So which CCW?

[cdcmj]

I reside in Pittsburgh, PA 9 months out of the year. Its time for me to finally square my CCW situation away. I am a resident of the friendly state of MD

My research has yielded that there is still some controversy with regard to FL non-res. CCW permits in PA. I have also found that VA non-res CCW permits have no gray area like the FL one does here in PA. Does anybody have any information that disputes my claims? Also, if FL is ok, is there any benefit for me in getting one over the other.

Getting both would be more costly (im a college student) and I only plan to carry in PA, with possibilities of VA as well, but not really...The CCW is primarily to carry in PA to avoid any confusion as to what my goal is. Thanks guys

 

[critter]

Go on-line. You can get a nonresident PA permit quickly, easily and rather cheaply if you have a permit from your resident state (or perhaps another state).

 

[cdcmj]

PA requires one to have a permit from their resident state if it is possible. Mine is MD, and they are a may-issue-state, so they are included in this exception. Since MD in fact does not issue permits, I cannot receive a non-res PA permit.

VA and FL are my only options. I just dont know which one.

 

[cdcmj]

btt please

 

[cdcmj]

bttttt

 

[cdcmj]

bttttt anyone?

 

[30 cal slob]

i'll bite.

i think the easiest thing to do is declare PA residency and get your PA carry permit. figure 9/12 months is good enough reason. there is simply no upside in the ccw world to having a MD residency.

it's my understanding that some PA Sate Police will not honor out of state CCW's like FL if you are not a resident of FL, even though the reciprocity agreements posted online at the State Attorney General's office do not distinguish between resident and non-resident.

in this case, the State's Attorney general has gone of its way to say that non-resident CCW's (for which there are reciprocity agreements) are to be honored.

in any case, as long as you're not in philly, anyone can open carry legally in PA without a PA carry permit.

so either

A) become a PA resident and get PA CCW

or

B) get your FL permit and download and print copies of the AG's reciprocity agreements and conceal carry ... and consider open carry at times where you might be stopped by a PA state trooper.

PA AG links here:

http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/crime.aspx?id=184

Another great resource here:

http://www.paopencarry.org

Nifty pamphlet here:

http://www.paopencarry.org/PennsylvaniaGunRights.pdf

 

[cdcmj]

thanks for the info

But i kindly ask again, does anyone with both an FL and VA non-res permit or just the VA have any comments as to getting one versus the other? Thanks!

ps-money is an issue for me and I also live close to VA

 

[30 cal slob]

i actually have both. there are VA folk who have FL carry permits (but not VA permits) that CCW legally in VA. what's that tell you about VA?

i think it boils down to what states you get with a FL non-resident, and my recollection is you get more bang for your buck with a FL permit.

however, i think you have to jump through a few more hoops on the FL permit, and the FL might be a tad more expensive and take a little longer than VA to process. i lean towards FL but you'd be just as well served with VA.

you might get some more feedback in the Virginia forum at http://www.opencarry.org. they're probably some people in your same situation who have wrestled with this.

 

[mnw42]

I agree with 30 cal. Since you live in PA and assuming you have a permanent residence here you meet all of the qualifications as a PA resident.

 

[K-Romulus]

I live in MD, have both VA and FL permits, and carry in both VA and PA.

I think the FL permit may be the more expensive of the two, and if you don't have a DD214 you may need to be sure you have the right "FL proof of training."

VA's proof of training may be somewhat more flexible, if it is anything like the resident permits. I used a DD214 for both FL and VA permits. For VA, pretty much any sort of defensive handgun course should be OK.

The FL permit looks just like a drivers' license, but the VA is a cheesy printed permit on one side with your photo laminated on the back. Both need photos and fingerprints. FL has better national reciprocity.

So, the best choice IMHO would be FL if you had to pick just one and see yourself traveling to other states besides PA (like Delaware where FL is honored). If it will just be PA and VA, I'd do VA.

I only go to PA about once every other month and would kill to be able to claim PA residency.