Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
Here's a news story about it. Numbers are low, so far...
http://freebeacon.com/culture/dc-issues-first-gun-carry-permits/
http://freebeacon.com/culture/dc-issues-first-gun-carry-permits/
It's tough to walk down any street in DC for more than a block or two without entering "federal property".
Illinois' non-refundable application fee is $150 and we also have up to 16 hours instruction. You can drop 4 if you have the NRA Basic class or Hunter Safety, and I think you can drop 8 hours for LEO or military experience.
Then there are the classes - prices have ranged from $150-$300 for the full 16 hours. Range time is usually extra.
Then, to MAYBE shorten the turnaround time by 30 days, special fingerprints that can be $50+.
CLP said:Stark contrast to Jefferson County, AL.
$7.50 per year- you can get up to 5yrs at a time (37.50). Fill out the online application and mail it in, get it in a couple of weeks.
Personally, I think that's unacceptable and that a citizen shouldn't have to spend any money to exercise their 2A right.
And of course, they have a map for all the new "carriers' showing clearly where all those places are ... right?That's a bit of an exaggeration - there's a lot of federal property in DC, but not as much as many folks think.
The restrictions on where carry is allowed is still onerous all the same:
- Any building owned or under the control of the District of Columbia, its agencies, and instrumentalities;
- The building and grounds, including any adjacent parking lot, of any public, public charter, or private elementary or secondary school; or any public or private college or university (note - there are 5 major university campuses, plus hundreds of schools strewn throughout the city - if the "grounds" also include the sidewalk, then yeah, walking around DC concealed is pretty much impossible)
- Any pre-school or child care facility;
- Any public or private hospital, or other building where medical or mental health services are the primary services provided;
- Any adult or juvenile correctional facility, including halfway houses;
- Any public transportation vehicle, including the Metrorail transit system, but not including taxicab operators;
- Any premises or portion thereof, licensed under Title 25 of the District of Columbia Official Code, where alcoholic beverages are served, or are sold and consumed on premises;
- Any public gathering or special event conducted on property open to the public that requires the issuance of a permit from the District or federal government or their agencies or instrumentalities ... (which basically means that if you need a permit to exercise your 1st amendment rights , your 2d amendment rights doubly don't apply . And that also includes "Taste of DC," any parade, or any other street fair).
- Any stadium or arena;
- Any area where firearms are prohibited under federal law or by a federal agency or entity;
- The area around the White House, namely: between Constitution Avenue and H Street and between 15th and 17th Streets, all Northwest;
- Within 1,000 feet, or other lesser distance designated by the Chief or his or her designee, when a dignitary or high ranking official of the United States or a state, local, or foreign government is under the protection of the Metropolitan Police Department, or other law enforcement agency assisting or working in concert with it ... (um, so intuitively need to keep 1000 feet away from a moving motorcade travelling in a direction you can't predict? Even if you're on foot, and they're rolling towards you? Good luck with that ...
- Within 1,000 feet, or other lesser distance designated by the Chief or his or her designee, of a demonstration in a public place ... (and "demonstrations" area daily event in DC, even if its one kook carrying a placard protesting for protection of the endangered tasseled wobbegong).
- Any prohibited circumstance that the Chief determines by rule, provided that for spontaneous circumstances, no criminal penalty shall apply unless the licensee has notice of the prohibition and has failed to comply. (By rule, I presume means that Cheif Lanier issues a Departmental memo for any other areas they might have left out above ...)
Yet, even with all of that cost and time, not to mention the LONG list of prohibited places where we aren't allowed to carry (such as public parks.. public transportation.. public events like community festivals)...
... we still managed to hit 100,000 licenses in the first year.