Concealed Carry Weapons permit process.....

[Navy Chief]

I drove to Punta Gorda, FL yesterday to apply for my Concealed Carry Weapons permit.

That office in Punta Gorda Florida Dept. of Agriculture - was the most efficient government office I'd ever visited.

I arrived 15 minutes early. Before I could even sign in, one of the employees came up, asked me for my driver's license and the required paperwork for the permit. Within 5 minutes, I was finished!

Most of the time, especially when a state or federal govt. agency is involved, I expect gross inefficiency and delays. Not this time.

Quick, painless, and fast!

Pete

[Roadburner440]

That is good to hear Pete! I know when I got my Florida CCWP I too experienced the same thing. I did it through mail granted, but at the time there was a high volume of people getting permitted. I was told it would be possibly months. I got mine in the mail not even 3 weeks later. I was pleasantly surprised. I have to do it again in Virginia now, and can only hope the process goes as smoothly. What you carrying anyway?

[rayrey10]

For some odd reason the most efficient government office in the world happens to be the division of the FLorida Dept of Agriculture that issues CCW permits.

Even the office down in Miami is surprisingly efficient. I know quiet of few people that have applied for a CCW in person and have said the same thing.

[Navy Chief]

I am not carrying any weapon yet, but I will be taking my newly-acquired Browning Model 1910 .380 to the local firing range to do some practice; most likely next week.

I also plan to take more courses; i.e. NRA Personal Protection Inside/Outside the Home, for more experience.

Pete

[middle]

If I may ask, what did it cost in Florida? I personally believ it's the duty of every law abiding citizen to carry if they so choose. It's a dangerous world and in my life I've come to believe that anything can happen to anyone anywhere at any time no matter how good of a person one is and I for one am not much into being a victim.

[Jagdflieger]

My son just got his permit here in Washington State and he experienced the same cordial and efficient service. Very unusual for a Washington State office.

That said, we've been out to the range a couple of times over the Holidays and had a great time getting his new pistol sighted in and getting some practice in.

Mid,

You are absolutely spot on.

[mfitch]

In Alaska a concealed weapon permit can be obtained even faster: it isn't required. Most of the people I know personally carry for protection against bear or moose especially when hiking. Of course to drop a bear with a pistol requires a 50 caliber which is also capable of taking your hand off from the recoil I am told.

[papab]

If I may ask, what did it cost in Florida? I personally believ it's the duty of every law abiding citizen to carry if they so choose. It's a dangerous world and in my life I've come to believe that anything can happen to anyone anywhere at any time no matter how good of a person one is and I for one am not much into being a victim.


Most classes cost $50 dollars-4 hours

If you have a DD214 thats all you need to apply with no class

The DOA gets $117 for the permit in Florida

Wife & I got ours this summer

Rick

[Roadburner440]

When I got my FL CCW was about 2 years ago. The fingerprints from JSO was $25 or $30 if memory serves me correctly. Then the license paperwork itself was an additional $70. The fee's have gone up since the end of the year though. I think it is $90 now for the permit. I was waived from the class for being active duty military with a current weapons qualification.. Is good on ya Pete for wanting to take some classes before carrying. Especially if you haven't carried a weapon before, or in awhile I suppose. .380 is a good choice to. My original carry weapon was a Soviet army Makarov PM 9X18mm.. Before I left Florida though I was carrying my Kimber Ultra Carry II .45, and when I get my CC back in Virginia it is what I will be carrying again. I do need to find a good range up here though. I know over the last year in Florida I could not shoot my Makarov because of the old Russian steel case ammo which is the main reason I swapped over to the .45, because that was the only gun I could practice with at the range that was compact. Hoping to find a range that will let me shoot steel case here. Especially since I have so much of it.

[Terry]

They'll be just as efficient when the time comes to use the paperwork you signed to come and confiscate your weapons. You think I'm full of BS, read your history books, the US is going down the same path. Stop leaving paper trails!!!!

[Navy Chief]

If I may ask, what did it cost in Florida? I personally believ it's the duty of every law abiding citizen to carry if they so choose. It's a dangerous world and in my life I've come to believe that anything can happen to anyone anywhere at any time no matter how good of a person one is and I for one am not much into being a victim.

The cost of the permit is $117, and is good for 7 years.


Pete

[Navy Chief]

They'll be just as efficient when the time comes to use the paperwork you signed to come and confiscate your weapons. You think I'm full of BS, read your history books, the US is going down the same path. Stop leaving paper trails!!!!

