Head to Head CCW comparison: Whose is best?

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Big45

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The South Carolina ccw thread awhile back got me to thinking. All ccw are not created equally. So here is my question to all you ccw's.

I have the elusive Rhode Island town issued permit. Per RI law, there is but one restriction on where I can carry: anywhere while intoxicated or under the influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs.

Other than that, I can carry EVERYWHERE, including schools. I do believe that guns must be checked at the Statehouse in Providence, so I guess that is a minor restriction as well. Nevertheless, I would contend that the RI permit is as good as any, if not the best in the nation. So how does yours stack up?

Please, I'm not talking OC here. VT & AK you guys are not invited :D (lucky b@#$%!)

Most permits in the south are heavily restricted if I'm not mistaken...NC,SC,GA, etc..

Anyone think they have RI beat?
 
How about Oregon, that has the same restrictions as yours, EXCEPT MOST PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY GET ONE AS ITS SHALL ISSUE.

The fact that RI is not Shall issue automatically disqualifies it from being the best. Just my opinion.
 
"...guns must be checked at the..." And a whole list of other places under U.S. Federal law.
"...including schools..." You should read your State's laws again. What it says on your permit means nothing.
"It is unlawful to possess any firearm within a building used for a public or private school or on the grounds of such public or private school."
http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/RISL.pdf
 
The problem with CA CCWs is the process involved in getting them, and in LA Country (Where I live) your odds are virtually zero unless you know Lee Baca, are a millionaire, or have been raped/assaulted already.

Seriously. Once you been raped or assaulted, they then understand why you need a gun. But if you haven't had anything bad happen to you yet, you clearly don't need one!!
 
Wow, edit from Holy Excriment, why are your states so non-compliant with others? I mean I really thought Ks CCW's where restrictive in other states especially in the NE but you all have me beat hands down. I feel for you, I really do.
 
You should read your State's laws again. What it says on your permit means nothing.
"It is unlawful to possess any firearm within a building used for a public or private school or on the grounds of such public or private school."

NRA fact sheet seems to be at odds with the statutes as published by the state of Rhode Island:

§ 11-47-60 Possession of firearms on school grounds. – (a) No person shall have in his or her possession any firearm or other weapons on school grounds.
...
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person who shall be exempt pursuant to the provisions of §§ 11-47-9, 11-47-11, and 11-47-18​

And § 11-47-11 is "License or permit to carry concealed pistol or revolver"

Sounds like the permit allows you to carry on school grounds to me.
 
Here's the list of terms for Orange County, California.

What it boils down to is that you can't carry while stoned, drunk, or medicated and you can't carry in an airport, jail, courthouse, or bar.
California state law allows the carrying of firearms on school grounds if you are a CCW holder - if you read carefully, the Sheriff's restrictions say you can't carry on school grounds where prohibited by law - well... it isn't against the law.

The license holder shall agree to abide by the following terms for carrying a concealed weapon. Failure to do so shall result in the immediate suspension of the CCW license.

1). A license holder shall notify the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Professional Standards Division (PSD) Commander of any change of address within ten days of the change. A permit will expire 90 days after the licensee moves from Orange County Sheriff's Department jurisdiction if the residence was a basis for the issuance of the license, this will allow the permitee time to apply for a CCW with their new jurisdiction.

2). If contacted by a police officer for any reason, license holder shall immediately announce that they are carrying a concealed weapon and has a license to do so.

3). License holder shall surrender the CCW license and/or concealed weapon to any peace officer upon demand.

4). License holder shall not unnecessarily display or expose the concealed weapon.

5). Should the license holder display or utilize the concealed weapon for which the license has been issued, the license holder shall notify the Commander of PSD within five days. This notice shall be in writing, and shall include the circumstances resulting in the use of the weapon.

6). License holder shall not carry a concealed weapon while taking medication or if in a condition which is likely to impair judgment, behavior, or dexterity, or while consuming alcohol.

7). License holder agrees to notify the Commander of the Professional Standards Division immediately upon arrest and/or conviction of any felony or misdemeanor, including under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Applicant further agrees to notify the commander of the Professional Standards Division immediately should he/she become the subject of any domestic violence investigation or court order/temporary restraining order. The licsense holder shall notify the Commander of PSD in writing within five days of any arrest or restraining order. Following an investigation by PSD into the matter a determination will be made for re-issuance of the CCW.

