Concealed Carry – NC F.I.R.E.

Wanting a Concealed Carry Permit in North Carolina?

The average wait time to receive a state-issued concealed carry permit in North Carolina is ninety days. Citizens wanting to carry a firearm concealed are required to complete eight hours of mandatory training in firearms safety. Requirements for carrying a concealed handgun are defined by the North Carolina Department of Justice. Courses include state laws on legal aspects of using deadly force and areas where carrying a handgun concealed is prohibited.

Each student is required to pass a twenty question written test and demonstrate safe gun handling on the firing range. The on-range portion of the course requires each student hit twenty-one out of thirty shots fired. Shots are fired at three, five, and seven-yard distances.

The course includes Handgun Nomenclature, Handgun Safety , Marksmanship Fundamentals, Safety Issues, Presentation Techniques, Cleaning and Maintenance, Ammunition, and Proficiency Drills. Costs typically includes training materials, shooting target, and firing a handgun on range. Firearms instructors typically offer handgun rental with ammunition for an additional cost.

Upon successful completion of the course, each student is provided with a certificate certifying that their training has been completed. The certificate must be surrendered to the sheriff’s office in your residential county as part of the application process.

As a United States citizen is important to keep abreast of gun laws that affect your second amendment rights. As a handgun owner it is imperative that you know whether or not you reside in one of many issue states. In court, you will be held responsible for complying with state mandated concealed carry laws when carrying a concealed weapon.

Become familiar with background check requirements and seek firearm training from a reputable instructor in your area. Most states have gun lobby groups supported by a national rifle organization and some participate in efforts to fight violent crime. Protecting your second amendment rights involves being an advocate for constitutional carry. It also involves being informed of new bills as they are introduced to congress in Washington, DC.

Laws vary from state to state. In West Virginia, concealed carry permit holders can obtain a permit online while Georgia uses a simple application request process. It is mandatory that you know the laws in your state prior to obtaining an out of state permit online. For more information see the article How long Does it Take to Obtain a Concealed Carry Handgun Permit in North Carolina.

Open Carry in North Carolina

Open Carry in North Carolina seems to be a confusing topic for many people that I encounter in the world of #FirearmsSafetyTraining.

I’m never surprised at the many students that drive to class with their firearm that don’t know the laws of Open Carry. North Carolina Open Carry law provides ONLY two options when transporting a handgun.

In the State of North Carolina, your handgun must be:
Fully Visible, meaning in plain sight if approached by an officer. Recommended locations include the passenger seat or dashboard. As soon as the officer approaches the vehicle, immediately notify the officer that there is a handgun in the vehicle and where it is located. This protects both yourself and the law enforcement officer and keeps you both safe from an accidental firing of a handgun to fear for life.

The second option requires locking the firearm in the dashboard, trunk, or gun case that is securely affixed to the vehicle. Pistol cases are sold with a cable that can be affixed to the seat post or other permanent fixture in a vehicle. There are a variety of pistol cases available and they vary in size and in style. If you are looking to purchase a pistol case, they are available locally in places like Walmart, Academy Sports, Gander World, Field & Stream and other retailers. You can only purchase pistol cases online saving quite a bit of money.

It is EXTREMELY important to research firearm laws in every state that you will cross when traveling. Many assume that firearm laws are the same in every state but would be shocked to find that they differ greatly from one state to another regarding both open and concealed carry.

How long Does it Take to Obtain a Concealed Carry Handgun Permit in North Carolina?

Requirements

Obtaining a concealed carry handgun permit in North Carolina is a fairly stringent process. You must first take an 8-hour handgun certification course approved by the North Carolina Justice Academy. In addition, an on-range shooting qualification firing 10 rounds at 3, 5, 7 yards for a total of 30 rounds.

A certificate showing that you have completed an 8-hour course is required at the time that you apply for your concealed carry handgun permit. You must submit your application in the county in which you reside.

Due to long wait times in larger counties, I recommended that you set your appointment at your local Sheriff’s department as soon as your class is scheduled.

Process

Many local sheriff’s departments allow you to walk in to apply for your state issued concealed carry handgun permit while other Sheriff’s departments require that you set up an appointment online. In Forsyth county, it takes three months to obtain an appointment to submit your application. In Guilford county, it takes two and a half months to obtain an appointment to submit your application.

Guilford County allows you to download the application and bring it to the Sheriff’s department while Forsyth County requires that you complete the application on site.

Wait

On average, it takes up to 90 days after submitting your application to receive your state-issued permit. Wait times can be longer depending on how many are in the queue. This can result in a total time of attaining your state-issued concealed carry handgun permit of six months at a minimum depending on the wait time in your County?

Click here to view the requirements of Piedmont Triad counties.

We want to know, what County do you reside in, does your county require an appointment, and how long was the process?

We look forward to your responses!