With as many gun owners in this country as there are,..... there would be a full blown revolution if that is attempted. Pete

[Terry]

With as many gun owners in this country as there are,..... there would be a full blown revolution if that is attempted. Pete

Please wake up and smell the coffee. Revolution will never happen as long as the people have food and shelter. History tells us that they are the triggers.

[Jagdflieger]

I think we can keep this thread on track and not diverge into a thread on revolution.

Point taken though and while Terry can obviously point to the Communist and Nazi disarmament of their citizenry prior to WW II and possibly the post WW I and recent efforts in the Commonwealth, it probably doesn't belong here. That said, one of the responsibilities of citizenship is eternal vigilance.

[Navy Chief]

I think we can keep this thread on track and not diverge into a thread on revolution.

Point taken though and while Terry can obviously point to the Communist and Nazi disarmament of their citizenry prior to WW II and possibly the post WW I and recent efforts in the Commonwealth, it probably doesn't belong here. That said, one of the responsibilities of citizenship is eternal vigilance.

Complete agreement. Ditto. Pete

[Roadburner440]

They'll be just as efficient when the time comes to use the paperwork you signed to come and confiscate your weapons. You think I'm full of BS, read your history books, the US is going down the same path. Stop leaving paper trails!!!!

They are more than welcome to come take my weapons. Albeit it will be one bullet at a time up until the point I am taken out, but they are more than free to try. It is a concious decision I made awhile ago that if they try to do so then I am not giving them up without a fight. Cause at that point stuff is going to be pretty bad anyway if they are coming around rounding up weapons, and we will already be well on the road to dictatorship. So not like I would want to stick around anyway. So may as well take as many of the bastards as I can with me IF the time ever comes. Granted I pray that it does not happen, but every passing day I am less and less sure of the road that we are on... I am sure there will be a lot of citizens like this in Austrailia, and England that will freely hand them over. I am also equally sure there are quite a number out there like me who are going to stand up for their second amendment rights, and that it will not be a walk in the park for them. That is primary reason I have so many Soviet firearms.

[TeaSea]

I bet out Eurpean members find this an odd thread.

Chief, my experience with the CCP was the same. Pretty simple.

I actually find all of my experiences with the State to be easy, as long as I've done my homework and have all my documentation.

[wombat666]

They are more than welcome to come take my weapons. Albeit it will be one bullet at a time up until the point I am taken out, but they are more than free to try. It is a concious decision I made awhile ago that if they try to do so then I am not giving them up without a fight. Cause at that point stuff is going to be pretty bad anyway if they are coming around rounding up weapons, and we will already be well on the road to dictatorship. So not like I would want to stick around anyway. So may as well take as many of the bastards as I can with me IF the time ever comes. Granted I pray that it does not happen, but every passing day I am less and less sure of the road that we are on... I am sure there will be a lot of citizens like this in Austrailia, and England that will freely hand them over. I am also equally sure there are quite a number out there like me who are going to stand up for their second amendment rights, and that it will not be a walk in the park for them. That is primary reason I have so many Soviet firearms.

This is not the path this thread should be taking Roadburner, it does nothing but invite 'unfriendly' prods from non-gun owners.
FYI, handguns, and concealed handguns are not common in Australia, while a recent amnesty was an eye opener when it came to the quantity and variety of military grade 'long arms' handed over.
Most of my generation had 'Family' on the land where we learned to handle firearms as kids under the instruction of our WW.I Grandfathers or WW.II Fathers, whereas today's generation are not interested.
Actually, in this day and age, knives are the concealed weapon of choice among young people, a side benefit of our present immigration policy ..........:kilroy:
I doubt ANYONE will be coming to relieve you of your weapons, no government has the Testicular Fortitude to go down that path, so rest assured, you will not have to "give them up without a fight".
One observation if I may make a point, unless one has been in the situation of having to terminate another Human Being's life with a weapon, be it a handgun or a garrotte, anything else is just bravado.
No offence intended.
And a PS: YHS is a fully licensed gun owner.

[brad kaste]

"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms . . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes . . . Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man."
--Thomas Jefferson, quoting Cesare Beccaria in On Crimes and Punishment (1764).'''



"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government"

<center>-- Thomas Jefferson,


</center> "The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that's good"

<center>-- George Washington</center> "The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed."

<center>-- Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Papers


</center> Why is it that our Founding Fathers had it understood correctly to bear arm from the get-go,...something sorely misinterpreted in today's controlling atmosphere?

