Bo’s Gun Shop
Elizabeth City, NC
PURCHASING A FIREARM
FOR NC RESIDENTS:
What do I need to purchase a handgun?
- 1. Either one of the following:
- 1.1. A $5.00 pistol purchase permit issued by the sheriff’s department of the COUNTY IN WHICH YOU LIVE to purchase each particular handgun you want to purchase. You may fill it out online by going to:
1.2 Or a current NC issued Concealed Carry Permit. Acquiring a Concealed Carry Permit is a somewhat
involved process which may be found and started online at:
2. And One of the following:
2.1 A valid NC driver’s license or DMV issued picture ID card, either of which list your current address
2.2 A current military ID AND a copy of your PCS orders stationing you in NC (may NOT use TDY)
2.3 For immigrants and those here on VISAs please contact the ATF for a list of the required ID
3. You must be at least 21 years of age.
4. You must be a current resident of NC (by federal law, no-one may purchase a handgun outside the state of their
residence and walk out with the firearm - it must be shipped to a licensed dealer in the state of your residence,
you pay that dealer a “transfer fee” and fill out the ATF form)
5. You may NOT be a felon or have been dishonorably discharged from the military
To purchase a long gun?
- 1. One of the following:
- 1.1. A valid NC driver’s license or DMV issued picture ID card, either of which list your current address
- 1.2. A valid government issued picture ID AND a document like a rental contract or electric bill that has your name and your current North Carolina address.
- 1.3. A valid military ID and a copy of your PCS orders that show you are stationed in North Carolina
- 2. You must be at least 18 years of age.
- 3. You may NOT be a felon or have been dishonorably discharged from the military
Then what do I do?
- 1. Pay your deposit (typically at least 50% the total cost of the firearm at which time I’ll place the firearm on order.
- 2. Then wait on my phone call to come pick your firearm up. Please note YOU must pick it up with your IDs you presented above.
- 3. Come into the shop and fill out a Federal Firearms Purchase Form
- 4. Once complete I perform a federal background check which compares your name against a database the FBI keeps ensuring you are not prohibited from firearm purchases. I can do this via the internet and usually the check comes back within an hour, often less. Note that if for some reason you are ineligible to purchase the firearm as indicated by either your confession on the purchase form, or should the FBI background check come back disapproved, I will refund your money, minus the transaction fee ($35.00+tax = $37.45) and the shipping costs both ways (to me originally and the return to my distributor. Please check the legal requirements for purchasing a firearm before you start the process!
- 5. Enjoy your firearm and the safety, protection, security, and fun it offers!
Please note that anyone who is a US citizen (and there are exceptions even to that) with a current government issued picture ID that includes your address can purchase a long gun, regardless of which state in which you live. ONLY NC residents may purchase a handgun directly. The federal rules allow you to only directly purchase hand guns in the state of which you are a resident. To purchase a handgun either “online” or by telephone, I’d have to ship your handgun or long gun to an FFL dealer local to you and you would be responsible to pay shipping costs to me and a transfer fee to your local FFL dealer.
Also, please note “straw purchases,” or purchasing a gun for someone else is a federal offense. This is to prevent persons who would not otherwise be able to purchase a gun from getting someone else to purchase it for them. Purchasing a gun as a gift is NOT a “straw purchase.”
FOR NON NC RESIDENTS (except military - military see below):
What do I need to purchase a handgun?
This section ONLY applies to someone living outside North Carolina who purchases a handgun from a dealer in North Carolina. Unfortunately, federal law leaves rules governing handguns up to each individual state. So there are technically fifty sets of rules regarding the sale of handguns. You may still purchase a handgun from me (or another licensed dealer) even though you are not a NC resident, provided:
- 1. You are not a felon
- 2. You are at least 21 years of age
- 3. You meet the legal requirements of your particular state for the purchase of a handgun
- 4. The process would be:
- 4.a. You identify an FFL dealer in your area that does firearm “transfers.”
- 4.b. You pay me for the handgun AND shipping costs.
- 4.c. You inform your local FFL dealer you have made the purchase and provide me with their email address and phone number. I’ll obtain a copy of their FFL.
