CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Fingerprinting is now available at the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office as the county speeds up the processing of handgun permits.
A North Carolina Superior Court judge ruled this week that Sheriff Garry McFadden may no longer delay issuing permits to people who apply. The sheriff's office said it has canceled previously scheduled fingerprinting appointments to make them available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Applications for pistol purchases must be approved within 14 days, while concealed carry permits must be issued or denied within 45 days, according to North Carolina state law.
A new order requires people who want a concealed handgun permit to get fingerprinted within five days of receiving the application. The sheriff's office issued a statement saying it was "disappointed" with the new requirement for fingerprinting applicants so quickly.
Last August, the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office was still processing permits from March of 2021. 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.
The attorney for Grass Roots North Carolina and Gun Owners of America, Ronald Shook, said, they filed a lawsuit against Sheriff McFadden in August of 2021, after Mecklenburg County residents were complaining about the long wait to get their permit, saying some waited over a year to get their gun permit or concealed handgun permit. He said, "Am I able to tell the IRS that I'm not able to pay my taxes on time? Or, because I'm busy? Or, I have got other things to do? No, I can't. I'll go to jail. He can't deny his constitutional duty. He has signed up for this job and he's failing to do it properly."
In March, the MCSO announced it made major progress in handling the backlog of gun related permit applications. 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. They also expended almost 19,000 overtime hours and added two more positions to permit department to keep up with the demand. Shook said guns rights organizations would like to see the MCSO add even more positions.
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, owner of Hyatt Gun Shop in Charlotte, says their operation is back to a normal level. Previously, he said he had thousands of guns in his safe because prospective gun owners were waiting for their permits to be processed.
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