[Devildog73]

Well, I guess I will weigh in now.
As a retired LEO and police firearms instructor since 1978 with rifle, pistol, shotgun and automatic weapons certifications I guess my 2 cents worth with inflation isn't worth much today, but,

being from Illinois, the ONLY State in the USA where the 2nd Amendment to our US Constitution is routinely ignored and noses thumbed at, I have to say that anyone that would give up Constitutional rights for a false sense of security deserves neither. hmmmm, where have I read that one before?

In any case, most LEO south of I-80 and west of I-39 support the citizen in their ability to exercise the 2nd Amendment rights of American citizens.
It is NOT the LEO of America that citizens need to fear. Go online and read section 1031, now 1021-1022 of the recently passed NDAA and signed into law by the President. THAT should cause some major concerns to freedom loving American citizens. Our Congress can pass laws such as this, but have yet to bring our immigration laws into the 21st century or pass a balanced budget.

I am not taking sides on the immigration issues, other than to say that we need modern immigration laws, not draconian laws that no longer work and are not being enforced by those sworn to uphold and enforce them. When governments can pick and choose which laws are to be enforced and which are to be ignored, and when, and upon whom, one no longer lives in a representative democracy.

Two US Supreme Court cases: Heller vs DC and MacDonald vs Chicago have settled the 2nd Amendment argument in 48 States. Illinois and New Jersey are the only two States that apply infringements upon US citizens right to the 2nd Amendment.

There are multiple cities in the USA that infringe.

[Toastmaker]

With regard to the State of Florida and it's agencies. . . I had occasion about three years ago to deal with the DMV, by phone call, from the State of Maryland. I required certain information and a letter from them and I got all that I asked for within three days and from an efficient and cheerful employee.

I was so shocked, I sent a letter of praise and congratulations to the Administrator of their DMV. . . AND GOT A VERY NICE REPLY !! Somebody's on the ball in Florida concerning citizen service.

RE: concealed carry permit, here in the Peoples Republic of Maryland they make it as hard as possible and as inconvienient as they can - and I'm a former LAPD Sgt ! Means nothing to them as one of their most fervent desires is to wipe away the 2nd Amendment.

:running:

[Roadburner440]

@wombat, my original intention is not to offend by far. I get pretty passionate about some issues, so I apologize. I did leave politics out of it. However you would not believe some of the things that go on in America that make me believe this is possible.. Not to mention it does have precedent that goes before it.

On a seperate note I am glad to see everyone else has had positive experiences in Florida. Makes me glad it is my new home of record, and an area I will return back to to live in the future. Virginia does not seem to bad so far. It will just be a matter of seeing how the process goes. It is good to see the number of law abiding conceal carry citizens on here though. Just please be responsible, and know your state laws. I found out a couple days ago VA has open carry, but after learning all of Florida's laws (and open carry is illegal there) it makes me squirm a little to even think about trying it. Granted I did see a guy in the check out in Wal-Mart with a Glock 23 strapped to his jeans.

[TeaSea]

I bet out Eurpean members find this an odd thread.

I bet when I'm in a hurry I kan't spell.

[SSI01]

I was a certified NRA firearms instructor for a while, and am retired from 23 years federal law enforcement service, with frequent contact with firearms. We as retirees have the option to carry concealed as long as it is IAW the laws of our state of residence. There is an effort under way in DC to have some sort of federal law passed that would supersede state laws in this regard and cover us retired feds no matter where we go. That being said - while I do own several firearms, I do not carry concealed and am not planning to do so in the future. Carrying that thing around as part of the job was sort of fun at first, but it got old after you had to figure out what to do with it when you attended to things in the necessary room (next time you're in a restaurant, and have to visit the head, take a look around in there and tell me what you'd do with the thing while your hands are otherwise occupied); when you traveled on aircraft and had the screener or airline counter help bellow with leather lungs, "I got a LEO (Law Enforcement Officer) here!" - meaning they were calling special handling to get you around the airport, and usually an escort, at least through the checkpoints - along with the security log to fill out in front of everybody, so your anonymity (cover) has now vanished. Let's not forget the nervous airline pilot you have to fence with after you get on the airplane - again, thanks to airline help, not very discretely and before everyone else so all other passengers know who and what you are. The kicker was the niggling fear in the back of your mind that even if you were involved in a righteous shoot, if there was any doubt of any kind about what you had done, you'd be thrown to the wolves by your supervision and the U.S. Attorney - not to mention having the daylights sued out of you by the perp or his/her family. All of this was while I was "on the job" - imagine what a pain in the duff it would be as a retiree without at least the modicum of protection a badge gives you. The biggest reason, however, is I don't want to be involved in something like what just went down in NY state, where an armed off-duty ATF agent, going to the drug store to pick up his dad's BP medication, confronted an armed robber in the store; somehow, during this confrontation, two other retired police officers or federal agents showed up and, thinking the ATF agent was the bad guy, were reported to have shot him dead by mistake. The perp was also killed but there's not a lot being said about how. I wouldn't want that on my conscience. Best advice is to avoid those places where you may have to use a firearm (the drug store thing was a fluke, although robberies in drug stores are on the rise, the pharmacy is a prime target for obvious reasons); always keep an eye open for the quickest exit, wherever you are; and take a position where you can observe safely, note every detail and provide it to responding LE when they arrive. Not looking or dressing like a retired cop helps, too. 23 years and a stress-related, near-fatal heart attack/stent was ENOUGH!:salute:

