Records obtained by WBTV show that in some cases in Mecklenburg County the total process takes up to a year. But as we hire, the demand is still there, McFadden said. I would say the interest is probably ramped up a little bit since the beginning of last year. On the first day of the changes in May, Channel 9s Genevieve Curtis saw several people already standing in line at the sheriffs office. All permits costs are non-refundable. In an interview with WCNC Charlotte last August, Sheriff McFadden blamed the delays on a surge of gun purchases and not enough staff members to process them. Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office GUN PERMITS 715 East 4th Street Charlotte, NC 28202 Tamara Rhode TEL: 980-314-5061 Fax: 704.432.5246. . Updated: 5:38 PM EDT May 12, 2022. The Sheriff's Office said they saw an almost 150% increase in gun purchase permits and 76% in CHP applicants during the height of the pandemic. It's frustrating for everybody," Hyatt said. WSOC TV facebook feed(Opens a new window), RELATED COVERAGE: Sheriffs office faces lawsuit as gun permit applicants wait months for approval, Busy road reopens after crash involving police cruiser in northwest Charlotte, Another homebuyer says Keyo Tiny House didnt do the work, Cornelius police officer resigns after arrest, officials say, DMVs scheduling changes to increase walk-in availability take effect, 2-year-old daughter of Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB Shaquil Barrett drowns in pool, WSOC - TV Public File Contact / Program Director, WAXN - TV Public File Contact / Program Director. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. I want to again thank the incredible staff of the Permitting and Registration Division for their tremendous efforts during this crisis and for remaining open while many other counties closed their doors. In May, a superior court judge granted a preliminary injunction in response to that lawsuit, requiring the sheriffs office to take fingerprints on the same day a concealed handgun application is submitted. To ensure compliance by a sheriff who has so far dragged his feet, Grass Roots North Carolina advises anyone whose fingerprints are not taken with five business days of completing a concealed handgun application to contact us immediately. So you might as well just start.. If something happens in our county like we see on the television each and every day, then the finger will still be pointed at the sheriffs office. The sheriffs office also said that it never failed to request mental health records within the required 10 days of a completed gun permit application. Sess., c. 14, s. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Please visit the below website for further information regarding NC Concealed Handgun Firearms Laws and reciprocity:NC DOJ Information. About 42 percent of those have been completed. All arrest/warrant inquiries can be submitted to the Public Information Office mcsopublicinformation@mecknc.gov and will be processed as soon as data is available or Individuals can call Arrest Processing to look up and verify warrants until the online system is restored, 980-314-5100. (WATCH BELOW: 66-year-old woman, husband play waiting game to get concealed-carry permits). When I first got mine it took about 3 months and now I think its at least double that, Ron Pruette, who has been a gun owner for the last 50 years, said. The concealed carry permit is administered through your local Sheriff's office. Once the sheriffs office receives all of the documentation from the investigative process, they have 45 days to issue or deny the permit. Some said they had been waiting for months to get fingerprinted. McFadden says hes hiring additional staff and has authorized thousands of hours of overtime to help catch up. There are currently about 7,600 concealed handgun permit applications pending in Mecklenburg county. It includes a required class to conceal carry. "I recommend this in my class Open carry until you can conceal carry.. You can stream WCNC Charlotte on Roku and Amazon Fire TV, just download the free app. "At least that is what they are stating. For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app. Internal Links. Sam Cranston has been teaching classes to help people get their concealed carry license for about a decade. The permit costs $90 for new permits and $75 to renew a permit. CHARLOTTE The Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office said its making significant progress on the processing of concealed carry handgun and pistol purchase permits after a considerable backlog throughout the pandemic. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office canceled all fingerprinting appointments to follow an order issued by a North Carolina Superior Court judge for gun permits. Medical offices that review mental health checks, including Veteran's Affairs, are to blame for the delay, sheriff's office claims, CMPD officer taken to hospital after crash in west Charlotte, FORECAST: Sunny skies, cool, and breezy today, Yosemite flood risk, closures block some springtime visitors, 7,600 concealed handgun permit applications pending in Mecklenburg county, Trudeau orders immediate ban on handgun sales in Canada, Greensboro woman almost robbed after getting help with a flat tire on US-29. Sheriff's office faces lawsuit as gun permit applicants wait on approval CHARLOTTE An attorney filed a lawsuit Thursday after people claimed they have experienced extensive delays trying to. It comes after gun rights advocates sued the Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office, saying people faced long delays when trying to get handgun permits from the sheriffs office. It comes after gun rights advocates sued the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office, saying people faced long delays when trying to get handgun permits from the sheriff's office. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. If you are obtaining fingerprints that require electronic submission to the SBI, please make sure you receive the Electronic Submission form from the agency requesting that you be fingerprinted. So, I just applied for it when I got the class done back in March and been patiently waiting, Michael Diaz said. The sheriffs office said it will stop accepting fingerprinting customers at 4:30 p.m. to accommodate the anticipated long lines. This comes after McFadden was sued by two organizations that accused him of not following the law for issuing handgun permits. During theCOVID period, they got really bad with over a year wait, Hyatt said. Brittney Melton, AP. Mecklenburg County. Please use the order tracker to print and keep a copy of the attached receipt for your records if you have not already done so. The sheriffs department said it is in compliance with the North Carolina General Statute. Click here to sign up for the daily Wake Up Charlotte newsletter. Cranston says there isnt much his customers can do. The Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office offers this online service as a convenience to the community. A copy of the lawsuit against Sheriff McFadden can be viewed here. The perfect storm of a global pandemic and a staffing crisis, combined with an unprecedented number of permit applications, presented a significant challenge for our office. The plaintiffs want to challenge the permit laws mental health provisions. But despite that change, the new lawsuit says applicants are still facing challenges. "If he needs to dedicate more resources to doing it, then I guess he's going to have to do that. I know in some states its a little bit quicker, but I live in North Carolina. From the beginning of the year, there have been 322 applications denied, according to the Sheriff's office. The fact is, these people have a right, Valone said. According to the lawsuit, both tried to renew them before they expired, but they still have not been granted. The legal fees for this suit are being covered by GOA and GRNC. WSOC TV facebook feed(Opens a new window), Meck County making significant progress on concealed carry and pistol permits, sheriff says, Sheriffs office faces lawsuit as gun permit applicants wait months for approval, ALSO READ: Police concerned over increase in guns stolen from cars in Charlotte, Busy road reopens after crash involving police cruiser in northwest Charlotte, Another homebuyer says Keyo Tiny House didnt do the work, Cornelius police officer resigns after arrest, officials say, DMVs scheduling changes to increase walk-in availability take effect, 2-year-old daughter of Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB Shaquil Barrett drowns in pool, WSOC - TV Public File Contact / Program Director, WAXN - TV Public File Contact / Program Director. Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office . Thats a big change from the temporary order, which required fingerprinting to be available within five days of an application being submitted. PREVIOUS: Sheriffs office faces lawsuit as gun permit applicants wait months for approval. Within the last couple of weeks MCSO began using an interface between the state system and our permit vendor, Permitium to eliminate staff from having to do duplicate entry on new applicants.. [WANT TO WATCH ON OUR STREAMING APPS? For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app. And thats what the sheriff is doing to these people.. Related Content - mecklenburg county sheriff gun permit tracker WebPermit 7.1.5 - Home GUESTS. Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office Judge Clifton E. Johnson Building 700 E. 4th Street, Suite 120 Charlotte, NC 28202 Phone: 704-336-3665 . "If you are a domestic violence abuser, a minor, somebody experiencing a mental health crisis, you can go to a gun show or online and buy a gun, no questions asked," Ceartas said. Listen to the podcast weekly. The sheriffs office also said that it never failed to request mental health records within the required 10 days of a completed gun permit application. The appointment to get fingerprinted was scheduled for June. All it takes is forgetting to lock a gun just one time. Services > Get permits & licenses - City of Charlotte However, other, less populated counties havent had the same backlog. If youre in Mecklenburg County, expect it to be about a year from the time you take the class, get an appointment to start your application and then the application will be processed, Cranston said. Applications are processed first in, first out, and unfortunately, the facilities do not send the releases back in chronological order. Always double check to make sure that it is locked at all times. Meck sheriff: Fingerprinting for gun permits now first come, first served after judges order. We have been back in compliance with all statutory timeframes since March of this year, and I am confident that we will remain so.. Previously, he said he had thousands of guns in his safe because prospective gun owners were waiting for their permits to be processed. In a statement to WCNC Charlotte, the sheriff's office said it would not comment on pending legal matters but that the permits backlog was caught up in March. Statement from Grass Roots North Carolina president Paul Valone in May, one of the plaintiffs in the injunction: In violation of North Carolina law, Sheriff Garry McFadden has been dragging his feet in processing North Carolina pistol purchase permits and concealed handgun permits, often taking up to a year to issue permits and preventing lawful North Carolinians from buying and carrying handguns for defense of themselves and their families. