Handgun Purchase Permits Hinder Law Abiding Citizens

I like many Americans enjoy my freedom to own firearms for the purpose of self-defense, hunting, and the joy of shooting.  Growing up on a farm in Oklahoma, hunting and shooting were activities I enjoyed my entire life and guns were bought, traded, and passed down between family and friends.  I moved to North Carolina 10 plus years ago and both of my children were born here.  We have been in Salisbury for a little over a year now.  I recently decided to purchase a handgun for my wife and me, as well as a couple of small caliber rifles for my children to start learning how to handle and shoot guns responsibility.  I investigated the North Carolina gun laws and realized I could buy a rifle without purchasing a permit and the dealer would perform the background check on me at their location.  However in order to purchase a handgun I must go to my local Sheriff’s Department and purchase a permit to purchase.

At a time where gun control is such a hot topic, every state needs to take another look at their gun policies to ensure they are in line with the true spirit of the second amendment our founding fathers established many years ago.  We have seen some horrible events take place in this country which has sparked the gun controversy once again, yet the constitution grants all Americans “the right to keep and bear arms and this right shall not be infringed”.  So how should North Carolina handle this extremely emotional issue?

After thinking about this process I really was bothered that I, as a law abiding citizen, would have to pay the county in order to exercise my right granted to me by the Constitution.  I am not claiming I or anyone else should not go through a background check to ensure we are not criminals or dangerous people.  I am simply suggesting we should not be required to pay for the ability to purchase a handgun.  I realize the cost is only $5.00 per permit and the money covers the time the county officials who run the check, but I feel this is completely unnecessary for a couple of reasons.  The first reason is we as Americans should not have to pay to have the ability to purchase anything.  We already pay sales tax, state income tax, and federal income taxes.  The second reason is I feel the county could spend their time on other issues and allow the dealers who already run background checks on all other weapons to perform them on handguns.  Why should North Carolina have this added level of unnecessary bureaucracy in place to cover handguns specifically?

However the biggest problem with obtaining this permit is the actual process itself.  After filling out the form at my local Sheriff’s office in Salisbury to clear the “mental health” portion of the background check (which is filled with questions no mentally unfit person would actually answer incorrectly) it was notarized then and there as I submitted it to the staff in the office.  I was told it would take ten days to get approved or denied.  I thought ten days was a lengthy amount of time to run a simple background check in which dealers in other states do in a matter of minutes (and North Carolina already does for any rifle, shotgun, etc).  I have a relative who lives in Georgia and he was able to purchase his handgun with the retailer running the background check and obtain the handgun within twenty minutes.  However I was willing to wait because obtaining the weapon was not a dire situation.  Day ten rolled around and still I had not received a phone call so I waited over the weekend and expected the call the following Monday.  After leaving multiple voice-mails and receiving no return calls, I finally spoke with someone on day 12.   She was very courteous and said my status was “pending”.  She advised me to call back in two days if I had not heard from anyone.  After many more voice-mails and calls, I still have not received my answer.  Today is day twenty one… 

I have been waiting almost a month to have a background check ran and approved to allow me to purchase an item from a local business.  On the other hand, I could purchase a handgun from an individual without going through this process at all.  Why would someone purchase a permit and wait this amount of time when they could purchase immediately from an individual?  I would rather support my local economy and ensure I am purchasing an item which is 100% legal. 

What if my family was in immediate danger and we decided we needed a handgun to protect ourselves?  Of course if we were in that situation we would have contacted the local police department about any such threat or concern, but where we live it would be highly unlikely officers would arrive in time if there were actually an incident.  Should we have to wait twenty one days (and more) to buy a handgun?  I have spoken with others whom share the same concern and from what I have been told, different counties move at differing paces. 

I had a gentlemen tell me the previous Sheriff in his county denied him the permit due to a past violation which was expunged from his record and the new Sheriff approved him on his first application.  With discretion going to the local Sheriff, it creates the ability for a single individual to discriminate intentionally or accidentally, with intentional discrimination being a HUGE concern.  It also allows the Sheriff to slow the process indefinitely if they so choose, all seemingly based on their personal whims.