[Devildog73]

I was a certified NRA firearms instructor for a while, and am retired from 23 years federal law enforcement service, with frequent contact with firearms. We as retirees have the option to carry concealed as long as it is IAW the laws of our state of residence. There is an effort under way in DC to have some sort of federal law passed that would supersede state laws in this regard and cover us retired feds no matter where we go. That being said - while I do own several firearms, I do not carry concealed and am not planning to do so in the future. Carrying that thing around as part of the job was sort of fun at first, but it got old after you had to figure out what to do with it when you attended to things in the necessary room (next time you're in a restaurant, and have to visit the head, take a look around in there and tell me what you'd do with the thing while your hands are otherwise occupied); when you traveled on aircraft and had the screener or airline counter help bellow with leather lungs, "I got a LEO (Law Enforcement Officer) here!" - meaning they were calling special handling to get you around the airport, and usually an escort, at least through the checkpoints - along with the security log to fill out in front of everybody, so your anonymity (cover) has now vanished. Let's not forget the nervous airline pilot you have to fence with after you get on the airplane - again, thanks to airline help, not very discretely and before everyone else so all other passengers know who and what you are. The kicker was the niggling fear in the back of your mind that even if you were involved in a righteous shoot, if there was any doubt of any kind about what you had done, you'd be thrown to the wolves by your supervision and the U.S. Attorney - not to mention having the daylights sued out of you by the perp or his/her family. All of this was while I was "on the job" - imagine what a pain in the duff it would be as a retiree without at least the modicum of protection a badge gives you. The biggest reason, however, is I don't want to be involved in something like what just went down in NY state, where an armed off-duty ATF agent, going to the drug store to pick up his dad's BP medication, confronted an armed robber in the store; somehow, during this confrontation, two other retired police officers or federal agents showed up and, thinking the ATF agent was the bad guy, were reported to have shot him dead by mistake. The perp was also killed but there's not a lot being said about how. I wouldn't want that on my conscience. Best advice is to avoid those places where you may have to use a firearm (the drug store thing was a fluke, although robberies in drug stores are on the rise, the pharmacy is a prime target for obvious reasons); always keep an eye open for the quickest exit, wherever you are; and take a position where you can observe safely, note every detail and provide it to responding LE when they arrive. Not looking or dressing like a retired cop helps, too. 23 years and a stress-related, near-fatal heart attack/stent was ENOUGH!:salute:

And, I agree with my brother here. I too am retired after 22 years on the street and no longer carry, even though Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act signed by former President Bush in December 2004 authorizes us both to do so, IF, IF, we qualify each and every year with the exact weapon by serial number that we carry concealed. In Florida, I can present my military ID and the money and not have to qualify with any exact weapon I want to carry every year. If I present my retired LEO card, they will want me to fall under LEOSA2004. No thanks. In NJ, the ONLY way I can carry is with my CURRENT firearms qualification card and retired LEO credentials. If the qualification card is even a day over 12 months old, I would be arrested for carrying concealed illegally in NJ=a felony. Professional courtesy? Don't even think about it. No, I do carry concealed sometimes, but only when traveling across country in a POV. The ONLY time it would ever come out is if my life or a member of my family is in immediate danger. Sorry people, when I retired from the street, I stopped protecting you all from bad guys, present work related assignments not-with-standing.

Armed robber in the supermarket? I will watch, take mental notes of the description to relay to the LEO that respond, but S&W is staying hidden and only ready to defend me, IF I even have them with me. AND, when LEO on duty do show up, they don't need to know S&W is there. Not their concern, not a threat to them. I am too old to do something heroic now that is none of my business.

