NORTH CAROLINA QUALIFICATIONS

Concealed Carry – Handgun Permit

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

1. Be a citizen of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States;
2. Have been a resident of the State of North Carolina for not less than thirty (30) days immediately preceding the filing of the application;
3. Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age;
4. Not suffer from any physical or mental infirmity that prevents the safe handling of a handgun; and
5. Have successfully completed an approved firearms training course (unless specifically exempted from the course by State law).

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-415.12(a)(1-5).

The sheriff must deny the permit if certain prohibitions exist. The application must be denied if the applicant:

1. Is ineligible to possess or receive a firearm under federal or State law;
2. Is under indictment or against whom a finding of probable cause exists for a felony, or has ever been adjudicated guilty in any court of a felony;
3. Is a fugitive from justice;
4. Is an unlawful user of or addicted to marijuana, alcohol, or any depressant, stimulant or narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance;
5. Is currently, or has previously been adjudicated by a court, or administratively determined by a governmental agency whose decisions are subject to judicial review, to be lacking mental capacity or mentally ill. Receipt of previous consultative services or outpatient treatment alone shall not disqualify an applicant;
6. Has been discharged from the U.S. armed forces under conditions other than honorable;
7. Has been convicted of an impaired driving offense under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-138.1, 20-138.2 or 20-138.3 within three (3) years prior to the date of application submission;
8. Has had an entry of prayer for judgment continued for a criminal offense which would disqualify the applicant from obtaining a concealed handgun permit;
9. Is free on bond or personal recognizance pending trial, appeal, or sentencing for a crime which would disqualify him/her from obtaining a concealed handgun permit; or
10. Effective July 1, 2015 for all concealed handgun permit applications submitted on or after that date, an applicant who has been found guilty of or received a prayer for judgment continued or a suspended sentence for one of the following crimes listed in (a) through (t), AND THREE YEARS HAS PASSED PRIOR TO SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION, can (if otherwise qualified) receive a concealed handgun permit:

a. N.C.G.S. § 14-33(a), Simple assault;

b. N.C.G.S. § 14-226.1, Violation of court orders;

c. N.C.G.S. § 14-258.1, Furnishing poison, controlled substances, deadly weapons, cartridges, ammunition or alcoholic beverages to inmates of charitable, mental or penal institutions, or local confinement facilities;

d. N.C.G.S. § 14-269.2, Carrying weapons on campus or other educational property;

e. N.C.G.S. § 14-269.3, Carrying weapons into assemblies and establishments where alcoholic beverages are sold and consumed;

f. N.C.G.S. § 14-269.4, Carrying weapons on State property and courthouses;

g. N.C.G.S. § 14-269.6, Possession and/or sale of spring-loaded projectile knives;

h. N.C.G.S. § 14-277, Impersonation of a law enforcement or other public officer;

i. N.C.G.S. § 14-277.1, Communicating threats;

j. N.C.G.S. § 14-277.2, Carrying weapons at parades and other public gatherings;

k. N.C.G.S. § 14-283, Exploding dynamite cartridges and/or bombs (however violations for fireworks violations under N.C.G.S. § 14-414 are NOT a bar);

1. N.C.G.S. § 14-288.2, Rioting and inciting to riot;

m. N.C.G.S. § 14-288.4(a)(1), Fighting or conduct creating the threat of imminent fighting or other violence;

n. N.C.G.S. § 14-288.6, Looting and trespassing during an emergency;

o. N.C.G.S. § 14-288.9, Assault on emergency personnel;

p. Former N.C.G.S. § 14-288.12, Violations of city State of Emergency Ordinances;

q. Former N.C.G.S. § 14-288.13, Violations of county State of Emergency Ordinances;

r. Former N.C.G.S. § 14-288.14, Violations of State of Emergency Ordinances;

s. N. C. G. S . § 14-415.21(b), Violations of the standards for carrying a concealed weapon;

t. N.C.G.S. § 14-415.26(d), Misrepresentation on certification of qualified retired law enforcement officers.

Effective July 1, 2015 for all concealed handgun permit applications submitted on or after that date, an applicant IS permanently disqualified from receiving a concealed handgun permit if the applicant is or has been found guilty of or received a prayer for judgment continued or suspended sentence for the following misdemeanor crimes:

a. Misdemeanor crimes that involve violence and crimes under Article 8 of Chapter 14(other than the misdemeanors listed in paragraph 1.(a) through (t) above);

b. N.C.G.S. § 14-33(c)(1), Assault inflicting serious injury or using a deadly weapon;

c. N.C.G.S. § 14-33(c)(2), Assault on a female;

d. N.C.G.S. § 14-33(c)(3), Assault a child under the age of 12;

e. N.C.G.S. § 14-33(d), Assault inflicting serious injury or using a deadly weapon on a person in a personal relationship and in the presence of a minor;

f. N.C.G.S. § 14-277.3A, Stalking;

g. N.C.G.S. § 14-318.2, Child abuse;

h. N.C.G.S. § 14-134.3, Domestic criminal trespass; i. N.C.G.S. § 50B-4.1, Domestic violence protective order violations;

j. Former N.C.G.S. § 14-277.3, Stalking;

k. Any person convicted of a "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" as defined in federal law at 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8);

1. Any crimes involving an assault or a threat to assault a law enforcement officer, probation or parole officer, person employed at a State or local detention facility, firefighter, emergency medical technician, medical responder, or emergency department personnel.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-415.12(b)(1-11).