I feel that states like GA who allow their licensed dealers provide the federal background check at their business would make a lot more sense.  It would free up our local Sheriff’s Departments to work on more important concerns within their county, such as fighting crime.  It would allow the citizen to legally purchase a handgun from a local licensed dealer without having to wait extremely long periods of time which in some cases could actually put them in danger.  We all know criminals do not wait to legally obtain a weapon to commit a crime with.  Let the local licensed dealer perform the checks required by the ATF and it will free up our county officials to more efficiently run their county. 

Who is excited to see the budget today?  The president is letting it fly and then we get to see it crash and burn.  One thing he is doing is reducing social security.  They are going to reduce the cost of living raises they call CPI.  Now I would love to see social security change and even see it go away and allow people to decide how to plan for their future themselves. But, the people targeted are the elderly.  The older you are, the more you lose.  If you are 80 you lose 5.1%, if you are 85 you lose 6.5%, 90 you lose 7.9%, and 95 you lose 9.2% of your yearly income.  Seems fair right?  You worked your entire life and because you have lived longer than they really expected you to they have decided that you are getting too much of your money back.  Now before you jump on democrats remember that republicans like this too.  I guess the thinking is that if you are 90, you can still get a job to make up for the loss of income.  Or is the thinking more along the lines of PLEASE DIE ALREADY?  I do not know the thinking behind attacking the ones who have paid for so long and so much.

I have not seen the budget yet but I am certain there will be hundreds of billions of dollars designated as aid. This aid will go to foreign countries who will in turn waste it.  At least we can feel good about ourselves for doing good deeds globally and squatting on the ones who were considered the "greatest generation."  I am sure there will be money designated to companies like Planned Parenthood, Bank of America, and  any of the green auto companies that will file bankruptcy after cashing the check.  We will also see increased spending with absolutely no concern for a debt that is creating daily interest costs that are more than several countries spend in a full year.  We will see several new programs which allow people to continue to do nothing and be rewarded or as they call it, stimulate the economy.

Now to the best part of what I expect to see today.  More taxes!  Alright that is just what we need.  I am not sure how we can justify adding more government spending without bringing in more revenue.  That makes sense does it not?  The problem is that we are taxed unfairly as is.  Taxes are unfair because 50% of the country pays 100% of the taxes.  There are millions of people who reap the benefits of the social safety net that pays for their homes, food, bills, and other activities but, they pay zero taxes.  The new budget is going to say they are not raising taxes, they are only closing loopholes that the wealthy take advantage of.  I am not sure how that is not raising taxes because by closing the loopholes, these people will pay more taxes. You figure that one out on your own.

If this administration was serious about fixing this country one would suggest a different approach.  I would suggest looking at cutting spending to only programs and aid that is a bare necessity.  We must take care of our seniors and I think we need to take care of the unfortunate with different programs that do not encourage a lifetime of dependency.  We must eliminate the wasteful spending such as ridiculous commercials being produced by government agencies such as the IRS or EPA.   How about we do not allow the president to campaign for candidates running for other offices on taxpayer money?  While fundraising, the group or party pays for the event but we the taxpayer brunt the cost of air force 1, secret service, and the salary of the president.  There are many forms of wasteful spending in Washington D.C. and while I have opinions on where and what to cut, the simple truth is that there is so much we would all agree needs to stop.

I look forward to seeing this budget this afternoon.  It is only two months late so my anticipation is absolutely maxed out.  The good news is it will not let me down because I have poor expectations of it. Until Washington recognizes that the problems in this country are because of government out of control in so many areas, we will continue to pile up the I OWE YOU'S and make life for our children and grandchildren much more difficult.  Washington needs an overhaul.  We need to reduce the size and power of the federal government and return the country to the people.  Give the states power to choose how best to care for their citizens by allowing the local governments work up.  Allow people to make their own decisions, good or bad.  Government has proven one thing throughout history, the more powerful it becomes, people are ignored, and eventually it turns into a snake that eats itself.  Let's get back to the republic we were intended to be.