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Thats a big change from the temporary order, which required fingerprinting to be available within five days of an application being submitted. Information Line: 704-336-8100. It passed the House and will be heard by the Senate next week as supporters argued the pistol purchase permit is outdated and unreliable. We are looking for plaintiffs who have a pending pistol purchase permit or concealed handgun permit application in Mecklenburg County, and who have experienced delays in the processing of their application. Some said they had been waiting for months to get fingerprinted. . SUBSCRIBE:Apple Podcasts||Spotify||Stitcher||Google Podcasts. So, I just applied for it when I got the class done back in March and been patiently waiting, Michael Diaz said. [Gun locks are excellent devices when used in combination with other safety habits. One of the plaintiffs on the lawsuit is Gun Owners of America, Inc., which was, formed in 1976 to preserve and defend the Second Amendment rights of gun owners. According to the lawsuit, many of the organizations members have applied for concealed handgun permits but have been denied or havent gotten them in a timely fashion. A right delayed is a right denied. handgun permit application and pay the non . Click the button below for Concealed Handgun Permit information and applications. CMPD officer taken to hospital after crash in west Charlotte, FORECAST: Sunny skies, cool, and breezy today, Yosemite flood risk, closures block some springtime visitors, may no longer delay issuing permits to people who apply, Superior Court judge rules Mecklenburg County can no longer delay issuing handgun permits, Rep. Madison Cawthorn cited for loaded gun at Charlotte airport. Especially for the military veterans who should be able to go right through. In Mecklenburg county, they send the applications to five different mental health facilities. Irwin Carmichael, a concealed carry permit instructor and former Mecklenburg County sheriff, explained. State law requires the sheriff's office to approve or deny pistol purchase permits within 14 days of receiving applications. She was also in line that morning. 2 killed, 4 wounded in Mississippi shooting; man arrested, 150 years later, Dixon bridge tragedy among nation's worst, Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy says he wants to 'shut down the FBI' and replace it with something that sounds a lot like the FBI, Sanders: Biden could win in a landslide, Winners named in 2023 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, Possible tornado damage in Fort Hood, Texas, Clear skies expected for your Monday morning. Defendant McFaddens custom, policy, and practice of refusing to timely issue pistol purchase permits and concealed handgun permits violates the North Carolina Constitution because the Sheriffs actions infringe on the right of the people to keep and bear arms, rights that shall not be infringed, according to the lawsuit. Becky Ceartas, the executive director of North Carolinians Against Gun Violence, said eliminating the permit would create a dangerous loophole. Flashpointis a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond with host Ben Thompson. Keep a gun lock on your gun after it is unloaded. We have also found that not everyone discloses their military status on their application, so to be sure we are getting accurate information our process is to check everyone through the same facilities which include the VA. We always see different sectors of our industry - hunting, self-defense, hobby shooting - and they always move differently," Hyatt explained. Grass Roots North Carolina and Gun Owners of America filed the suit last August. Gun locks can provide a false sense of security. Caroline Thomas took a concealed-carry class earlier this year. McFadden thanked staff for the overtime to help erase the backlog. It is so hard to see that frustration.. Gun owners in Mecklenburg County say the pistol . It is that the numbers have went up, Meckelnburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden said. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT. McFadden said he chooses to check with individual health providers for each applicant and requests mental health records instead of relying solely on a national database. The Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office has 7,116 concealed handgun permits that are currently unfulfilled as of November 28, 2022, according to data provided by the sheriffs office. Fingerprints are $10 for up to 5 fingerprint cards. The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office has 7,116 concealed handgun permits that are currently unfulfilled as of November 28, 2022, according to data provided by the sheriff's office. Ron is one of our gun-friendly lawyers and helps people state-wide in fighting for their Second Amendment rights. Some said they . Im live at 5 & 6 pm on @wcnc to break down the lawsuit. The sheriff's office must inform a gun owner whether it will approve or deny a pistol purchase permit within 14 days of receiving the application. In a statement to WCNC Charlotte, the sheriff's office said it would not comment on pending legal matters but that the permits backlog was caught up in March. I'll go to jail. > Select an option from the View Permits menu to: View permits and inspections by address or . 