Shall issue doesn't always mean what it says

 North Carolina is a "shall issue" state- meaning that the government has no choice- if a citizen meets the criteria for a concealed weapons permit, the permit has to be issued:

In order to acquire a North Carolina permit, an individual must apply to the sheriff's office in the county in which he/she resides. As part of the application process, the applicant must accomplish the following: 

1. Complete an application, under oath, on a form provided by the sheriff's office; 

2. Pay a non-refundable fee of $80.00; and 

3. Allow the sheriff’s office to take two (2) full sets of fingerprints, which may cost up to $10.00; 

4. Provide an original certificate of completion of an approved handgun safety course; and 

5. Provide a release authorizing disclosure to the sheriff of any record concerning the applicant’s mental health or capacity. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-415.13 

So you can see the loophole, right? All the sheriff has to do is stop providing the applications or stop taking fingerprints, and the entire process becomes may issue. That is exactly what happened in one NC county.