A couple of months ago I described our situation in which my wife applied for a permit in April of 2004. We waited patiently. On advice we finally wrote a letter as follows.
March 17, 2005
Judge ____ __________
22 E. Broad Street
Newnan, GA 30263-1973
770-254-2640 / FAX 254-2648
I applied for a Firearms License to carry a concealed firearm in April of 2004. I am concerned that I have not yet received my license. I am a smaller stature woman and have to spend at least two days a week alone in a small office complex in order to take deliveries and other tasks that put me at personal risk while at work. If I could call police in case of trouble they would be some time away.
After several calls to the probate court I have been repeatedly been told that it is the FBI who is at fault. The FBI has had plenty of time on this matter.
I have spent considerable time reviewing the Georgia laws concerning firearms carry and usage in preparation for carrying a firearm. I found the following excerpt in Georgia Code 16-11-129 section "d":
Investigation of applicant; issuance of license. Each law enforcement agency, upon receiving such applications and obtaining such fingerprints, shall promptly conduct a thorough search of its records and records to which it has access and shall notify the judge of the probate court within 50 days, by telephone and in writing, of any finding relating to the applicant which may bear on his eligibility for a license under the terms of this Code section. When no derogatory information is found on the applicant bearing on his eligibility to obtain a license, a report shall not be required. The law enforcement agency shall return the application and the blank license form with the fingerprint thereon directly to the judge of the probate court within such time period. Not later than 60 days after the application the judge of the probate court shall issue the applicant a license to carry any pistol or revolver if no facts establishing ineligibility have been reported and if the judge determines the applicant has met all the qualifications, is of good moral character, and has complied with all the requirements contained in this Code section.
I spoke with a few Georgia residents about this issue, and they have the same understanding that there is a 60-day waiting period to obtain a Firearm License to carry a concealed firearm. After I waited almost a year to receive my Firearm License, I then decided to write, to bring this to your attention, in order to ensure my application is in order. Paperwork can get lost, mistakes can happen, I simply want to be sure the processing of my application is in order.
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----------, GA 3----
The response was as follows:
March 21, 2005
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Re: Firearms License
Dear Ms. Hammond:
The Judge received your letter concerning your firearms license today; however, there is nothing we can do if we do not have a final response from FBI. I understand your frustration; however, the normal waiting period at this time is about five to six months. This by far surpasses the 50 days in which you are referring.
I will repeat, we will NOT issued a license without final reports from FBI. We will investigate this; along with many others who are in your same situation, to see if we can get clearance from the FBI; however at the risk of sounding redundant; our hands are tied until further notice from FBI. The license will be issued when proper notice is received from them.
----- - -----
Probate Clerk
I typed this exactly, even including the spelling and grammar errors. What really upsets me is that this was written by the clerk, not dictated or otherwise from the Judge. For all I know they refer to the office as the Judge and she never saw it. This letter was a vain attempt after many phone calls. We are being told by the probate office that many other people are waiting this long although I don't know anyone personally. Myself and many friends recieved our license in 3 months or less.
What can we do now?
Brandon
Coweta County, Georgia
March 17, 2005
Judge ____ __________
22 E. Broad Street
Newnan, GA 30263-1973
770-254-2640 / FAX 254-2648
I applied for a Firearms License to carry a concealed firearm in April of 2004. I am concerned that I have not yet received my license. I am a smaller stature woman and have to spend at least two days a week alone in a small office complex in order to take deliveries and other tasks that put me at personal risk while at work. If I could call police in case of trouble they would be some time away.
After several calls to the probate court I have been repeatedly been told that it is the FBI who is at fault. The FBI has had plenty of time on this matter.
I have spent considerable time reviewing the Georgia laws concerning firearms carry and usage in preparation for carrying a firearm. I found the following excerpt in Georgia Code 16-11-129 section "d":
Investigation of applicant; issuance of license. Each law enforcement agency, upon receiving such applications and obtaining such fingerprints, shall promptly conduct a thorough search of its records and records to which it has access and shall notify the judge of the probate court within 50 days, by telephone and in writing, of any finding relating to the applicant which may bear on his eligibility for a license under the terms of this Code section. When no derogatory information is found on the applicant bearing on his eligibility to obtain a license, a report shall not be required. The law enforcement agency shall return the application and the blank license form with the fingerprint thereon directly to the judge of the probate court within such time period. Not later than 60 days after the application the judge of the probate court shall issue the applicant a license to carry any pistol or revolver if no facts establishing ineligibility have been reported and if the judge determines the applicant has met all the qualifications, is of good moral character, and has complied with all the requirements contained in this Code section.
I spoke with a few Georgia residents about this issue, and they have the same understanding that there is a 60-day waiting period to obtain a Firearm License to carry a concealed firearm. After I waited almost a year to receive my Firearm License, I then decided to write, to bring this to your attention, in order to ensure my application is in order. Paperwork can get lost, mistakes can happen, I simply want to be sure the processing of my application is in order.
------- -------
-------------
----------, GA 3----
The response was as follows:
March 21, 2005
----- -------
---------------
Re: Firearms License
Dear Ms. Hammond:
The Judge received your letter concerning your firearms license today; however, there is nothing we can do if we do not have a final response from FBI. I understand your frustration; however, the normal waiting period at this time is about five to six months. This by far surpasses the 50 days in which you are referring.
I will repeat, we will NOT issued a license without final reports from FBI. We will investigate this; along with many others who are in your same situation, to see if we can get clearance from the FBI; however at the risk of sounding redundant; our hands are tied until further notice from FBI. The license will be issued when proper notice is received from them.
----- - -----
Probate Clerk
I typed this exactly, even including the spelling and grammar errors. What really upsets me is that this was written by the clerk, not dictated or otherwise from the Judge. For all I know they refer to the office as the Judge and she never saw it. This letter was a vain attempt after many phone calls. We are being told by the probate office that many other people are waiting this long although I don't know anyone personally. Myself and many friends recieved our license in 3 months or less.
What can we do now?
Brandon
Coweta County, Georgia