NFA Gun Trust Lawyer Blog
Some of our clients in North Carolina regularly ask about pistol permits and trusts. In response to this, we asked a North Carolina Gun Trust Lawyer ® to explain how the North Carolina Pistol Permit (Click for a Sample Permit) works and what is prohibited. Here is his response:
North Carolina G.S. Section 14-402 requires that any person obtaining a pistol by purchase or other transfer must first get a permit from the sheriff in his county of residence. The sheriff conducts a criminal background check to make sure the receipt of the pistol would not violate state or federal law. Trustees of NFA trusts are not exempt from this requirement, so for any handguns transferred to or purchased by a gun trust a permit must first be obtained. Section 14-403 states that a permit shall be issued to “any person, firm or corporation,” which is broad enough to cover trustees. Thus, if the trustee passes the background check, there shouldn’t be a problem in getting the permit.
§ 14‑402. Sale of certain weapons without permit forbidden. (a) It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation in this State to sell, give away, or transfer, or to purchase or receive, at any place within this State from any other place within or without the State any pistol unless: (i) a license or permit is first obtained under this Article by the purchaser or receiver from the sheriff of the county in which the purchaser or receiver resides; or (ii) a valid North Carolina concealed handgun permit is held under Article 54B of this Chapter by the purchaser or receiver who must be a resident of the State at the time of the purchase.
Once of the benefits of working with a Gun Trust Lawyer® is that should you move from one state to another, you can make any changes to your Gun Trust that are necessary to keep you in compliance with both state and federal laws. Similar situations occur if an authorized user is located in another state or relocates after the trust is created or funded.