Purchasing a firearm is always an exciting time. Whether it’s your first firearm or tenth, take the time to make sure you have all the required documents.

Requirements to purchase a shotgun or rifle

• Must be 18 years old or older
  • Purchasers between 18-20 will automatically receive a delayed background
• Have a valid non-expired government-issued driver’s license or identification card
  • This documentation must reflect your current living address
• Some firearm stores will only sell to select states – please check with your local store.
  • Restrictions may apply based on your state of residence.
  • Dealers must comply with Federal and State laws for both the state in which the business is located and the state your identification reflects.
  • Check your local jurisdiction for details.
• A background check using the FBI NICS System will be performed by the firearm dealer on the day you wish to purchase your firearm.
  • If applicable, you may use your valid non-expired NC Concealed Carry Permit in replace of this background check. The address listed on this permit must match your current living address as listed on your photo identification.

Requirements to purchase a handgun

These handgun requirements include the purchase of a handgun, pistol or revolvers. Keep in mind, some firearms which may look like a rifle are classified as a pistol based on their barrel size or type of brace – these firearms also fall under these same requirements.

• Must be 21+ years old

• Have a valid, non-expired NC Driver’s License or NC Identification Card

  • This documentation must reflect your current living address

  • A background check using the FBI NICS System will be performed by the firearm dealer on the day you wish to purchase your firearm.

    • If applicable, you may use your valid non-expired NC Concealed Carry Permit in replace of this background check. The address listed on this permit must match your current living address as listed on your photo identification.

Requirements to purchase a lower receiver

• Must be 21 years old
• Have a valid non-expired North Carolina government-issued driver’s license or identification card
  • This documentation must reflect your current living address.
• A background check using the FBI NICS System will be performed by the firearm dealer on the day you wish to purchase your firearm.
  • If applicable, you may use your valid non-expired NC Concealed Carry Permit. The address listed on this permit must match your current living address as listed on your photo identification.

Supplementary Documents

• Address Issues: If your photo identification does not have the current address or address listed, you may use one of the following as a supplementary document: non-expired vehicle registration card, voter registration card, or any other government issued document. This document must bear your correct living address and your name exactly as written on the photo identification.
  • For example, if you have a NC Driver’s License that has an address you previously lived at, you may bring in a vehicle registration that has your current living address on.
  • Another example would be utilizing your passport as your photo identification. You may use your passport as a photo identification and an NC issued voter registration card as proof of your address. 
• Full Name Issues: If your photo identification does not display your full legal name please arrive with your birth certificate.

Background Check Status

• Proceed: Most background checks return with a status of proceed. This status usually returns within a few minutes, however, it can take hours or days to return. Once your background check returns as a proceed, you are able to take  the firearm home same day.
• Delay: A background check may return with a delayed status for various reasons. “A delay response indicates that the information you supplied on the ATF Form 4473 has been matched with information contained in the National Crime Information Center, the Interstate Identification Index, and/or the NICS Indices. Complete disposition information is not always available and a further review of these records is necessary. The FBI exhausts all efforts to retrieve current record information by contacting all applicable law enforcement agencies, i.e., local, state, and federal courts, etc.” Source: FBI – NICS Appeals and Voluntary Appeal File (VAF): fbi.gov
  • Triangle Shooting Academy does not elect to transfer firearms after a delayed three business days under the Brady Act. “,the FFL is not required to transfer the firearm.” Source: FBI – NICS Appeals and Voluntary Appeal File (VAF): fbi.gov
• Denied: A background check that returns as denied prohibits our facility from transferring the firearm to the customer. Triangle Shooting Academy does not receive any information on why it was denied. “Prospective firearms buyers who receive a “Denied” status on their background checks may have a state or federal firearm prohibition. The denied individual may choose to pursue a challenge and/or apply to the Voluntary Appeal File.” Source: FBI – NICS Appeals and Voluntary Appeal File (VAF): fbi.gov
• Researching/Open Status:

If you have any further questions about firearm purchase requirements, please stop by our retail counter and speak with any Sales team member. We look forward to assisting you with your next firearm purchase!