Concealed Carry Permits?

Just curious as to how many DI posters, along with their numerous academic accomplishments, also have a concealed carry permit.

 

I had one when I lived in PA. When I moved to NY it was a major hassle to even apply so I just sold my Glock and moved on.

 

I do. The students in my doctoral program who object to carrying guns have never worked in the criminal justice field outside of maybe research or forensic lab jobs.

 

I've had one in Massachusetts for over 30 years, and used to have non-resident permits for New Hampshire, Maine, and Florida. A Federal law was passed in 2004 that exempts law enforcement officers from needing state gun permits to carry concealed firearms anywhere in the United States, its territories, or possessions, so I let my non-resident permits lapse.

There's been a movement for states to be compelled to honor other state's gun permits, in the way they honor each other's driver's licenses, marriage certificates, etc. In the meantime, many states will honor another state's gun permit, but it's very much a murky issue. This interactive map is helpful, but of course isn't guaranteed to be 100% accurate. An email or phone call to the state attorney general or state police is recommended before packing in another state.

Handgunlaw.us : CCW Map

 

I do not own a handgun so I've never looked into this but I've been under the impression that in some places you have to have some sort of "acceptable" reason for wanting a concealed carry permit. I know it varies according to state law but in most places is this just a simple application and then you get it or are there other criteria?

 

I went through the training and obtained a permit in my state six years ago. It has to be renewed every five years, so I went through the recertification process about ten months ago. Upon completing the concealed training (which involves classroom instruction regarding laws concerning where one can/can't carry, a written exam, and then shooting at a firing range where one shoots 40 times at three different distances and 25 shots have to "hit the target" [all 40 of mine hit the target]) I was given a certificate of completion. This was taken to the local Sheriff's Dept, application made, fee paid, and a two month wait while a background check was completed. During the wait, I purchased a Glock Model 21, .45 caliber, "Black Beauty." Love the Glock!

Kizmet, my "one and only acceptable reason" for wanting a concealed carry permit is protection. I don't take it out and show it, nor do I brag about carrying. It is simply there if ever needed. In all honesty, I hope it is never needed. But if so, it will be available.

 

As you mentioned, standards vary wildly, with Vermont not even having a gun permit system (anyone of age with no felony record can carry), to New York City, where it's nearly impossible to get a carry permit (different from keeping it at your home or business) unless you have some serious political horsepower.

I don't consider myself a "gun guy", but I do belong to the NRA and GOAL (kind of like a state NRA for MA). I think most responsible gun owners have no problem with reasonable standards, such as no felony convictions, no drug/alcohol abuse or mental illness, and basic safety training. My opinion is that if you meet all those criteria, the government has no valid reason or standing to deny you a gun permit.

 

I very much respect that. I've never, nor do I ever plan to, gotten on a soapbox on Boston Common to rail against the government, but the First Amendment guarantees that I can, the same as the Second Amendment guarantees my right to own firearms.

 

I had one when I was in Florida, and I think it has reciprocity with other states.

Although I can have a gun in my house and my car legally without the permit, walking between my car and house with a gun without the permit would technically be illegal (or so I've been told.) For that reason, I got the permit.

 

My better half is thinking about carry a concealed .Polar bears and wolfs are a concern. I do not care too much about it. We bought our son-in-law a gun as a wedding present. It was weird to me but that an American thing I guess - a second amendment to a document I was told.

 

When I moved to New York I went to the Sheriff's office for a carry permit application. I was told that I could only apply for a "target" permit which would permit me to carry a handgun to and from a firing range. If I wanted a fully unrestricted carry permit, I needed an NRA course at a minimum. Some counties are more restrictive and a few (typically in the north country, I am told) are less restrictive.

No upstate permit is valid in NYC. So, cross border issues aside, if I get a permit tomorrow and carry in NYC, I can get in big trouble. NYC permits, however, get you unrestricted carry throughout the state (assuming they are endorsed for unrestricted carry, of course). My dad told me that, years ago, the NYPD would refuse to issue them to private citizens unless they had a "good reason" such as business owners who dealt in pilferable goods or who operated in high crime areas or who had a history of being robbed. I don't know if they still operate like that.

