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Registering handguns in NC

mbs357

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I asked this question in another thread but it seemed to go unnoticed, or vaguely answered. I just need to know if law in NC (Hertford county specficially) requires handguns to be registered.
I realise the steps for purchasing handguns is request pistol permit, wait, get permit, buy gun, wait, get gun (correct?) but is there a register handgun step?
 

Jones_Jon

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Im pretty sure this question was answered for all of NC but im not 100% sure but from what ive read is that there is no nc law requiring you to register your handgun but i belive there is for machine guns?? but thats another story. If someone could back me up on this answer.
 

Jones_Jon

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Im pretty sure this question was answered for all of NC but im not 100% sure but from what ive read is that there is no nc law requiring you to register your handgun but i belive there is for machine guns?? but thats another story. If someone could back me up on this answer.
 

Jones_Jon

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alright sorry bout that double or triple post my wireless is being gay.
 

DreQo

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mbs357 wrote:
I asked this question in another thread but it seemed to go unnoticed, or vaguely answered. I just need to know if law in NC (Hertford county specficially) requires handguns to be registered.
I realise the steps for purchasing handguns is request pistol permit, wait, get permit, buy gun, wait, get gun (correct?) but is there a register handgun step?

Handguns do not need to be registered in the State of NC, period. You should receive your purchase permit on the same day you apply for it. The last time someone I know applied for one, they did it at the local gun show and it took about 30 minutes because there were a lot of permits getting processed at once. Once you have that permit, you can immediately purchase your handgun. There is no waiting required. When we went to the gun show, it took about 45 minutes to walk in empty handed and walk out with a handgun.

Again, there is no handgun registration in North Carolina.

(I am not a lawyer, but this is the advice that I live by.)
 

mbs357

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This is pretty good news. Reason I ask is (not just for future reference as I intend to buy a handgun soon) but I know a guy who was given a .22 pistol by a good friend. He's always been too scared to go out and shoot it for fear of a cop pulling up and catching him with an unregistered handgun.
 

DreQo

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mbs357 wrote:
This is pretty good news. Reason I ask is (not just for future reference as I intend to buy a handgun soon) but I know a guy who was given a .22 pistol by a good friend. He's always been too scared to go out and shoot it for fear of a cop pulling up and catching him with an unregistered handgun.

Well keep in mind, a permit to purchase a handgun is required to receive a handgun in NC, even if it just "given" to you. As long as your buddy legally acquired the handgun (i.e. received it while he was in a state where private transfers are legal) there's no problem.

A cop is not going to just roll up and check your gun, unless you're doing something illegal.
 

burninsteeda04

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How does a LEO check your gun if you bought through a private sale. Im just curious or does he check the serial number to see if it is been reported stolen.
 

DreQo

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burninsteeda04 wrote:
How does a LEO check your gun if you bought through a private sale. Im just curious or does he check the serial number to see if it is been reported stolen.

In NC, he can run the serial number to see if it has been reported as stolen. In states where handgun registration is required, a LEO could check to see if it was registered. I don't know if a LEO can easily check who purchased the handgun from a FFL dealer or not. Perhaps a LEO would like to chime in on this one.
 

burninsteeda04

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Yeh im just curious to know if a cop stops you for OC as he may be unaware that it is legal. and wonder how he would know if it was really yours if it wasnt reported yet.
 

dubccat51

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They can check a handgun to see if it's stolen by entering the serial number in to a national database of stolen firearms but I've never heard of a cop doing it ifyou don't commit a crime with the gun. As long asthe gunwasn't reported stolen, it is considered a legal firearm. When you buy a firearm from a private party, always get a bill of sale and keep it.
 

DreQo

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dubccat51 wrote:
They can check a handgun to see if it's stolen by entering the serial number in to a national database of stolen firearms but I've never heard of a cop doing it ifyou don't commit a crime with the gun. As long asthe gunwasn't reported stolen, it is considered a legal firearm. When you buy a firearm from a private party, always get a bill of sale and keep it.
HAHA that's funny. You haven't been on this forum long enough :D. There have been quite a few people who have had their guns "removed for officer safety", and ran through the system "to check if it is stolen". All of this during a routine stop that either involved an unrelated minor traffic crime, or no crime at all.
 

mbs357

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I don't think he got a permit when he got it...was probably just unaware. From what I can tell the story was just "here you want this?"

Where can we go to run the numbers for stolen guns? I seriously doubt it's stolen, but it couldn't hurt.
 

dubccat51

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The only place that I know of is the police, and if it is stolen, you're in big trouble mister :shock:.

DreQo, I remember some people's guns getting taken away for "officer safety" but I never remember them saying that the serial numbers had been put through the system to see if they were stolen.
 

acritical

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DreQo wrote:
mbs357 wrote:
I asked this question in another thread but it seemed to go unnoticed, or vaguely answered. I just need to know if law in NC (Hertford county specficially) requires handguns to be registered.
I realise the steps for purchasing handguns is request pistol permit, wait, get permit, buy gun, wait, get gun (correct?) but is there a register handgun step?

Handguns do not need to be registered in the State of NC, period. You should receive your purchase permit on the same day you apply for it. The last time someone I know applied for one, they did it at the local gun show and it took about 30 minutes because there were a lot of permits getting processed at once. Once you have that permit, you can immediately purchase your handgun. There is no waiting required. When we went to the gun show, it took about 45 minutes to walk in empty handed and walk out with a handgun.

Again, there is no handgun registration in North Carolina.

(I am not a lawyer, but this is the advice that I live by.)
Wow, that is pretty good. The last time I applied for a purchase permit, it took five days before I got it. Is this something new, the way it works in your county, or because of the gun show?
 

mbs357

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So what you're saying is, since he didn't get a permit to purchase/recieve the gun when it was given to him (it WAS a gift) there's nothing he can do to make the gun 'legal'?
 

burninsteeda04

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if it was a gift get that member who gave the gift to go to a ffl who does transfers and you provide your newly aquired pistol purchase permit to the Dealer who signs off on it. Then it becomes legal without you worrying.

Just my 2 cents.
 

dubccat51

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As long as it was not reported stolen, it is a legal firearm. Otherwise, since we do not have a registration system, the police cannot prove that the firearm was obtained through illegal means.
 

dubccat51

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I would do like Burninsteeda04 sayes and use an FFL to transfer it. That way you are assured that it is legal. It may cost like $30 or something like that plus a pistol purchase permitbut it is well worth it.
 
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