been lurking for years but have decided to slowly come outta hiding and i need a bit of advice.

i have been staying at the inlaws for a good part of ten months while the ol' lady and i are saving up for our house down payment. her father has been diagnosed with parkinson's and that is another reason as to why we are staying here, so she can help with her father and continue saving up.

they have lived in this house for many years and it's in a fairly working class/blue collar neighborhood. a street over, however, has some questionable individuals.. cops always up there, sometimes one, sometimes upwards of 8 patrol cars.

anyways, we aren't immune to the sound of gunshots but a recent event has happened MUCH too close to home.

three nights ago, around midnight we are all in the living room watching tv, just chillin' when out of nowhere we hear three shots fired off one house over. a car then speeds past with headlights off so i go outside as well as the neighbor boy, who brought his own gun out with him. asks if we heard that too (fuck yeah) and we all said that definitely wasn't fireworks. so, yeah.

i've been putting off getting anything but i reckon if there is a sign that it's time to, that was it. i've been subtly bringing the topic up to her for awhile but she has always been on the fence about it. after this event, she agreed it's time.

i'm in the process of getting a purchase permit for handguns but i feel i can't wait too long and know i have the ability to purchase a rifle without needing a license, i'm in N.C.

i've been looking at ar15s for quite some time and am ready to pull the trigger (haha) on purchasing one but i cannot find one anywhere. complete rifles, complete uppers, complete lowers.. i'm thinking at this point i might as well purchase a build kit and put together my own. i'm pretty deadset on a 15.

so with that said, do you guys think you can help give me some direction and advice? i'm more than handy and have no issue building shit. what are reputable sites for build kits? am i better off finding private sellers? the local gun stores are all out of stock. am i just SOL? is it worth it to wait til things are restocked? (prob not, imo).

i don't have facebook so i can't check fb marketplace. i can spend upwards of $1000+ so, no worries there. i'm looking for strictly home defense but also for taking to the range at least twice a month. something we will both be able to handle. i've shot guns before (friends & family) so no worries there either, although, the ol' lady hasn't, she is quite eager to learn.

i'd rather work on getting the rifle together in the time i'm waiting for my handgun permit to go through. i am just hoping i didn't wait too long :(

can anyone give a brother a bit of advice? i'm not necessarily freaking out over the event that happened but moreso that i reckon i have waited much too long.

i appreciate any insights and thanks for taking some time to read this. stay safe brothers & sisters.