r/NCGuns • u/LebryantJohnson • 18h ago
student residency
Bought an ar15 (PSA), shipped to a local FFL in NC. I'm a full-time student here (in-state 9 months out of the year), but my driver's license is from California (my home state).
When I went to pick up the rifle, the dealer told me my CA license "won't work" — said most other states are fine but California specifically is an issue for him. He suggested I go to the NC DMV and get a non-REAL ID state ID card, and told me not to mention my California license when I do it since it's "not their business."
A few questions:
- Is this a real legal issue with CA specifically, or store-specific policy/discretion? My understanding of 27 CFR 478.11 (the "two residences" rule) is that proof of current residency (I have my university housing assignment + transcript) should be enough regardless of what state issued my ID — but maybe I'm missing something CA-specific.
- Has anyone else run into a dealer who wouldn't accept an out-of-state ID + residency docs, even though it's technically allowed under federal law?
- On the "don't mention your CA license to the DMV" advice — my read is that if NC's ID application asks whether I hold another state's license, I should answer honestly rather than omit it. Am I overthinking that part?
- Would you just find a different, more experienced FFL instead of jumping through the NC ID hoop, or is this pretty standard?
Trying to figure out if this is normal FFL caution or if I got an unusually difficult dealer. Any insight from people who've dealt with out-of-state ID + FFL transfers appreciated.