Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

dorminWS wrote:Well, I was a little bit shocked to find you had to get a PERMIT to buy a pistol in NC. It makes me wonder, if I should ever decide to pull up stakes and retire to NC where the majority of my grandkids are, how I would be obliged to domesticate my fairly extensive collection of handguns in North Carolina.

Check this carefully - do you have to get a permit to PURCHASE? Or merely to POSSESS? It might be the case that you have to get the "permit" only to buy a handgun in NC, but that you can move there with handguns you already own without having to get such a "permit."

I don't know the answer, as I'm not versed in NC firearms law; just making that point that you should be sure to confirm this before concluding that it actually is an issue for you.

I think it is a permit to purchase. But my point was, if you possess them, are a NC resident, and cannot produce a permit to have bought them, whether you might encounter a LEO willing to assume you acquired them illegally in NC. I have no records of where I purchased at least some of my pistols. It would just be my word that I acquired them in VA. My guess is it wouldn't stick, but it might be a major PITA.

Just a thought I had when I read this, but you might look at getting your collection insured against theft and destruction. If you do that while in VA, you would have it documented that your owned those firearms prior to moving to NC (if you do end up there). Like I said just a thought, at least that way a NC prosecutor would have a harder time proving that you obtained them "illegally" while in NC since you have shown that you owned them when you lived in Virginia.

Is there any requirement to present a permit to have purchased them when requested by an LEO? This pretty much is the distinction I was making between requiring a permit to purchase vs. possess. I guess I'm also wondering why a cop would even have reason to ask where you bought the gun. I would think his first concern would be whether you were legally carrying and possessing it.

I believe the permit to purchase in NC is something you obtain prior to the purchase of the handgun and turn over to the seller at time of purchase.The seller is then required I believe to hold on to these indefintely, rather than it being a permit the gun owner hangs on to and needs to present to prove ownership.