Downsides to a CCW license?

There is no downside except the ID photo doesn't do justice to my stunningly good looks.

Photo? What photo?

Hey, at least your is not pink.

Only the fact I had to pay $140 for a Right. Downside? Can't think of a single one other than having to fork over the geet for a CHL in Texas.

I enjoy going in and walking out 20 minutes later with a new firearm.

However, his friend who is going on this hunt does not have a CCW license, and does not want one. Said friend is an over the road trucker. In his opinion, once outside one's own state a CCW just invites a lengthy search of the vehicle from any LEO who has occasion to do a traffic stop.

Click to expand...

The irony is that the opposite is more likely true. If said friend is either unarmed or legally armed, his possession of a CCW is MORE likely to get him released with just a warning instead of a ticket and no roadside search (unless he does a lot of driving into NYC or DC).

Every time I renew my permit, I merely encourage government to believe it's entitled to: a.) regulate my exercise of our civil rights, and b.) take more money from me.

Click to expand...

The flaw in your thinking is this silly notion that you have any "civil rights".

For me the downside of having a carry permit is that you are on a accessible government list of people who own guns. It would be the first list checked. That said, the information is available to law enforcement with cause via Form 4473's. I doubt few here have only purchased firearms via private sales.

The good part is that you are legally allowed to carry. The better part, at least to me, is that I can have a loaded handgun in my vehicle without worry of a traffic stop turning up something by accident that would be considered illegal and potentially loosing my rights to own firearms in general.

I accidentally handed my ccw over to the traffic cop investigating a fender- bender I was involved in. I thought it was my drivers license, heh. About five minutes later he came back and asked permission to frisk me(I had told him I didn't have my weapon with me at the time.)

Hum--

Downside....

Well only one here in ohio we have some news media oulets obtaining list of ccw holders and publishing there names in the paper.

Upside-

1- Being able to legallly carry and not worry, even in a state without reprocitity, I think more cops are going to say we understand , have traveled every state on a Motorcycle, it's always been in the tent or tank bag ready.
2- When stopped for random things cops feel much at ease faster, ohio we have a duty to inform pronot on a traffice stop, or if asked for id by leo, dui checks, oh never mind you wouldnt drink and carry...oh heck no sir! grin.
3- Subpart of 2 b. has got me to give up drinking.
4 - Gives you that second picture ID you need in yur pocket when cashing checks.
5 - Makes you more aware of your surronundings, and where you go shopping
6 sub part of 5, if no gun signs on door, you find new places to go..here in ohio if they have even a drawing of a gun with circle and slash in crayon, means no carry inside.
7 - people at work dont piss me off as much......... lol ok threw that in for fun

The biggest downside is in asking for and receiving a permit to exercise a fundamental right.

It's demeaning, humiliating and an affront to basic human rights...and by applying for and accepting the permit, we're complicit.

That makes us a laughing stock to the tyrants.

In Montana your ccp does pop up in the computer data base for the potrolman

Sir, you should encourage your friend to get the CHL. His concern is, in my experience, unfounded. I routinely show my CHL if I am stopped, even if I am in a state that I cannot carry. I always say "here is my driver's license, along with my IL FOID card and my FL CHL card." I am showing them to you only because they demonstrate that I have passed Illinois and Florida state criminal background checks, as well as the FBI background check. This consistently causes the officer to ease, and in several cases, to become downright friendly. That is my experience.

As was said earlier, the biggest downside is philosophical....having to ask for, and receive permission in order to exercise a fundamental right.

But a CHL comes with a heavy dose of responsibility. It can change your drinking habits, your dress habits, and causes you to be more alert, less care-free. If you ever have to use your firearm, you will be subject to police and potentially, court scrutiny (even if your use was lawful and completely justified). We are not yet to the point where society views us (CHL holders in general) as being a public service...we are still viewed as a potential liability and thus are under heavy scrutiny. Getting a CHL really means that you owe it to all of us other CHL holders that you will take your responsibility very seriously.

I do think that societal attitudes are changing, however, given the widespread acceptance of CCW laws, given that not one state has repealed a self-protection act, and given that castle doctrine is sweeping states hand over fist. Things are changing, but slowly.

Good luck to you!

The downside is in the fine print. In Florida, CCW is presumed "breach of the peace". You gotta be extra careful in LE contact situations. Joe

The downside is in the fine print. In Florida, CCW is presumed "breach of the peace". You gotta be extra careful in LE contact situations.

Click to expand...

Huh? You have some examples?

Simply having a license is not probable cause for anything. The police cannot search your car simply because you have a license.

Apparently a goodly part of Australia's violent crime problems are caused by what would have to be described as financially comfortable older Americans on expensive hunting trips in remote areas.

Click to expand...

We did have a German tourist go hunting humans in remote northwestern Australia in 1987. He got five before the cops got him. I don't know what the figures are for American tourists though .

This has resulted in a the entirely understandable requirement that said hunters provide reams of paperwork to the Australian government in order to be allowed to bring a couple of bolt action sporting rifles and a few boxes of ammo.

Click to expand...

AFAIK for the Northern Territory it is a 2 page form, which your guide can complete for you, together with some sort of document from your home jurisdiction showing that you are allowed to possess the firearms there. You also need a Customs form to bring the firearms and ammo in. Hardly "reams" of paperwork - not even a quire . AFAIK at least the same volume of paperwork would be required for me to come to the US with rifle and ammo to hunt.

And what's to hunt out there? 'Roos? Pigs? Wombats?

Click to expand...