[SSI01]

And, I agree with my brother here. I too am retired after 22 years on the street and no longer carry, even though Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act signed by former President Bush in December 2004 authorizes us both to do so, IF, IF, we qualify each and every year with the exact weapon by serial number that we carry concealed. In Florida, I can present my military ID and the money and not have to qualify with any exact weapon I want to carry every year. If I present my retired LEO card, they will want me to fall under LEOSA2004. No thanks. In NJ, the ONLY way I can carry is with my CURRENT firearms qualification card and retired LEO credentials. If the qualification card is even a day over 12 months old, I would be arrested for carrying concealed illegally in NJ=a felony. Professional courtesy? Don't even think about it. No, I do carry concealed sometimes, but only when traveling across country in a POV. The ONLY time it would ever come out is if my life or a member of my family is in immediate danger. Sorry people, when I retired from the street, I stopped protecting you all from bad guys, present work related assignments not-with-standing.

Armed robber in the supermarket? I will watch, take mental notes of the description to relay to the LEO that respond, but S&W is staying hidden and only ready to defend me, IF I even have them with me. AND, when LEO on duty do show up, they don't need to know S&W is there. Not their concern, not a threat to them. I am too old to do something heroic now that is none of my business.

Devildog: My biggest kick is the way some retired guys make it easy for a perp to spot them in a crowd, like they had a beacon flashing over them - that's the logo shirt - what we used to call the "shoot me" shirt, usually a Polo shirt, the one that has your agency's logo on it. If you're wearing one of those you'd better be armed, because if you're not, you're dead - and so, BTW, is someone who could be standing near you, uninvolved. Save it for the retirees' group golf outing. Professional courtesy???? Most active-duty street coppers will look on an armed retiree as a guy who just doesn't know it's over, a retired "wanna-be." Good point about the interstate and firearms - that's the only spot where my prohibition on carrying is removed, as it's the last vestige of the Wild West left in America. My ROEs are the same as yours. Think about it - you're isolated, most people avoid a confrontation anyway, even to help, and if you're whizzing by at 70+ it's easy to keep going and not get involved. If you're the bad guy the means of escape is within 20 feet, idling, and ready to go. There is NO LAW on the interstate except the State Police, if you can find them, and Good Samaritans are even scarcer than that.

And, with apologies to the RAF, their motto, which I admire and applies so well to my own life's experiences:

Per Ardua Ad Astra:salute:

[Devildog73]

Devildog: My biggest kick is the way some retired guys make it easy for a perp to spot them in a crowd, like they had a beacon flashing over them - that's the logo shirt - what we used to call the "shoot me" shirt, usually a Polo shirt, the one that has your agency's logo on it. If you're wearing one of those you'd better be armed, because if you're not, you're dead - and so, BTW, is someone who could be standing near you, uninvolved. Save it for the retirees' group golf outing. Professional courtesy???? Most active-duty street coppers will look on an armed retiree as a guy who just doesn't know it's over, a retired "wanna-be." Good point about the interstate and firearms - that's the only spot where my prohibition on carrying is removed, as it's the last vestige of the Wild West left in America. My ROEs are the same as yours. Think about it - you're isolated, most people avoid a confrontation anyway, even to help, and if you're whizzing by at 70+ it's easy to keep going and not get involved. If you're the bad guy the means of escape is within 20 feet, idling, and ready to go. There is NO LAW on the interstate except the State Police, if you can find them, and Good Samaritans are even scarcer than that.

And, with apologies to the RAF, their motto, which I admire and applies so well to my own life's experiences:

Per Ardua Ad Astra:salute:

LOL, the ONLY thing I have that would ID me as a retired LEO is my ID card tucked AWAY in my wallet. It is not visible unless and until I pull it out of the pocket in which it is hiding. The last time I did that, in Emporia, VA, the patrolman said he did not know what the term professional courtesy meant. Cost me $125.00 for going 7MPH over the posted speed limit in the less than 1 mile of I-95 within his town limits. I was the ONLY non-VA plate in the string of cars. I don't have a cap, T-shirt, Polo shirt or any other item of clothing left over from my 22 years on the street. Heck, I don't even look the same! I had dark hair with grey sides when I retired from LEO. Now, I have a little bit of grey hair. I was fairly thin-medium build and muscular, now, not so much. I might be just a bit bigger than then........just a bit, and I really don't think it would be considered muscular. However, and this might be the most important thing, I still shoot, and I still shoot well, as good as ever. I cannot remember the last time I shot timed under 98% on the range no matter what weapon I am shooting. I just happen to enjoy putting rounds down range, so I qualify at least once every 18-24 months on an official military or police range. And again, I seldom carry. Concealed or otherwise.