CCW'ers: How did your CCW application process go?

[c_yeager]

Now, had I tried this in Seattle, OTOH.....

My experience in the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle was identical to yours. Except for the two attractive young females doing the paperwork and prints

Incidentall i was standing in line with three other guys who were ALSO getting renewal or first issue permits.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Put my name on the class roster for a Sat/Sun class.

Completed the class along with qualifications. Filled out the paperwork, did the prints and put it in an envelope right at the gun range that I took the class at.

Dropped it in a mailbox on the way home and waited 4 weeks before it got to me.

Pretty easy.

 

[telewinz]

State of Ohio

Just got back from the Sheriff's department. I had a 5 pm appt. and they took me 20 minutes early. Receptionist did not know anything about CCW and thought they were taking applications elsewhere . But she asked a few questions and the detective greeted me and processed my application. Took about 20 minutes in (I already had a completed application) all. They digitally scan both thumb prints and both index finger prints then you pay your $45 bucks. Detective said my permit should be in next week. In my county the process is a little shaky, the receptionist didn't know anything about CCW, No Walk-ins - appointment only (1 per hour), only two persons work the system, if they are called out to investigate a crime (yesterday 1st appointment cancelled) you are out of luck. Does not come close to meeting the spirit of the law but maybe THEY know more about it than I do. I least I'll be getting my license but I doubt that I'll have the need to CCW, just the option.

 

[mvpel]

New Hampshire

Stopped in the local police office in the town where I was living, showed them my lease agreement and proof of identity, submitted the form along with documentation of my denial in California and $10 cash, and had my card a week and a half later.

 

[jamz]

Typical Massachussetts PITA.

Take NRA Basic pistol course for $125.
Go to local PD and pick up forms.
Get told "The chief won't issue you a License to carry loaded and concealed" (Here known as a Class A License to Carry, All Legal Purposes)
Go to mall, get 3 photos for $5.00
Obtain copy of birth certificate for $30.00
Find two people who would write a short letter of recommendation.
Go to town hall and get "certificate of residency".
Make an appointment with local PD again.
Go to appointment, get fingerprinted, hand in forms, sign things, get told again "We don't issue licenses to carry loaded". Pay $100
Wait almost exactly 1 month for forms to get back from State.
Make another appointment to pick up license.
Get quickie interview with the Chief, and convince him to issue said permit.
Walk out.

 

[P95Carry]

I'll be getting my license but I doubt that I'll have the need to CCW, just the option.

I could easily say that too tele .. but, once you do have the option ..... think hard ... and imagine the (outside I admit) instance where you just might regret being ''bare'' ..... but from choice!!

I guess I am a ''16/7'' or nothing carrier .... because as Dave006 I think it was said .... ''You don't need an appointment for emergencies'' ..... things ''happen''.

Not trying to lecture .... just that I wish those able to carry should, at all times they legally can ..... it helps the cause IMO ... and I know of more than one cop who is in favor of any CCW's full time carry, as against very casual!

 

[artherd]

P95 you bring up a good point.

Nobody carries a spare tire for the days everything goes right.

I am going to begin the CA CCW process soon, wish me luck!

 

[P95Carry]

wish me luck

I sure do buddy ...... and hope that it will work out OK. I'm sure you'll come back with the result .. and let's hope it's the good one.

 

[rich2u]

Well I showed up with my 20 dollar money order & a first class stamp. They finger printed me & mailed in the application, 4 weeks later presto no questions nothin... Luv Indiana

 

[Valkman]

Clark County and Las Vegas seem to make it as difficult as possible. You take your class which is anywhere from $60 - $300 depending where you take it. Then I went downtown to the police station to give them the MO for $105. Do not try and give them a check or cash, MO only. They do not care if it's illegal not to accept cash, they are the police! Besides, when they did accept cash it never seemed to stay around long enough to be accounted for.

Next down the the Fingerprint building, which was in a rundown location still in downtown. Every person who wants to work in a casino has to get a work card here, and all your parolees have to come here also. Always packed, always takes forever. I take a number and wait for a while (no place to sit), then finally get called - ha! that wasn't a bad wait! Wait, all they do is take your paperwork and you go back and wait again. After an hour I finally get my picture taken, then go wait again. Another hour and finally get fingerprinted. Now I have to wait and see if the card comes out right, even though I can't get it now. There was at least 3 1/2 hours there. Now all this is done at a new location, but I hear the waits are still the same.

Now the wait. The law says I have to get my permit in 4 months, but who's going to do anything to LV Metro if I don't? Four months come and go and I still didn't have it, and I'm calling all the time. Finally after 4 months and 3 weeks I get it.