It's also important to note that a NY permit is necessary to own a handgun. In PA, you can buy all of the handguns you want without a permit of any kind. You just can't carry them concealed (which also means they must be unloaded in your car at all times). Here, you can't buy a handgun unless you have a permit. In PA, the permit was valid for any firearm you possessed or may possess in the future. Here, they list out the serial numbers on the permit. Bought a new gun? Permit needs to be amended with the new serial. Get caught carrying a handgun that isn't on your permit? It's like you just got caught carrying without a permit.

So it's a pretty different regulatory environment.

I also support private gun ownership. And, if I wanted to, I could absolutely meet all of the restrictive requirements for New York. I simply choose not to at this stage in my life.

 

To the best of my knowledge in Florida:

One needs a concealed weapons class. I'm told the class is a joke but I've never actually taken one. Exemptions from the class include law enforcement certification or military Honorable Discharge. I seem to recall an other than honorable discharge will exclude one from getting the Concealed Weapon License (it says license, not permit, right across the top). There may be other exemptions but after I saw Honorable Discharge it didn't concern me enough to keep reading that part.

One needs to fill out an application.

One needs proof of citizenship. Voter Registration, passport, naturalization certificate, etc.

One needs additional photo ID.

One needs to pay a fee. Something like $100 but I don't recall exactly. $180 keeps popping in my head.

Photo and fingerprints. I think its a passport photo.

It is issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and valid for 7 years. It use to be only 5 years but now its 7. There are all-in-one offices that one only needs show up with proof of class or exemption, checkbook for the fee, and IDs and they take care of the photo, fingerprints, and even have computers on which one fills out the application. I don't recall that a compelling reason is needed. Show up, walk out an hour later. It takes several weeks to process and the CWL arrives in the mail. I think its still possible to mail in everything and wait also if an all-in-one office isn't convenient.

 

Mmmmm. As I suspected, it varies a bit. I've never felt the need, but who knows?

 

Florida ($112) is very straightforward, and their permit is recognized in something like 30 other states, most of the exceptions being the usual suspects of New England (except Vermont and Maine), NJ, DC, and the left coast.

Florida Concealed Weapon License Application Information - Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

If anyone is interested in New Hampshire, that's also very straightforward, $100 for 4 years;

https://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/nhsp/ssb/permitslicensing/plupr.html

 

Different strokes.

When I got out of the Navy, I moved into a pretty sketchy neighborhood. Not Compton sketchy, but break-ins were common and I don't recall ever going a week without seeing police lights at the end of the street.

Plus, I was a freshly minted veteran. So it was a right I felt like exercising at that time and place. If New York wasn't such a hassle, I probably would have continued the practice.

But by the time I moved to NY State, I had already stopped carrying regularly because it was inconvenient to be out and about and be unable to do things like go to the post office. And if I could own, but not carry here, I'd probably still have one locked up in my closet.

I do periodically enjoy hitting up the target range to practice with my rifle. But, even if it were legal, I wouldn't strap it to my back and walk around a Chipotle to make a statement. But hey, free country.

 

Have a Florida permit, carry all the time, to many guns in the house to count.

Work in and mid to large size city ER for a week and a thinking person will realize just how poorly equipped many of our fellow humans are at following the civilized social contract.

I also teach youth and adult marksmanship.

 

So what if I told you that the concealed carry issue doesn't really belong in the Off-Topics forum?

Local gun instructor displeased with NRA move to online learning - Daily Advocate - dailyadvocate.com

 

University of Texas to allow guns in the classroom

University Of Texas to allow guns in classrooms - CBS News

 

I had a counseling professor at Scranton who was also a probation officer. And she carried a her service weapon concealed when in the classroom. The only reason I knew about it was I once followed her to her office while discussing something and she took off her coat when she got to her chair.

She was a law enforcement officer so it wasn't particularly controversial. Though, there were a handful of professors who objected strenuously to the presence of a gun and felt she should have left it somewhere off campus.

I don't object to being around people who lawfully possess firearms provided they operate them safely. Whether you obtained your training in the military, a police/peace officer academy, through private course providers or simply through extensive family training, I just want to know that you're only going to draw that firearm in an appropriate situation and you'll actually know what to do with it once it leaves your holster.

Sadly, the requirement to know what the hell you're doing with a gun is seldom a prerequisite to obtaining one (some states have the requirement others do not). While I would absolutely prefer not to be killed by a raving maniac with a gun I would also prefer not to be killed by the stray bullet of the Good Samaritan who responds inappropriately to said maniac, either.