A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to provide that a permit to purchase a pistol and a concealed handgun permit shall be valid for A PERIOD of three years from the date the PERMIT IS issued rather than a period of five years.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 14‑403 reads as rewritten:
"§ 14‑403.  Permit issued by sheriff; form of permit; expiration of permit.
The sheriffs of any and all counties of this State shall issue to any person, firm, or corporation in any county a license or permit to purchase or receive any weapon mentioned in this Article from any person, firm, or corporation offering to sell or dispose of the weapon. The license or permit shall expire three years from the date of issuance. The license or permit shall be in the following form: 
North Carolina,
______________ County.
I, ______________, Sheriff of said County, do hereby certify that I have conducted a criminal background check of the applicant, ______________ whose place of residence is ______________ in ______________ (or) in ______________ Township, ______________ County, North Carolina, and have received no information to indicate that it would be a violation of State or federal law for the applicant to purchase, transfer, receive, or possess a handgun. The applicant has further satisfied me as to his, her (or) their good moral character. Therefore, a license or permit is issued to ______________ to purchase one pistol from any person, firm or corporation authorized to dispose of the same.
This license or permit expires three years from its date of issuance.
This ____ day of ____________, ________.
		
Sheriff. "
SECTION 2.  G.S. 14‑415.11(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	The sheriff shall issue a permit to carry a concealed handgun to a person who qualifies for a permit under G.S. 14‑415.12. The permit shall be valid throughout the State for a period of three years from the date of issuance."
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2013, and applies to permits issued on or after that date. A permit issued under Article 52A of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes before December 1, 2013, shall remain valid until five years from the date that the permit was issued. A concealed handgun permit issued under Article 54B of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes shall remain valid until five years from the date the permit was issued, unless the permit is revoked or suspended pursuant to G.S 14‑415.18 prior to that date.