GETTING A PERMIT

How do you get a pistol permit?

First, a person must submit an application to the sheriff’s office for approval. Once approved, the person is issued a permit to take to a gun dealer, where her or she can buy a pistol.

A purchase permit is also required for private-party purchases or pistols given as gifts, according to Deputy Paul Sherwin, public information officer for the Durham County Sheriff’s Office.

A concealed-handgun permit (also known as license) lets a person carry a pistol concealed on his or her body or in a vehicle where the law allows.

One must apply for a concealed-gun permit, and the process is more rigorous than for a regular gun permit. No mental or medical records are required for a gun permit, but they are required for a concealed permit, Sherwin said.

The sheriff’s office is responsible for the entire process, in accordance with North Carolina law.