CCW permit holder ?

[kennith]

For those of you that have permits to carry I have some questions.

1. Did you have to attend a class? If so how long was it?

2. What did you like about the class and what did you dislike?

3. What would you like to see added to the class?

4. How much did you pay?

5. Was the instructor a macho gun geek or a professional with real experience?

6. Did you get enough range time?

Please feel free to add any comments. I'm considering getting certified to teach the class here in Texas and would like to do it right. Would like to cater to new shooters and females. I like starting with a clean slate.

1: My friend teaches the class, and I help when I'm free. The class is required to be at least 9 hours in length.

2: The video they make you watch is absolute and complete torture. It's almost terminal. The fun and interesting parts of the class are added by the instructor.

3: If I had my way, the class would include things that the class can't include.

4: I don't bother with how much he charges. It's not my problem. I think it's around 120 or so, but lower at times. When combined with the state fee, it should hit around 180-200 bucks or so. Avoiding the hassle of getting a damn permit every time you want to legally purchase a firearm is worth the 200 bucks in itself.

5: Both he and the instructor that qualified him for teaching are wonderful with the students. There is none of that John Wayne attitude. I know other instructors as well, and they are just as helpful and welcoming.

My friend and I have real, professional, boots on the ground experience with firearms and their employment in various capacities. He and I are veterans of vastly different wars, bringing two unique types of military experience to the table. We both have further experience as well, again in different capacities, and our combined experience in those areas greatly helps enrich the class in qualification and concealment philosophy.

We never stretch outside the bounds of what is allowed in the class, however. That's a massive no-no. We use our experience to augment the impact of the requirements, whether we agree with them or not.

The other instructors are mostly retired policemen, giving them enough know-how over time to teach these basics. The class is about baby steps and law. It doesn't take a 5 Star general to pull these lessons off.

It takes a lot of dedication to slave through that video every single fucking class, as well as to genuinely want to help the students, and the sort of ass-hats that lord their technique over others don't have that dedication.

You have to want to help. You can't do it as a job. I show up to aid in managing the numerous students and their safety on the range, and to help stress the importance of cleaning. I do not step outside my bounds.

6: They don't require much at all. He tries to include as much as possible, but there is only so much time in a day. You have to have nine hours of class time, and to run the people through the range with attention to detail and safety takes a lot of time. Then, there is cleaning and the philosophy of cleaning. I always teach cleaning. Cleaning takes every minute of whatever time is left.

In my opinion, however, the fucking video eats up too much of the range time. It could be shorter and it could be better for educational purposes. Giving everyone personal attention takes time. I'd have that over the unnecessary parts of the video.



One thing I'll add is that people like to not show up. You have to plan for that. You don't want to spend an entire day of your life teaching one student for a c-note. It's nice, but it has to pay off to some degree. You are there to help, but it's not a work of charity.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[varova87]

I had to take a class. It was typical gun safety, some general guidelines on when you are and are not justified in shooting, etc. I enjoyed it, actually. I had just turned 21 and was new to handgun ownership. Got range time. The instructor was a friend of mine and brought several calibers and models of his personal guns to let me try out. Made my first official handgun range day much better.

Don't remember costs, and I hope I don't have to pay to renew every year because I haven't paid anyone a renewal fee and I've been carrying.

 

[Ballah06]

I had to take a class. It was typical gun safety, some general guidelines on when you are and are not justified in shooting, etc. I enjoyed it, actually. I had just turned 21 and was new to handgun ownership. Got range time. The instructor was a friend of mine and brought several calibers and models of his personal guns to let me try out. Made my first official handgun range day much better.

Don't remember costs, and I hope I don't have to pay to renew every year because I haven't paid anyone a renewal fee and I've been carrying.

Take a look at your permit, it should have an expiration date. I would renew before it expires to avoid the hassle and potentially an iffy situation if confronted by the law.

 

[ptschram]

Take a look at your permit, it should have an expiration date. I would renew before it expires to avoid the hassle and potentially an iffy situation if confronted by the law.

Mine says "lifetime".

Gotta love it!

 

[Ballah06]

Mine says "lifetime".

Gotta love it!

Haha, that is because you are special. atriot:

 

[DiscoS2]

Background, fingerprints, $56 bucks (for 5 years) and 48hrs later, I was a CCW permit holder.

Same as in PA, 'cept I paid $20 and waited 10 days.
Also, open carry is legal in PA without any sort of permit.

 

[Some Dude]

In Idaho all you need is a pulse and a few bucks.

 

[ptschram]

In Idaho all you need is a pulse and a few bucks.

Vermont only requires the pulse.

 

[robertf]

there is a place in tyler that does it. take the class, send in the paperwork, be happy. (and get the insurance). Oh and rent a gun that is very easy to work with for the "test"

just don't rent a revolver, unless thats all you ever plan on carrying.

 

[knewsom]

Siiiiggghhh.... lucky bastards.

