I didn't have to be to work early today, so (having been in my new NC county long enough to qualify for pistol purchase permits) I figured it was time to put in my application so I could start picking up the gun I already paid for, and some other ones I had my eye on. I applied for 5 because i'm addicted to guns. They said on the website that approval could take up to 30 days, so I didn't want to wait any longer than necessary.
While I was getting ready for work, I got a phone call and a text message saying my permits were ready to pick up. MINUTES instead of weeks!
I still didn't need to be to work until 1, and I was going to be not "too far" from the gun shop where i had a gun waiting... so I went the long way - pick up the permits from the county sheriff, head to the shop, then work. Took longer than expected, but I would still be early...
After picking up my pistol, I decided to buy an AR lower. Since the shop had already signed off on my 4473, they had me do a new one, and this one would require NICS because it didn't count under a pistol purchase permit...
Apparently the ATF gets very nervous when somebody suddenly having NICS run in a new state, then tries to buy more 2 counties over...
I waited and waited for the NICS to clear... but i kept waiting... finally the result came back - my first "delay" in the 19 years i've been steadily buying stuff. The shop wasn't very happy that they lost the sale, but all our hands were tied.
Since the shop was out of my normal route (was working a different place today, the gun store and permits added another hour to my 1.5hr drive) I may or may not make it back there once the result comes through. They don't have great hours, and I don't go that way often. MAYBE tomorrow since I'm working at that same location again, but they close at 6 and I usually work until after that...
The good news is that I made it to work about 1 minute before I was "late" and got done pretty much everything I was needed to. Oh, and I did get the pistol I had already paid for because that went through before NICS pooped on me.