8). Restrictions by Act: Any of the following or similar acts while in possession of a firearm shall be considered a violation of the permittee’s general responsibilities as specified below:

a. any violation of law,

b. be in a place having a primary purpose of dispensing alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption,

c. consumption of any alcohol or any narcotic/drug, including an adverse reaction to prescription medications,

d. possession of a firearm at any airport or on a plane where prohibited by law,

e. possession of a firearm at any school building and/or school grounds where prohibited law,

f. possession of a firearm at any city, county, state, or federal building where prohibited by law,

g. possession of a firearm at any government facility where prisoners are housed,

h. possession of a firearm at any other location where firearms are normally prohibited by law,

i. any unjustified display of any portion of a firearm,

j. failure to show permit to any peace officer upon demand,

k. failure to surrender weapon to any peace officer upon demand,

l. impeding or interfering with any peace officer,

m. possessing a weapon altered from its originally approved design, or weapon not listed on the permit,

n. possessing any equipment or attachments to a firearm not specifically approved as a part of the permit, and

o. any other act, omission or commission, deemed by the Sheriff to violate these regulations and/or the Sheriff’s reasonable expectation of sound judgment and responsible conduct.
 
Sir Aardvark

You have a whole lot of restrictions and requirements that we don't have in Kern County. As a matter of fact, I don't believe we have any restrictions beyond those required by the state.
 
Which CCW is best? Whatever you shoot best, but is easily concealable and dependable.

But seriously, the best License / Permit is the one that isn't needed, in my opinion. We should be free to do with our gun as we please.
 
The fact that RI is not Shall issue automatically disqualifies it from being the best. Just my opinion.

Just for the record, RI is a shall issue state as per state statute 11-47-11.

"...including schools..." You should read your State's laws again. What it says on your permit means nothing.
"It is unlawful to possess any firearm within a building used for a public or private school or on the grounds of such public or private school."

As Jorg pointed out, permit holders are exempt. Don't you think I would have read the laws on this?

Which CCW is best? Whatever you shoot best, but is easily concealable and dependable.

We're not talking firearms here. Which state ccw is the least restrictive? I still say RI might be the best one going.
 
If you can get one, Rhode Island is the best.
PA is very good among states that are easily obtainable and only 25 dollars.Also CO and NH.
Not too many goofy,off limits areas.
 
I guess it's natural to think our own is the best, but it's hard to beat Utah. Reciprocity in 33 states, you can carry on any state property that's not a secured area (metal detectors, guards etc.), including college campuses, you can carry in bars, but cannot carry while intoxicated ( .08 BAC). Also, private property "no weapons" signs do not carry any weight of law. Our permit fee is $65, not sure what all the other states are, but I'm guessing that's on the low end.
 
See, this is what I don't understand. How does one state, merely a geographical/political line drawn on a map, decide it's alright to allow CC most anywhere while the state next door doesn't allow any at all? I simply can't figure out the logic.
 
I guess it's natural to think our own is the best, but it's hard to beat Utah. Reciprocity in 33 states, you can carry on any state property that's not a secured area (metal detectors, guards etc.), including college campuses, you can carry in bars, but cannot carry while intoxicated ( .08 BAC). Also, private property "no weapons" signs do not carry any weight of law. Our permit fee is $65, not sure what all the other states are, but I'm guessing that's on the low end.

Well UTDave,
I don't mean best like I think the New England Patriots are the best team ever (they are), I mean best as in least restrictive. I guess I could have worded the question better. Which state ccw is the least restricted as to where one can carry? Rhode Island has almost no off limits, which is why I say it's one of the "best".

Can you carry in K-12 schools in UT?
 
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See, this is what I don't understand. How does one state, merely a geographical/political line drawn on a map, decide it's alright to allow CC most anywhere while the state next door doesn't allow any at all? I simply can't figure out the logic.

It's called Federalism, and it's a founding principle of our Republic. While it has its drawbacks, it's ultimately in the best interest of each state to determine its own policies. Now, back to guns before this thread gets locked. :)
 
I have to say, Oregon is pretty darn god.Shall issue, no hassles, only takes about 2 weeks for the permit to show up, only costs $65 for the initial license, and we can carry anywhere except into a courtroom or the secure are of a jail or prison (I'd say your not going to really find any better than that).ONLY negative is we have poor reciprocity, but if you dont leave the state very often, like me, it doesnt matter.The only time I leave the state is to go to MI every few years to visit family, and MI accepts my OR permit, so reciprocity is a non-issue for me.)Oh, we also have no alcohol limit for carrying (not that it matters, I dont drink and handle guns anyway, nut some states have a zero tolerance law, which may be a bit excessive IMHO.1 beer with dinner in a resteraunt isnt a problem in my opinion).We also have state premption for both open and concealed carry if you have a permit, which is nice if you want to OC ever, and/or you dont have to worry about "flashing" or printing like some states either, so thats a bonus in my opinion too.
 