I'm thinking I may have to establish a technical "residence" in one of the many counties in California that will actually issue CCW. It's not as hard to get as you may think, but it depends on the county sheriff - so it depends on the county you live in. Orange County apparently will issue - Los Angeles, San Diego, and many others, only if you have an exceptionally "good cause", or know somebody.

Recent events have actually caused me to consider habitually breaking the law and carry anyways - but I think what I'll do is wait till I get home and then do my best to make it happen in a legit fashion. ...I really don't want to lose my ability to legally own a firearm. Most of the time I follow laws its because I respect the purpose of the law - in this instance, it's only because I'm afraid of the consequences (a fairly uncommon situation for me).

 

[toadermcgee]

Mine says "lifetime".

Gotta love it!

Mine also.

Not to turn this into a political thread but I sure hope Mitch runs for President.

 

[varova87]

I've had my CCW for over two years and have carried maybe 25-30 times. I still haven't gotten to the point of seeing a need for daily carry. I've gone 23 years without ever being in a situation I needed a gun.

EDIT: Checked my exp date, its a 5 year permit.

 

[Ballah06]

I've had my CCW for over two years and have carried maybe 25-30 times. I still haven't gotten to the point of seeing a need for daily carry. I've gone 23 years without ever being in a situation I needed a gun.

The way I see it is you never know what and when it is going to happen. Random unexplainable acts of violence against totally innocent strangers happen daily all over the U.S. and world for that matter. So with that in mind, if one is able to legally carry a weapon, which is a tool nevertheless, he or she definitely should. Not saying you have to have it on you at all times of the day, but even having it in the vehicle with you, concealed (for which you do need a CCW in VA) is a much better option than leaving it at home altogether.
The big thing is that a few of those who carry a gun, think that it is the answer to whatever issues may arise. A firearm should only be introduced when absolutely necessary, and once you pull it out you better be ready to use it and not bluff, only to put it away when it does not work. Not making this comment aimed at anyone specific, just commenting on the topic.

 

[Divied245]

my michigan class was 8hrs ( about 6 class, 2 range or so it seemed). It was tought by and X-army sniper and detroit swat guy that though it at his own home (had some sweet pictures of him training on the range with Carlos Hathcock) so, yes... he had some credentials.

My dad took a class thru a differnt place and he said they had a lawyer come in who helped write the Michigan CCW laws. I think that probably would have been the best thing to have in a class, to help from getting into too much trouble with it.

Then did the back ground and fingerprint and $105 fee (done by county) week later got the permit.

I got mine because I worked as a contractor for a while and got into a couple bad situations when working on some rental properties in some sketchy areas (Had some people trying to steal tools when I was inside or around a corner).

 

[varova87]

Random unexplainable acts of violence against totally innocent strangers happen daily all over the U.S.

That's right, but I wonder in how many of those situations is the use of deadly force justified? I think I'm blessed in the sense that I see having a loaded gun strapped to my hip is a big responsibility. I think because I see it that way, I'm constantly wanting to be more prepared before I carry daily. Unrelated story:

My fiancee and I were stopped at a gas station two nights ago, it was around 9:30PM, and a guy with two of his buddies (all late-40s) kept staring at her and making comments. He and I made eye contact several times, but it didn't stop him from finally making a crude comment out loud to her. I took a few steps towards him and asked him if I could help him with anything. He said "fine looking piece of work you got there". I told him she was young enough to be his daughter and to wait till he got in the truck to whip it out and maybe his buddies could help. He got pissed, but got in the truck.

My gun wasn't on me, and if it were, I would not have said anything. My mouth doesn't have a filter, and I need to find one before I carry on a regular basis:ack:

 

[knewsom]

My gun wasn't on me, and if it were, I would not have said anything. My mouth doesn't have a filter, and I need to find one before I carry on a regular basis:ack:

I actually feel almost exactly the same way. I want to carry, and have the desire to have the ability to protect myself and my loved ones no matter the situation, but I sometimes do have a big mouth as well, and probably would've done exactly the same thing you did in that situation. On the other hand, you probably wouldn't have said anything if you had your piece - if I had been armed the other week, would I have behaved any differently? Honestly, I don't know. I doubt it.

 

[thequickervicar]

All this talk has prompted me to download the PA License to Carry application. I'll make a trip to the county courthouse this week

 

[rovercanus]

The right to carry concealed is not supposed to be used because someone was leering at your girl or told you to park somewhere else.
If you feel your action would be different if you were carrying then you shouldn't carry.

 

[dcarr1971]

Same as in PA, 'cept I paid $20 and waited 10 days.
Also, open carry is legal in PA without any sort of permit.

All this talk has prompted me to download the PA License to Carry application. I'll make a trip to the county courthouse this week

Yep...PA is what they call a 'Right to Carry' state...They'll give you a CCW as long as there isn't any reason preventing you from having one.

 

[knewsom]

The right to carry concealed is not supposed to be used because someone was leering at your girl or told you to park somewhere else.
If you feel your action would be different if you were carrying then you shouldn't carry.

I think you misread my intent - I don't mean I would have drawn in such a situation, certainly not - I meant that I might have been more willing to ignore the bastard and not opened my big mouth if I was armed.