What happens in Concealed Carry Handgun Class

A North Carolina Concealed Carry Handgun permit allows you to legally carry a handgun on your body or in a personal tote such as backpack, briefcase, or handbag. NORTH CAROLINA FIREARMS LAWS defines Concealed Carry “about the person” which means it must be concealed on the person or within arm’s reach of the person.

Proof of an eight-hour state-approved Firearm Safety training or Concealed Carry class is required by the State of North Carolina prior to applying for a state issued permit. Two of those hours must be dedicate to the Laws of Self Defense. In addition to the eight hours of mandatory classroom training that is required, you must complete a 20 question written exam on the Legal Issues of Self-Defense and Firearm Safety and Rules and shooting range qualification.

The course as taught by GIRLZ on F.I.R.E., L.L.C. includes instruction on North Carolina Common Law, North Carolina Statutory Law, Rules of Safety, Gun Handling, Handgun Nomenclature, and Marksmanship Fundamentals. NC Common Law teaches both justified and unjustified self-defense while knowledge of NC Statutory Law states the rights and rules you must abide by as a citizen. The course also includes Rules of Safety, Gun Handling, Storage of Handguns, Alcohol and Firearms and Ammunition Safety. There is added discussion on Handguns, specifically Revolvers versus Semiautomatic Pistols. Marksmanship Fundamentals includes topics on Grip, Follow-Through, Stance, Breath Control, Sight Alignment/Sight Picture, Shooting Rhythm, Trigger Control, and Shooting Positions. In addition, we cover Carrying Concealed Safety Issues and Presentation Techniques. Last, we cover Cleaning and Maintenance through demonstration of Proper Cleaning Procedures, Lubrication, Function Check, and a detailed discussion on Ammunition selection.

Obtaining your North Carolina Concealed Carry Handgun certification is a choice that requires mental preparedness. Keeping Safety at the front of your mind at all times is critical. By taking time to further your training and practicing firing drills both at home (dry-fire) and at the range is when you truly become a better and more skilled shooter. In addition, Sports and Competition shooting is fun when we practice safety first, so get out there and find a community of like-minded shooters to learn more about the sport.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Laws regarding Firearms are unique to each State and County. Information in this FAQ is related to the Laws in the State of North Carolina.

Q. How do I obtain an Pistol Purchase Permit?.

Contact the Sheriff’s department in your county to apply for a Pistol Purchase Permit.

http://girlzonfirellc.com/home/RULES/questions/requirements.html

Q. What would make a person in North Carolina ineligible to obtain a Pistol Purchase Permit?

- Persons under indictment or information in any court for “a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one (1) year”;’

- Persons convicted in any court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one (1) year. A person would not be ineligible under this criteria if the person has been pardoned for the crime or conviction, the crime or conviction has been expunged or set aside, or the person has had his/her civil rights restored, and under the law where the conviction occurred, the person is not prohibited from receiving or possessing any firearm;

- The person is a fugitive from justice;

- The person is an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana, or any depressant, stimulant, or narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance;

- The person has been adjudicated mentally defective or has been committed to a mental institution. To be prohibiting, a commitment to a mental institution must be involuntary and it must result in the person being committed to either inpatient or out-patient treatment;

- The person has been discharged from the U.S. armed forces under dishonorable conditions;

- The person is illegally in the United States; or

- The person, having been a citizen of the United States, has renounced his or her citizenship.

- An applicant who is under an indictment, or information for, or has been convicted in any state, or in any court of the United States, of a felony (other than an offense pertaining to anti-trust violations, unfair trade practices, or restraints of trade). However, a person who has been convicted of a felony and is later pardoned may obtain a permit, if the purchase or receipt of the pistol does not violate the conditions of the pardon;

- The applicant is subject to a court order that:
  - Was issued after a hearing of which the applicant received actual notice, and at which the applicant had an opportunity to participate;
  - Restrains the person from harassing, stalking or threatening an intimate partner of the person or child of the intimate partner of the person, or engaging in other conduct that would place an intimate partner in reasonable fear of bodily injury to the partner or child; and Includes a finding that the person represents a credible threat to the physical safety of the intimate partner or child; or by its terms explicitly prohibits the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the intimate partner or child that would reasonably be expected to cause bodily injury.

Q. What are the requirements to obtain a Concealed Carry Weapons permit in North Carolina?

Complete an application, under oath, on a form provided by the sheriff’s office;

Pay a non-refundable fee of $80.00;

Allow the sheriff’s office to take two (2) full sets of fingerprints, which may cost up to $10.00;

Provide an original certificate of completion of an approved handgun safety course; and

Provide a release authorizing disclosure to the sheriff of any record concerning the applicant’s mental health or capacity.

In order for an applicant to be approved, he/she must:

Be a citizen of the United States;

Have been a resident of the State of North Carolina for not less than thirty (30) days immediately preceding the filing of the application;

Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age;

- Not suffer from any physical or mental infirmity that prevents the safe handling of a handgun; and
- Have successfully completed an approved firearms training course (unless specifically exempted from the course by State law).