Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

North Carolina Permit-to-Purchase Repeal: It’s Been a Long Time Coming

Monday, April 3, 2023

North Carolina Permit-to-Purchase Repeal: It’s Been a Long Time Coming

Two weeks ago, the North Carolina General Assembly passed S. 41, legislation that sought to remove the requirement that all law-abiding North Carolinians apply for, and receive, a permit-to-purchase (PtP) before they could lawfully acquire a handgun in the state. The bill also sought to remove the absolute prohibition on valid carry permit holders carrying handguns intended for self-defense into any church that also has a school attached.

Anti-gun Governor Roy Cooper (D) vetoed the legislation, as he did in 2021 with two separate bills. While the 2021 vetoes held, last week, the General Assembly overrode his veto of this year’s bill that combined the two matters.

Of course, expanding our right to carry is important, but the story we want to talk about is the effort to repeal the unconstitutional and redundant PtP law.

The law was originally enacted in the early 20th Century, during a time when computerized records did not exist, and it was presumed that local sheriffs had a pretty good idea as to who were the “good” and “bad” people in their county. It required that anyone who wanted to acquire a pistol in North Carolina must first apply with their local sheriff for a PtP. The sheriff would then determine if the acquisition would be “allowed.”

Of course, at the time, there were very few laws on the books that spelled out specific prohibitions (things like being a convicted felon) on people acquiring firearms, so the law was written to require that applicants be “of good moral character,” which gave sheriffs plenty of latitude to deny applicants they did not want acquiring a handgun.

Giving a local sheriff the unilateral authority to deny someone of their right to arms seems like an obvious infringement on the Second Amendment, but it is important to remember that, in those days, we did not have the constant threat of anti-gun proposals being pushed on America that we do today. It is also likely that many law-abiding citizens simply ignored the law, especially when transferring firearms among friends and family, and many sheriffs likely ignored it as an unnecessary waste of resources.

But fast forward to the 21st Century, and the law not only looks clearly unconstitutional, but had become completely unnecessary with the implementation of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), which went online at the end of the 20th Century. With computerized records of those statutorily prohibited from acquiring or possessing firearms, anyone who went to a licensed gun dealer in North Carolina could simply undergo a NICS check—as the vast majority of the country did—and walk out with their purchase in a matter of minutes in most circumstances. This is far more efficient, than having to first go to their local sheriff, then wait for up to 30 days or more for the sheriff to process the application.

Not to mention the fact that, even if someone is not statutorily prohibited from acquiring a firearm, any sheriff could still deny issuing a PtP on the grounds that the applicant was not, in the sheriffs opinion, “of good moral character.”

While NRA had been long opposed to the PtP requirement, the real push to repeal it started in 2013, when North Carolina Senate Republicans, working with NRA on an omnibus bill that sought to make numerous improvements to the state’s gun laws, amended legislation to include repealing PtP. While that effort came up short, as did numerous others, we were determined to repeal this law.

Now, 10 years later, our goal has finally been achieved.

It was a lot of hard work, and there was a great deal of frustration along the way, but a bad law that was more than a century old is finally off the books. NRA thanks the Senate leadership of Senators Danny Britt, Warren Daniel, Jim Perry, Phil Berger, and others for fighting to protect the rights of North Carolina’s law-abiding citizens. Both Senators Berger and Daniel have been involved in the push to repeal PtP since 2013, and as the Senate President Pro Tem, Berger has always supported NRA’s efforts on this front, and he made sure his chamber got this done. Also, on the House side, NRA thanks Speaker Tim Moore, Representative Destin Hall, and others for their tireless efforts to advance Second Amendment freedom in the Tar Heel State. Speaker Moore has also been in this fight since 2013, and became a leader in the effort ever since he became Speaker in 2015.

Further, NRA thanks the lawmakers who voted for the veto override, as well as the North Carolina Rifle and Pistol Association for their leadership in ensuring the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens are protected throughout North Carolina.

TRENDING NOW
New York’s Ammunition Background Check System: An Expensive Wreck?

Gun Laws  

News  

Monday, September 25, 2023

New York’s Ammunition Background Check System: An Expensive Wreck?

The F-35 stealth jet isn’t the only example of expensive technology that crashed recently. The implementation of New York’s ammunition background check law – the rollout of which was, to be generous, extremely low visibility – was ...

Biden Creates New Office to Funnel Taxpayer Funds to Gun Control Advocacy

Gun Laws  

News  

Monday, September 25, 2023

Biden Creates New Office to Funnel Taxpayer Funds to Gun Control Advocacy

Professional gun control advocates have always had a seat at the table in the Biden White House. Now, however, they will not only sit at the table but determine its menu, set it, and compile ...

California: Governor Newsom Continues His Vendetta Against Lawful Gun Owners Signing Multiple Anti-Gun Bills into Law

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

California: Governor Newsom Continues His Vendetta Against Lawful Gun Owners Signing Multiple Anti-Gun Bills into Law

On Tuesday, September 26th, California Governor Gavin Newsom hosted a signing ceremony in Sacramento where he signed multiple anti-gun bills into law, most notably: an 11% excise tax on all firearms and ammunition; vastly expanded concealed carry ...

Seeking Attention, Not Solutions in New Mexico

News  

Monday, September 25, 2023

Seeking Attention, Not Solutions in New Mexico

After several weeks of the abject failure of New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s (D) attempt to suspend constitutional rights in her state, there are a number of theories as to what, exactly, she was ...

Massachusetts: Update on Proposed Sweeping Gun Control

Monday, July 17, 2023

Massachusetts: Update on Proposed Sweeping Gun Control

Late last month, Massachusetts politicians put forth HD 4420, “an act modernizing firearm laws.” This massive piece of legislation re-writes gun laws in the Commonwealth and imposes unprecedented gun-control.

NRA Slams Gov. Newsom's Latest Assault on Second Amendment

Gun Laws  

Second Amendment  

News  

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

NRA Slams Gov. Newsom's Latest Assault on Second Amendment

The National Rifle Association released the following statement on California Gov. Newsom's signing of gun control: "The NRA condemns the legislation enacted by Gov. Newsom. It is a blatant and egregious attack on the rights ...

Changes Coming Soon for New York State Gun Owners

News  

Monday, August 21, 2023

Changes Coming Soon for New York State Gun Owners

There are some significant changes due to take effect early next month in the Empire State.

Massachusetts: 2A Rally in Boston Commons, on September 27th

Friday, September 22, 2023

Massachusetts: 2A Rally in Boston Commons, on September 27th

Gun Owners’ Action League (GOAL) will be holding a rally against HD 4420 “an act modernizing firearm laws,” on Wednesday, September 27th.  NRA members and Second Amendment right supporters are encouraged to join the rally ...

Grassroots Spotlight: New Mexicans Rally to Oppose Gun Control

Take Action  

Monday, September 25, 2023

Grassroots Spotlight: New Mexicans Rally to Oppose Gun Control

New Mexico rallied in solidarity to defend the Second Amendment! On Saturday, September 16th, your NRA-ILA Grassroots team and 100 law-abiding New Mexicans gathered at Calibers Shooting Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and spoke out “on ...

Colorado: Anti-Hunting Legislation Initiative 91 Scheduled for Public Comment

Hunting  

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Colorado: Anti-Hunting Legislation Initiative 91 Scheduled for Public Comment

On Friday, September 22nd, Initiative 91 was filed to appear on the ballot in the November 2024 election in a push by anti-hunting advocates trying to stop the age-old practice of hunting predators, such as ...

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.