Certificate is $25

Florida CCW Permit

• Take your fingerprint card in the Florida packet with you to the Sheriff’s Office.
  
• Ask for a second set of fingerprints with the Sheriff’s Office on the fingerprint card for Florida.
  
• Get a passport photo
  
• Make copy of Florida Certificate (do not mail original)
  
• Fill out Florida packet by using instructions in packet
  
• $97 for 7 year permit Certified Check or Money Order
  
• Mail back in the brown envelope

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