Gaston County

NORTH CAROLINA

Sheriff's Office

Handgun Purchase Permit

The County Sheriff is the only official authorized under N.C.G.S. 14-402 to issue a permit to receive or purchase a handgun or crossbow when a person who is a resident of his or her particular county submits an application. The sole exception is that the sheriff may issue a permit to a non-resident when the purpose of the permit is for collecting firearms. Prior to issuing a permit, the sheriff must certify by affidavits, oral evidence, or otherwise, that the applicant is of good moral character and that the person, firm, or corporation wants to possess the weapon for one of the following purposes:

  1. The protection of the applicant’s home, business, person, family, or property; or
  2. Target shooting; or
  3. Firearms Collection; or
  4. Hunting

Additionally, the sheriff must verify by a criminal history background investigation that it is not a violation of state or federal law for the applicant to purchase, transfer, receive, or possess a handgun. The sheriff shall determine the criminal history of any applicant by accessing computerized criminal history records as maintained by the State and Federal Bureau of Investigations, by conducting a national history records check, and by conducting a criminal history check through the Administration Office of the Courts. N.C.G.S. 14-404.

There are specific reasons that a permit may not be issued. 
(For a list or questions please contact the Sheriff’s Office)

The Sheriff shall inform each applicant for a permit within thirty (30) days of the date of his/her application as to whether the permit would be granted or denied.

When a Sheriff is not fully satisfied with the applicant’s good moral character or eligibility to receive a permit, he or she shall notify the applicant of the reason for his or her refusal to issue the permit within seven (7) days of his or her decision. An applicant who has been refused a permit has a right to appeal such refusal to the Chief District Court Judge for the district in which the application was filed. N.C.G.S. 14-404.

A five-dollar ($5.00) fee for each permit issued shall be paid to the Sheriff’s Office at the time an applicant is issued the handgun purchase permit. No fee will be required if the permit is denied.

  1. Complete an application; application forms can be picked up or brought back to the Sheriff's Office any day, Monday-Friday from 8:30am-4:30pm (except holidays).
  2. After completing the front page of the application, you will need to bring the application back to the Sheriff's Office.  After all record checks have been completed and the application is approved, the final permit can be picked up at the Sheriff's Office Monday-Friday from 8:30am-4:30pm.  When you turn your application in, you will be given a phone number to call back in three to five days to see if your application was approved.
  3. The fee charged by the Sheriff's Office for issuing gun permits is $5.00 each.  You may purchase up to five permits from one application.  This is payable (CASH ONLY) to the Sheriff's Office and is set by state law (G.S. 14-409).  When the permit is picked up at the Sheriff's Office, you will need to have correct change.  If you do not have the correct change, we cannot issue the permit.
  4. Gun permits are issued for the purchase of handguns only.  It does not give you the right to carry the gun concealed.  Carrying a concealed weapon without a N.C. State Concealed Handgun Permit is against the law (G.S. 14-269).

Gun permits are issued to allow you to purchase handguns for the protection of your home, business or property, to use in target shooting, hunting or collecting
APPLICATIONS EXPIRE WHEN PERMITS ARE ISSUED.  A NEW APPLICATION IS REQUIRED WHEN APPLYING FOR ANOTHER PERMIT.  PERMITS MUST BE PICKED UP BEFORE 4:30PM AND WITHIN 30 DAYS OF APPROVAL.  AFTER 30 DAYS THE APPLICATION WILL EXPIRE AND YOU WILL NEED TO RE-APPLY.

Handgun Purchase Permit Application

 

Concealed Weapon Carrying Permit

As of December 1, 1995, certain residents of North Carolina may be eligible to obtain a permit, which would allow them to carry a concealed handgun under certain conditions.
No other weapons may be carried concealed pursuant to such permit. The Sheriff is the only official who may issue a concealed permit. N.C.G.S. 14-415.11
In order to obtain a North Carolina Concealed Carry Permit, an individual must apply to the sheriff’s office in the county in which he/she resides. As part of the application process, the applicant must accomplish the following:

  1. Complete an application, under oath, on a form provided by the sheriff’s office;
  2. Pay a non-refundable fee of $80.00; and
  3. Allow the sheriff’s office to take two (2) full sets of fingerprints, which will cost $10.00;
  4. Provide an original certificate of completion of an approved handgun safety course; and
  5. Provide a release authorizing disclosure to the sheriff of any record concerning the applicant’s mental health capacity. N.C.G.S. 14-415.13

To renew a concealed carrying permit the same process will be required except that a new handgun safety course will not be needed as long as the original permit has not expired.

The Sheriff has ninety (90) days from the time all application materials are received to either issue or deny the permit. N.C.G.S. 14-415.15(a)

There are certain requirements to be approved before the sheriff can issue a permit and the sheriff must deny the permit if certain prohibitions exist. Contact the sheriff’s office or the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office for the requirements. There is a partial list of prohibitions on the back of the concealed carry application.

If a permit is denied the applicant may appeal the denial, the revocation, or non- renewal of a permit by petitioning a district court judge in the applicant’s residential district. The court’s determination will be based upon facts, law and reasonableness of the sheriff’s refusal to issue the permit. 

Citizens may obtain a Handgun Purchase Permit or a Concealed Carrying Permit at the Sheriff’s Office or download an application from the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office Web Site. To schedule an appointment for a Concealed Carry Permit Application please call 704-869-6830. For any questions concerning Handgun Purchase Permits or Concealed Carry Permits contact Captain Garry Williams at 704-869-6829.

Concealed Handgun Permit Application  APPLICATIONS EXPIRE WHEN PERMITS ARE ISSUED. A NEW APPLICATION IS REQUIRED WHEN APPLYING FOR ANOTHER PERMIT. PERMITS MUST BE PICKED UP BEFORE 4:30PM AND WITHIN 30 DAYS OF APPROVAL. AFTER 30 DAYS THE APPLICATION WILL EXPIRE AND YOU WILL NEED TO RE-APPLY.