700 E. 4th Street, Charlotte, NC 28202 Information Line: 704-336-8100 "If he needs to dedicate more resources to doing it, then I guess he's going to have to do that.". Full statement from Sheriff Garry McFadden on June 10 regarding the new consent order: I am very pleased to have resolved the handgun permitting litigation for the grand total of $7.00 (one dollar per plaintiff), and the promise to continue to abide by all statutorily imposed timeframes for processing permit applications, as frankly that would be my commitment regardless of any litigation. Welcome to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office 'Civil Process' Order Tracker! You do have the option of applying and paying via cash in person at the Sheriffs office. Now, a judge is requiring the sheriffs office to take fingerprints on the same day a concealed handgun application is submitted. The sheriff's office issued a statement saying it was "disappointed" with the new requirement for fingerprinting applicants so quickly. CHARLOTTE, N.C. Fingerprinting is now available at the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office as the county speeds up the processing of handgun permits. These people are being denied their right to protect themselves by a sheriff who is refusing to issue concealed handgun permits in less than, in many cases, a year or more, Paul Valone told Senz. Shook points out that the injunction is temporary but hopes the two sides can come to an agreement and avoid pursuing further litigation. Larry Hyatt, the owner of Hyatt Guns, said he has about 2,000 guns in safes on layaway, waiting on their owners' pistol purchase permits to be approved. Click here to sign up for the daily Wake Up Charlotte newsletter, Flashpointis a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina,South Carolina, and beyond with host Ben Thompson. (This Package includes Fingerprints, Notary Services, and the Carry Concealed Permit) Do Not Order/Schedule for Fingerprints or Notarize Documents (NEW), Click the button below for fingerprinting information. Some said they had been waiting for months to get fingerprinted. "But, we know the people downtown are trying hard. Make sure children don't have access to the keys to gun locks and gun and ammunition storage areas. ", Sheriff McFadden's office issued the following statement: "The Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office has yet to receive the lawsuit in question but does not comment on pending litigation. You are required to fill out the online application for this service. A permit to purchase a gun takes about 14 days to process once the application is submitted. CHARLOTTE, N.C. A group of gun owners and organizations filed a lawsuit against Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden (D), accusing him of not following the law for issuing handgun permits. Its a problem only in Mecklenburg County, he said. The process was all online. Its shocking to most people, but thats just the way it is, Cranston said. We are going to hire more staff. ), (This Package includes Fingerprints, Notary Services, and the Carry Concealed Permit) Do Not Order/Schedule for Fingerprints or Notarize Documents (NEW). Its not that the Sheriffs Office is making it longer than it is cut out to be. He got his concealed carry permit 15 years ago and it was renewed last summer. In May, the sheriffs office transitioned fingerprinting services to a first-come, first-served basis from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mitch Hyatt, the vice president of Hyatt Gun Shop in Charlotte, is seeing the customer demand. Sheriff Garry McFadden said the progress is a relief. Despite the frustrations he is hearing from people, Carmichael said the mental health checks are necessary. 2023 Cox Media Group. . It got back closer to normal with the three-month wait, which people were happy about, but now it seems people are back to having a hard time., Theres [definitely] a business impact to us if people have to wait but really we just feel for them, Hyatt said. The CCA of NC brings North Carolina's concealed carry community the most complete, current, and accurate information possible. Rons contact information can be found on our website under the gun-friendly lawyers tab., (WATCH BELOW: Sheriffs office faces lawsuit as gun permit applicants wait on approval), Search for self managed wealth investment accounts. I support the second amendment and the right to bear arms. is a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond with host Ben Thompson. They cite medical offices, including Veterans Affairs, with the delay. [WANT TO WATCH ON OUR STREAMING APPS? In an interview on Wednesday, McFadden defended the permit process and explained the rules that were in place before he took office and reinforced his support of the Second Amendment. We believe this order sends a clear message to sheriffs in Guilford, Mecklenburg and Wake counties, among others, that obstructing lawful citizens from exercising the right to keep and bear arms will no longer be tolerated. Gun rights advocates sued him in August 2021 after applicants faced long delays when applying for permits. Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office Judge Clifton E. Johnson Building 700 E. 4th Street, Suite 120 Charlotte, NC 28202 Permit Questions: 704.336.3665: Fax Information: 704.432.5246: Address: 700 E. 4th Street, Suite 120 Charlotte, NC 28202: CLICK HERE]. The Sheriff has forty-five (45) days from the time all application materials, to include receipt of the mental health records, are received to either issue or deny a permit. Example video title will go here for this video. This is the second lawsuit that McFadden has faced in just over two years. Explain to your children that guns are dangerous and that they should never touch them. HAPPENING NOW: A lawsuit has been filed against Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden after gun owners report not getting pistol purchase permits and concealed carry permits within the statutory deadlines. The process is supposed to take just 90 days and under state law the sheriffs office is supposed to notify applicants whether their permit will be approved or denied in 14 days. It comes after gun rights advocates sued the Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office, saying people faced long delays when trying to get handgun permits from the sheriffs office. It then said it was providing fingerprinting services for gun permits on a first-come, first-served basis to comply with a judges order. Please allow 15-20 minutes to complete your Fingerprinting Appointment. We are processing your application and will update you, via email, as our progress proceeds. 2023 Cox Media Group. Another plaintiff is a Mecklenburg County resident who said it took more than three months for her to be fingerprinted after submitting her concealed handgun permit. Two of the plaintiffs, also residents of Mecklenburg County, said they had concealed handgun permits. (WATCH BELOW: Meck County sheriff concerned about surge in conceal-carry gun permits), Meck County sheriff concerned about surge in conceal-carry gun permits. "I'm sorry but we're not accepting that argument," Valone said. The processing of the concealed handgun permit takes much longer than the handgun purchase permit. Sam Cranston has been teaching classes to help people get their concealed carry license for about a decade. . Although disappointed with this new requirement to provide fingerprinting for CHP applicants within five days of an application, and the inconvenience that this will result in for so many of our customers, the Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office will continue to serve our customers as best we can, the sheriffs office said in a news release in May. Two of the plaintiffs, also residents of Mecklenburg County, said they had concealed handgun permits. We have been back in compliance with all statutory timeframes since March of this year, and I am confident that we will remain so.. It was court-ordered back earlier in the year and the sheriffs office is complying with it," Carmichael said. State laws require the sheriff's office to approve or deny a pistol purchase permit within 14 days of receiving an application. What am I going to do? No, I can't. The sheriffs office said it will stop accepting fingerprinting customers at 4:30 p.m. to accommodate the anticipated long lines. You will be asked for information that will need to be included on the fingerprint card. I hate that it is taking this long but Im glad that the process is there because all of the boxes are being checked and we are making sure that person is qualified to have a firearm and to have a concealed carry weapon, Carmichael said. Click here to sign up for the daily Wake Up Charlotte newsletter. In March, the MCSO announced it made major progress in handling the backlog of gun related permit applications. You must completely and accurately fill-out this application to be considered for a permit. Now, a judge is requiring the sheriffs office to take fingerprints on the same day a concealed handgun application is submitted. ALSO READ: Police concerned over increase in guns stolen from cars in Charlotte. If you do not have these forms we cannot fingerprint you. He can't deny his constitutional duty. There are currently about 7,600 concealed handgun permit applications pending in Mecklenburg county. Welcome! Young children can figure out how to load a gun. "It is frustrating. The cost to get fingerprinted is $10.00 and you can pay that online as part of this process. At the time, McFadden said his staff of six to eight people was struggling to keep up with a surge in gun sales. A new order requires people who want a concealed handgun permit to get fingerprinted within five days of receiving the application. No, I can't. Grass Roots North Carolina's Paul Valone and Gaston County-based attorney Ronald Shook told reporters they hoped the lawsuit will result in a court order that will force Sheriff McFadden to speed up the process. In May, a superior court judge granted a preliminary injunction in response to the August 2021 lawsuit. McFadden said he would like policymakers to come together and create a policy to improve the process, including a time limit for health providers to get mental health checks to sheriffs departments.