- 4.d. Once I’ve received the dealer’s FFL I’ll ship the handgun to your chosen FFL dealer.
- 4.e. The dealer will contact you when it arrives and you will go to them and complete the federal and if required, state documents to make a handgun purchase.
- 4.f. The dealer will perform the federal background check and if the FBI says “proceed” you will pay the transfer fee to the dealer and walk out with your handgun.
- 5. If for some reason you turn out to not be eligible to purchase a handgun as determined at your local FFL dealer, the dealer will charge you for the transfer process and shipping charges. They will ship the firearm back to me and I’ll refund 75% of your purchase price.
Also, please note “straw purchases,” or purchasing a gun for someone else is a federal offense. This is to prevent persons who would not otherwise be able to purchase a gun from getting someone else to purchase it for them. Purchasing a gun as a gift is NOT a “straw purchase.
SPECIAL RULES FOR MILITARY PURCHASING A FIREARM
- 1. For a handgun, either a valid handgun purchase permit issued by the Sheriff’s Department of the county in which you live OR a NC Concealed Carry Permit
- 2. Active Duty military who have PCS orders to North Carolina must meet and provide documentation of at least ONE of the following:
- 2.1. A valid NC driver’s license or DMV issued picture ID card, either of which list your current address
- 2.2. Your current military ID AND a copy of your PCS orders stationing you in NC (may NOT use TDY) AND a document that shows your North Carolina living address. This can be a water bill, electric bill, lease, mortgage statement, or NC Concealed Carry Permit that shows your name (may include your spouse but must have your name) and address.
- 3. You must be at least 21 years of age for a handgun or 18 years of age for a long gun.
- 4. $35.00 + tax = $37.45/ATF form 4473. Add 5% if using debit or credit card.
Also, please note “straw purchases,” or purchasing a gun for someone else is a federal offense. This is to prevent persons who would not otherwise be able to purchase a gun from getting someone else to purchase it for them. Purchasing a gun as a gift is NOT a “straw purchase.
What do you need to purchase a long gun (shotgun or rifle)?
- 1. You are not a felon
- 2. You are 18 years of age or older
- 3. A valid government issued picture ID with your current address listed.
- 4. $35.00 + tax = $37.45/ATF form 4473
Please note that anyone who is a US citizen (and there are exceptions even to that) with a current government issued picture ID that includes your address can purchase a long gun, regardless of which state in which you live. ONLY NC residents may purchase a handgun directly. The federal rules allow you to only directly purchase hand guns in the state of which you are a resident. To purchase a handgun either “online” or by telephone, I’d have to ship your handgun or long gun to an FFL dealer local to you and you would be responsible to pay shipping costs to me and a transfer fee to your local FFL dealer.
Also, please note “straw purchases,” or purchasing a gun for someone else is a federal offense. This is to prevent persons who would not otherwise be able to purchase a gun from getting someone else to purchase it for them. Purchasing a gun as a gift is NOT a “straw purchase.”
PURCHASING A FIREARM ONLINE:
This isn’t as hard as you might think! Ensure you meet the criteria listed above as applicable based upon your residency status. Contact the seller with my email address and phone number (bosgunshopec@gmail.com, 252-338-6485) and ask them to contact me. Once they have done so I’ll email them a copy of my Federal Firearms License (FFL) which they have to have in order to ship the firearm to me. The seller should email you a copy of the shipping information. Please forward a copy of that email to me and include your name, phone number, the make and model of the firearm you purchased, and whether there are more than one firearms being shipped from one or more sellers - DO NOT TEXT this information to me! When your firearm(s) arrive(s) and I have processed it/them I will call you so we can set up a time for you to come in we’ll complete the ATF form and FBI background check. I charge $35.00 + tax = $37.45 per ATF form 4473 (which can have up to 3 firearms) (add 5% for credit or debit card use).
Also, please note “straw purchases,” or purchasing a gun for someone else is a federal offense. This is to prevent persons who would not otherwise be able to purchase a gun from getting someone else to purchase it for them. Purchasing a gun as a gift is NOT a “straw purchase.