Handgun owners can take their weapons to the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, 3950 Juvenile Center Road, Castle Hayne [Map this], where deputies will run the serial number to see if the weapon is legal, said Cpl. Jerry Brewer, spokesman for the sheriff’s office.

Brewer said a gun owner SHOULD NOT take his or her weapon inside the sheriff’s office. Instead, the owner should leave the gun unloaded in the car, walk to the front desk and explain that he or she has an unloaded weapon to be checked. Then a sheriff’s deputy will escort the owner back to his or her car to retrieve the handgun.

Brewer also said the deputies must see the weapon to check its serial number. A handgun owner isn’t permitted call and ask for the information over the phone.

Date posted: January 26, 2011

User-contributed question by:
Chad Huggins