I can travel around the country, but can’t even own a pistol for protection/sport.
Edit: I meant that I can’t buy a pistol. I also have to be 21 to conceal carry it, which is also fucked up because I can’t travel around with it to protect myself. I guess I don’t have to conceal it but it’s definitely better to have it concealed and ready.
Just a 10 minute internet search and I found the North Carolina Sheriff Organization gun law guide written by the State Attorney General here: https://ncsheriffs.org/wp-content/uploads/Master-Firearms-Publication-September-2016.pdf
In it is this statement:
VI. AGE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PURCHASE AND POSSESSION OF WEAPONS North Carolina law does not currently address specific age requirements for the purchase of weapons. Rather, it looks to the federal standards for such restrictions. Under federal law, 18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(1), federally licensed gun dealers are prohibited from selling handguns to persons under the age of twenty-one (21). Further, all other purchasers of shotguns and rifles are required to be at least eighteen (18) years of age. Therefore, while a pistol purchase permit can be issued to an individual eighteen (18) years of age or older, such persons aged eighteen (18), nineteen (19), and twenty (20) could not use the permit to purchase a handgun from a federally licensed firearms dealer.
So... you're good to go. You just cannot purchase a handgun from a federally licensed dealer. But you can purchase a long gun, for sure. You first need to get your permit to purchase.
Now, far be it for me to judge--and I'm not judging--but I am curious to know how responsible you would be with a firearm if you were not able to research this on your own? Call me a dick for asking, but... I asked.
Good luck. Stay safe.
The state shouldn’t matter. I should be able to purchase one in Timbuktu if I want to. “Federally licensed dealer” is bogus nonsense. Also I meant to add a section on conceal carry permit.
Yes, you need to be 21 to carry concealed. Many states are like that. But you can buy a pistol from someone, and you can own it, and you can defend your property with it. Check out that full pdf in the link, and find out what it says about open carry.