Depending on where you go and what floats your boat Water Buffalo, Banteng, scrub bulls, camels, horses, donkeys, pigs, several varieties of deer (Sambar, Rusa, Red, Fallow, Hog, Chital), goats, hares, rabbits, foxes, feral cats, Magpie Geese, several varieties of ducks, and probably a few more I've missed . There's an ongoing campaign to get crocodiles onto the list too.

You won't get all of those in the same place though: "out there" is a big place .

I live in Washington state. I occasionally travel into Portland, Oregon on business. I've had two contacts with Portland police that were the reason I no longer carry my permit with me in OR. I never carry over there, permit is no good and I can't come up with a reason good enough for the sheriff to issue me one. First time, I was puled over out of a line of traffic. Cop gets on bullhorn (they seem to like that thing)and tells me to keep both hands out the window. Other cop cars arrive on the scene, they open their doors and point guns at me through open window on police cars. I hand him wallet per request, he goes through it and TOTALLY FREAKS OUT when he sees my CCW. "This ain't no good here" "Step outta the car and take the position"
"Both hands on the hood, @$$hole, you know the drill" Actually, I didn't but I do now. Takes 40 minutes trying to find something wrong, even beats on my spare tire to see if it has air in it (mech violation?) Finally, JACKPOT he finds a bottle of vodka behind the spare tire. He opens it, pours it out on the ground, throws it back in the trunk, and goes back to his police car. Sits there looking at something on his radio(?) comes back, throws my wallet in the front seat and stomps off. I sort the stuff out in my wallet and there is a ticket in there for "Driving with an open container of alcohol"
A few weeks later. I'm in Portland again. I notice turn signal acts funny so I pull into auto parts place to buy a bulb. Cop cruising by spots my Washington license plates and jumps the curb to come to a stop within inches of drivers side door. Police gather within seconds from two cities, two counties and state police. They all take turns looking at me and going through my wallet. Finally all but one leaves. Lady officer with hairdo like a Brillo pad asks me what I'm doing there. I explain about the light, she says "I'll check it for you" Sure enough, it's out. She hands me my wallet back with a ticket in it for "Driving without lights"
I talked to a cop privately (was dating my sister) and he told me that an out of state CCW generally means to them that you are armed, and probably dangerous.

If I had to choose between a short hunting trip to Australia and a lifetime of being able to defend myself and loved ones, I know what I'd choose.

The only downside I can think of is when some crazy newspaper publishes the state's list of CHP holders including their name and address.

If I had to choose between a short hunting trip to Australia and a lifetime of being able to defend myself and loved ones, I know what I'd choose.

Click to expand...

Since when do you have to choose between the two? The two considerations are independent of each other.

the downside is that you are fingerprinted and are forever in the system.

I was fingerprinted by the military and employers. I've been in the system for 40 years.

some sort of document from your home jurisdiction showing that you are allowed to possess the firearms there

Click to expand...

There is no such thing for us in most (USA) States. You are allowed to possess firearms unless for some reason you are prohibited.

Plenty of stuff to shoot in Montana. No need to travel Downunder. Let them shoot their own vermin

I haven't thought of one yet.

I'm on government lists? I have been on a "government list" since I started paying taxes and got a drivers license. Probably even before that.

The newspaper published my name? So, I've had my name in the newspaper now. Well I had it in there one other time when I finished in the top ten in a bass tournament, so it's been there twice now.

My friends might get upset? Well they were probably upset with me before I got a permit then too. They'll either get over it, or they won't. Their choice, not mine.

Question for any LEOs present:

Does a CCW pop up on your computer when conducting a traffic stop?

Click to expand...

In Ohio for sure there is a notification on the LEO computer screen when any tags are run on owner with a valid CCW permit. A freind of mine is a Columbus Police Officer and he showed it to me. If they are paying attention, they know it before we are required to tell them.

some sort of document from your home jurisdiction showing that you are allowed to possess the firearms there

Click to expand...

There is no such thing for us in most (USA) States. You are allowed to possess firearms unless for some reason you are prohibited.

Click to expand...

I'm no expert on your system, but I wouldn't have thought it would be that hard to get some sort of evidence that you are lawfully entitled, even in the absence of a CCW permit or FOID card or the like. In any case, aren't you routinely required in most states to produce photo ID, complete BATFE Form 4473 and have a NICS transaction number, or else have some documentary evidence of an exemption, when you buy a firearm from a dealer?

Plenty of stuff to shoot in Montana. No need to travel Downunder. Let them shoot their own vermin

Click to expand...

I had a look at the requirements to hunt in Montana. Looks like you need all sorts of permits and licences and reams of paperwork, and there are all sorts of limits on what you can hunt, how many and when, as well as quite large fees for non-residents. Here, once you have your firearms there's very little of that sort of thing to contend with. Swings and roundabouts...

The downside to getting a CCW permit is that your name will be on a list that the government has access to. Usually not a good thing.

Click to expand...

Theres probably more to this than I care to imagine.

aren't you routinely required in most states to produce photo ID, complete BATFE Form 4473 and have a NICS transaction number, or else have some documentary evidence of an exemption, when you buy a firearm from a dealer?

Click to expand...

We do fill out the federal form when buying from a licensed dealer, but we don't get to keep a copy of the form. Not that I recall, anyway. If all you have are guns that you bought years ago (like my father, for instance) or guns that you bought FTF from an individual, then there is no documentation stating that you are or are not allowed to own a gun. (A few states may be exceptions to that.)

Without such documentation, I wonder if it would be OK to just provide a copy of the 2nd Amendment?