 

[BowStreetRunner]

to get my GA permit,
i went done to the courthouse, found the office for firearm permits and marriage licenses,
nice clerk asked me some questions (none of them related to why I needed the permit, just info for the application)
i filled out a form or two, paid around 50 bucks, 25 for the county or state and 25 for the FBI background check........got fingerprinted, and said goodbye to the nice clerk
then waited almost 3 months but finally got it
BSR

 

[telewinz]

When it comes to CCW why does experience and sound judgement "fly out the door?" Do you wear a helment, do you carry a fire extinquisher, do you wear steel toed boots to church? Where do you draw the line? Does "a clear and present danger" mean more than just a movie title? If your neighborhood or workplace are that dangerous, why have you not relocated? Do you have a rowboat in your backyard for the great flood? How about earthquake insurance? Surely you have CPR certification and an anti-venom kit for that snake waiting to inject his venom in you! I (and 99.99% of the rest of the local population) have gone 51 years without banditos attacking me. CCW if anything has lowered that "threat", why do you have to "look" for reasons to justify your fears? Mind you I have no objection to "packing" but for most it's a brief "rush" that passes in a week or so, the CCW permit makes a nice conversation piece. How about posting all the newspaper stories relating how CCW prevented or stopped a crime from being committed? Nationwide there must be AT LEAST a dozen.

 

[Andrew Rothman]

Series 70 nailed the Minnesota experience pretty well. Almost all of the sheriff's departments are handling this very calmly and professionally.

A very few of the counties seem to be cooking the books on the money, however, claiming that the almost $80 they keep isn't enough to do the background checks (the same ones that they do for FREE for purchase permits) and issue a piece of cardboard. See joelr's blog here - http://www.livejournal.com/users/joelrosenberg/42007.html .)

Minnesota doesn't require photos or fingerprints, recommendations or reasons. For a state that only went shall-issue a year ago, I have to say we have it pretty good.

 

[SodiumBenzoate]

Mind you I have no objection to "packing" but for most it's a brief "rush" that passes in a week or so, the CCW permit makes a nice conversation piece. How about posting all the newspaper stories relating how CCW prevented or stopped a crime from being committed? Nationwide there must be AT LEAST a dozen.

....


:banghead:

 

[Ringer]

Picked up my application package at my local police station - no hassle.

Took the required training (8 hours required) - no hassle.

Went to the Count Clerk's office to turn in application, training certificate, two passport size photographs and pay by credit card - no hassle. No questions asked, not like the person who takes your app has anything to do with it other than file/send it to the State Police.

Take receipt from Clerk and go to Sheriff's office to get fingerprinted - no hassle. They used an electronic fingerprinter so didn't even get ink on my fingers. It did take several tries to get them right. Again no questions asked.

Wait.

Wait some more.

3 months (almost to the day) get a call from the County Clerk's office saying my CPL is ready for pick up.

As I recall that was how it went. All in all pretty painless, just had to shell out a couple hundred bucks and wait.

 

[artherd]

bills

What the duce?

When it comes to CCW why does experience and sound judgement "fly out the door?" Do you wear a helment, do you carry a fire extinquisher, do you wear steel toed boots to church? Where do you draw the line? Does "a clear and present danger" mean more than just a movie title? If your neighborhood or workplace are that dangerous, why have you not relocated? Do you have a rowboat in your backyard for the great flood? How about earthquake insurance? Surely you have CPR certification and an anti-venom kit for that snake waiting to inject his venom in you! I (and 99.99% of the rest of the local population) have gone 51 years without banditos attacking me. CCW if anything has lowered that "threat", why do you have to "look" for reasons to justify your fears? Mind you I have no objection to "packing" but for most it's a brief "rush" that passes in a week or so, the CCW permit makes a nice conversation piece. How about posting all the newspaper stories relating how CCW prevented or stopped a crime from being committed? Nationwide there must be AT LEAST a dozen.

OK, let's go down this one by one.

* Yes, I wear a helmet when riding a bike. Hasn't saved me yet, but I watched one save my brother's life right infront of my eyes.

* Yes, I carry not one but THREE fire extinguishers in my automobiles. I have had occation to use them twice.

* I have worn steel toed boots to church before.


* My neighborhood:
I grew up in a nice area in a town with 'no crime'. $600,000+ homes now. I was never afraid of anything more than bees untill a classmate less than a mile from my house was abudcted at knifepoint, raped, and murdered. Her name was Poly Klass. SCUMBAGS HAVE CARS! IT CAN HAPPEN ABSOLUTELY ANYWHERE AT ANY TIME, TO ANYONE!
If you think I'm wrong about that, don't tell me, tell Poly's family.

* Have a rowboat at second house with pond. Have a plan to get to higher ground if floods do happen, before I need the boat.

* Yes I have EQ insurance. (and I straped my water heaters, etc. I also have an earthquake 'go kit' outside my structure incase they collapse.)

* Yes I am both First Aid and CPR certified by the American Red Cross.

* Yes, I carry anti-venom kits in my car and when I hike.



That about cover it for you?

It's amazing how all the 'survivors' are always called 'paranoid' before anything happens.

 

[Mr. Clark]

What the duce?

I assumed it was sarcasm, but you can never tell.

 

[Kingson]

Hampden County MA
Mine was nice and easy. Went to local gun store and took gun safety cource (about 5 hours for $60), Passed easy written test. Went down to the local police station on my day off of work and filled out app. for Class A LTC ALP, got fingerprinted, paid $25 and about 2 week later got it in the mail. No hassels or anything. The cheif in town is very nice, he even gave me a machine gun permit when I appled for it a year later (yes you need a permit for everything in the great state of MA).