Ah, but can you carry in a bar or on a college campus in Florida? In Oregon you can. In PA you can.

As I have always said in these threads, it depends on what you are looking for. Reciprocity? Cost? Training needed? Off limits places? Registration of carry guns?

In regards to off limits places, I would say Oregon. You can carry in an elementary school in Oregon. After that I would say PA.

In regards to reciprocity, it would be Florida or Utah.

So there is no best.

If we get national reciprocity it would be a moot point in regards to reciprocal states.
 
NH -

No training required, no fingerprinting, no registration, shall issue, has to be issued within 14 days, usually less. Only place off-limits by state statute are "courtrooms and area used by a court". And then there are, of course, the federal victim disarmament zones. Gun-free school zones are also in effect, due to the NH license being nothing more than a rubber stamp and not meeting the requirements needed for a state license to exempt holders from the federal law.

The only bad thing would be that NH is isolated from the rest of America by the PRNY.

Q: My local police department says that they will take more than 14 days to process my application for a concealed carry license; they gave me a second form (besides the standard one-page application form); they require more than three references; they require my references to send letters to the police department; they require documented proof of firearms training; and they want fingerprints and photographs. Which of these actions are legal?

A: None of them.

http://www.pgnh.org/gunlawfaqs
 
which is best

I think the point that the OP was really asking was 'least restrictive' . I'd like to think that my DE license is near the top as far as restrictions on what and where you can carry, but it isn't anywhere near the top as far as best in almost every other area that others have brought up.

Being 'may issue' would drop it down on the list although they issue more now then ever before. They didn't change the law, they just started following the written law more closely with the current judges.

As far as reciprocity we are near the bottom, permit good in maybe 15 states and none of our neighbor states.

As far as cost my state is near the worst. You'll spend more trying to get the permit than the cost of an average gun.

I think what the OP finds unusual is that since Florida started the 'shall issue' laws and a lot of the states that followed, the newer laws have a lot of places where you can't carry. Once you get a permit in these states you have LOTS of restrictions on what and where you can carry.

I understand this as part of fighting for your rights against the 'Brady Machine ' and all those who oppose guns. Compromises had to be make to get the laws passed. So although they have to issue the permit they won't allow said gun in many places.

I think DE is a lot like RI in that without changing the laws or creating new laws they just stopped refusing to give out permits. That way we end up with less restrictions(IF you get one).

Being a small state(like RI) the NRA doesn't have much of a presence and has spent no money on trying to change our laws. Kind of a double edged sword. We remain discretionary issue but few limitations. My CCDW covers more then just handguns. By reading the laws it covers knives, swords, chains, all firearms and BOMBS. Not sure owning bombs are legal, or even how I'd use it in self defense, but it's not excluded. I'll wait until someone else tries pushing the limits of the law on that one.

Excluding the Federal laws, my state only restricts carrying at schools, sports arenas and the 3 state casino's. That's why as a city employee I can carry on the job. I couldn't find any state, county or city law(or city policy) that forbids it. As long as we CCDW license holders don't push the limits or do something stupid the laws probably won't change.

We aren't looking for the NRA or anyone else to try to change our laws to 'shall issue' as long as 'discretionary issue' is possible for most who apply. It would be nice if reciprocity were with more states but that's up to our AG. One of the things that stops us in that area is that our state requires a handgun safety course and fingerprinting. States that don't have those won't have reciprocity even considered.

I found it humorous that I took my handgun safety course in PA(not required for PA) and all the people in the class were from DE. There is no reciprocity with PA since they don't require the classes so I applied and got my non-resident PA permit as well.

Just wish MD and NJ would allow there citizens to carry. All these states are less then a 15 minute ride. Hard to stay in my state and I try to stay out of MD and NJ. Have family in PA and live 1 mile from the border. Hard to not go there. With the PA permit easy to obtain I just had to get it. Looking at the Florida permit for reciprocity in most other states.
 
I'd say Alaska gets my vote. You don't even neeed a license, but they issue one for the sake of reciprocity. Vermont's great until you need to travel out of state, as they do not have a license to issue.
 
You have to keep in mind that VT and AK have several places that are off-limits. A state with nearly no places off-limits (how often do you go in a courtroom?), and a permit that looks like a receipt and takes nothing to get is better, IMO.
 
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