MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office announced changes to the concealed carry permit process on Tuesday.
For those seeking to renew a concealed carry permit, they will now be required to do so in person. While applicants used to be able to upload renewal paperwork, this is no longer the case. MCSO will no longer accept renewals via fax or e-mail.
“During COVID, a lot of stuff went virtual and so did the permits," Hyatt Gun Shop owner Larry Hyatt said. "The sheriff’s departments all over the state had a shortage of staff and then on top of that when we had civil unrest, we had a massive amount of people applying."
According to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office, nearly 2,000 gun permits are waiting for approval.
“It is better than it was," Hyatt said.
MCSO is also no longer sending mental health releases to the VA, except when the applicant notes on their application that they served in the military.
“The VA wasn’t doing their job quickly, so it was a big hold up for people as the sheriff's departments had to wait for the information to get back to process the paperwork," Hyatt said.
While there hasn't been pushback on that, adding another step for applicants to go in person has people online complaining about the changes, one person even saying it's an infringement of gun rights. However, some gun owners say it's the right call.
“The way things are going on now in this country, I think you should have to go in person," Mecklenburg County resident David Sweet said.
“I think it’s making the country safer," Michael Looper, another resident, said.
Another change concerns cash payments. Applicants applying for permits from home can no longer pay with cash. In order to pay with cash, applicants must physically go to the office to fill out their application and pay cash at a kiosk.
Contact Lexi Wilson at lwilson@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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