Concealed Weapon Permits | Pistol Purchase Permits | Fingerprinting | Incident Reports

Permits, Applications, Fingerprints

Obtaining Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) Permits

NOTE: On August 11th, 2004, the Governor signed into law that citizens with a CCW (Concealed Carry Weapons Permit) can purchase handguns through dealers, using their CCW. It is no longer necessary for these citizens, who have already been approved to carry a concealed weapon and have been fingerprinted, to come to the Sheriff's Office to obtain a Pistol Purchase Permit. 

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How is a Concealed Handgun Permit Obtained?

***Newly reformed reciprocity information (information about how a North Carolina CCW will be treated in another, particular, state) can be obtained at the North Carolina Department of Justice Website:
Concealed Hand gun Permits

• An applicant must be a citizen of the United States and have been a resident of the state thirty days or longer immediately preceding the filing of the application. The Sheriff may require the applicant to submit, if necessary,  appropriate documentation, to include birth certificates, tax filings or voter registration.
• The applicant must be twenty-one years of age or older.
• The applicant must not suffer from a physical or mental infirmity that prevents the safe handling of a handgun. The Sheriff will require the applicant to sign a release authorizing the Sheriff to receive physical and mental health records from a health care provider who has provided treatment or care to the applicant.
• The applicant must successfully complete an approved firearms safety and training course and deliver to the Sheriff a copy of the safety course certification.

FINGERPRINTING SCHEDULE FOR CCW:

1. Monday Through Thursday, 8:00AM to 4:00 PM

2. Fridays, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM

THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF CARRYING A CONCEALED HANDGUN:

• Your permit to carry a concealed handgun must be carried along with valid identification whenever the handgun is being carried concealed about your person or vehicle.
• When approached or addressed by any officer, you must disclose the fact that you have a valid concealed handgun permit and inform the officer that you are in possession of a concealed handgun. You should not attempt to draw or display either your weapon or your permit to the officer unless and until the officer directs you to do so. Your hands are to be kept in plain view and you should not make any sudden movements.
• Upon the request of any law enforcement officer, you must display both the permit and valid identification.
• You may not, with or without a permit, carry a concealed weapon while consuming alcohol or while alcohol or any controlled substances are in your blood unless the controlled substance was obtained legally and taken in therapeutically appropriate amounts.
• You must notify the Sheriff who issued the permit of any address change within thirty days of the change of address.
• If the permit is lost or destroyed, you must notify the Sheriff who issued the permit and apply for a duplicate permit by submitting a notarized statement to that effect along with the required fee. Do not carry a handgun without it.
• Even with a permit, you may not carry a concealed handgun in the following areas:
  • Any law enforcement or correctional facility;
  • Any space occupied by state or federal employees;
  • A financial institution;
  • Any premises where the carrying of a concealed handgun is prohibited by the posting of a statement by the controller of the premises;
  • Educational property;
  • Areas of assemblies, parades, funerals, or demonstrations;
  • Places where alcoholic beverages are sold and consumed;
  • State occupied property;
  • Any state or federal courthouse;
  • In any area prohibited by federal law;
  • - Any local government building if the local government has adopted an ordinance and posted signs prohibiting the carrying of concealed weapons.

If you are in a vehicle and stopped by a law enforcement officer, you should put both hands on the steering wheel, announce you are in possession of a concealed handgun and state where you have it concealed, and that you are in possession of a permit. Do not remove your hands from the wheel until instructed to do so by the officer.

Renewal Of Existing Concealed Handgun Permits

Your concealed handgun permit is valid for 5 years from the date issued.  It is your responsibility to complete the forms when your permit is near expiration.  We suggest that you fill out the papers at least 90 days before the date of expiration.  This will assist you in obtaining your new permit before the old one expires.

You will be sent a notice that your permit will expire on a certain date. Please comply and come in and renew your permit if you intend to keep the CCW Permit. Failure to renew your permit on time will require you to go through the entire initial process.

Melissa Cranford  with our Office processes concealed Handgun Permits.  The forms can be picked up at our front desk Monday thru Friday between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm.

Fingerprinting schedules are on Wednesdays and Thursday from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. Please call Melissa if an emergency exists which will not allow you to come in on prescribed times. Melissa Cranford can be reached by calling 704-878-3180.

Related Links

Below is a list of the North Carolina General Statutes pertaining to Concealed Handgun Permits. To read the information directly from the State's Website, Click on the related links for CCW Permits and General Statutes.

CLICK ON THE STATUTE NUMBER TO SEE THE NC LAW.

ARTICLE 54B

CONCEALED HANDGUN PERMIT

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Concealed Weapon Permits | Pistol Purchase Permits | Fingerprinting | Incident Reports