Drizzt
Member
Grand Forks Herald
May 25, 2003 Sunday
SECTION: FRO
LENGTH: 652 words
HEADLINE: NORTH DAKOTA: State requires two tests, background check
BYLINE: By Rona K. Johnson; Herald Staff Writer
BODY:
Getting a permit to carry a concealed weapon in North Dakota is a relatively simple process.
"North Dakota law simply is that if you desire a handgun conceal to carry permit for self defense, they issue it as long as you pass the background test," said Don Dietrich, a certified conceal-to-carry instructor through the National Rifle Association. He also teaches home defense and rifle, pistol and shotgun training.
In North Dakota, people have to fill out an application, take a written test and a handgun safety and proficiency test.
"Safety is what we really stress," Dietrich said.
Applicants take their test results to their local sheriffs department, where they will be fingerprinted and have their mug shots taken. Then, a complete background test is conducted.
"Then, they pass it on to the chief of police, and they will check their records," Dietrich said. "Then, he will sign off on it, and it goes to the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and they do an extensive background check. They also check with the FBI."
Permits are for three years, and permit holders have 90 days from the time it expires to renew. The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal investigation will complete another background check before the permit is renewed.
In North Dakota, instructors are allowed to charge up to but not more than $50, the sheriff's fee is $25 for fingerprint and background check and the Attorney General's office gets another $25, said Denny Magnusson, a Grand Forks resident, who is a certified handgun and conceal-to-carry instructor.
Who holds permits
Most of the permits go to people who are in professions where receiving threats are part of the job. The average citizen very rarely applies for a concealed weapon permit, said Dietrich.
He said he tests a lot of professional people, such as attorneys and guidance and divorce counselors.
In a year's time, Dietrich tests about 50 people who want to get their conceal to carry permits.
Hunters get concealed weapons permits so they don't violate the law when they are out hunting and put a gun under the seat or out of sight.
In the past, Dietrich and Magnusson have been able to train people from Minnesota who are seeking a permit to carry a concealed weapon in Minnesota.
They hope that situation will continue.
"I don't know whether to set up a mobile classroom situation," Magnusson said. "I don't know what the course of fire is going to be; I haven't seen any instructions."
Magnusson hopes his credentials will be sufficient. He is an NRA law enforcement firearms instructor, certified concealed handgun and NRA certified pistol instructor, a North Dakota concealed weapons test administrator and owns a certificate on the use of deadly force from the Michael Blake Institute in Wisconsin.
Not a problem
Dietrich doesn't think that the new Minnesota law will lead to more violence.
"Everybody thinks that there will be shootouts and it will be awful, but we've had concealed to carry in North Dakota for years and years without any problems," he said. "I've had a conceal-to-carry license for over 30 years, and I've never used it."
Dietrich sees it more as a deterrent to crime.
"Criminals are cowards. They want life easy. If they know you have a gun in your house, they will avoid your house," he said.
North Dakota has laws about where concealed weapons can be carried.
Once a person gets a concealed weapons permit in North Dakota, they are not allowed to carry a weapon into a public gathering, government building or any establishment that sells alcohol or has gaming.
"The one thing that the permit does, whether it be North Dakota or Minnesota, a permit to carry a concealed weapon is not a permit to use it," Magnusson said. "It's simply a permit to carry it under legal conditions."
May 25, 2003 Sunday
SECTION: FRO
LENGTH: 652 words
HEADLINE: NORTH DAKOTA: State requires two tests, background check
BYLINE: By Rona K. Johnson; Herald Staff Writer
BODY:
Getting a permit to carry a concealed weapon in North Dakota is a relatively simple process.
"North Dakota law simply is that if you desire a handgun conceal to carry permit for self defense, they issue it as long as you pass the background test," said Don Dietrich, a certified conceal-to-carry instructor through the National Rifle Association. He also teaches home defense and rifle, pistol and shotgun training.
In North Dakota, people have to fill out an application, take a written test and a handgun safety and proficiency test.
"Safety is what we really stress," Dietrich said.
Applicants take their test results to their local sheriffs department, where they will be fingerprinted and have their mug shots taken. Then, a complete background test is conducted.
"Then, they pass it on to the chief of police, and they will check their records," Dietrich said. "Then, he will sign off on it, and it goes to the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and they do an extensive background check. They also check with the FBI."
Permits are for three years, and permit holders have 90 days from the time it expires to renew. The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal investigation will complete another background check before the permit is renewed.
In North Dakota, instructors are allowed to charge up to but not more than $50, the sheriff's fee is $25 for fingerprint and background check and the Attorney General's office gets another $25, said Denny Magnusson, a Grand Forks resident, who is a certified handgun and conceal-to-carry instructor.
Who holds permits
Most of the permits go to people who are in professions where receiving threats are part of the job. The average citizen very rarely applies for a concealed weapon permit, said Dietrich.
He said he tests a lot of professional people, such as attorneys and guidance and divorce counselors.
In a year's time, Dietrich tests about 50 people who want to get their conceal to carry permits.
Hunters get concealed weapons permits so they don't violate the law when they are out hunting and put a gun under the seat or out of sight.
In the past, Dietrich and Magnusson have been able to train people from Minnesota who are seeking a permit to carry a concealed weapon in Minnesota.
They hope that situation will continue.
"I don't know whether to set up a mobile classroom situation," Magnusson said. "I don't know what the course of fire is going to be; I haven't seen any instructions."
Magnusson hopes his credentials will be sufficient. He is an NRA law enforcement firearms instructor, certified concealed handgun and NRA certified pistol instructor, a North Dakota concealed weapons test administrator and owns a certificate on the use of deadly force from the Michael Blake Institute in Wisconsin.
Not a problem
Dietrich doesn't think that the new Minnesota law will lead to more violence.
"Everybody thinks that there will be shootouts and it will be awful, but we've had concealed to carry in North Dakota for years and years without any problems," he said. "I've had a conceal-to-carry license for over 30 years, and I've never used it."
Dietrich sees it more as a deterrent to crime.
"Criminals are cowards. They want life easy. If they know you have a gun in your house, they will avoid your house," he said.
North Dakota has laws about where concealed weapons can be carried.
Once a person gets a concealed weapons permit in North Dakota, they are not allowed to carry a weapon into a public gathering, government building or any establishment that sells alcohol or has gaming.
"The one thing that the permit does, whether it be North Dakota or Minnesota, a permit to carry a concealed weapon is not a permit to use it," Magnusson said. "It's simply a permit to carry it under legal conditions."