I know it is different from state to state & county to county. But can some one explain a little of what they look for when you apply for a hand gun permit?

 

It's truely up to the state. Indiana checks your fingerprints and name against criminal records to make sure you don't have any felonies nor have any outstanding OP's for domestic violence. Illinois is just a piece of paper and send in a passport photo to get an FOID card.

Indiana allows concealed carry with permit in all cities and counties. Illinois prohibits citizens from carrying firearms, the permit only allows you to OWN a firearm but you can't use it. Some cities in the Chicagoland area have totally banned firearms.

Check the NRA website I'm sure you'll find lots of info there on permitting.

 

go to www.packing.org and it will give you all the info you want, and will let you know if you can get oue in your state and what is required.
or CLICK HERE

 

Hey!

Well, first off, not sure which you're asking about. Only a handful of states have a requirement to obtain a permit to own a handgun. Look at www.nra-ila.org under the "gun laws" link at the top and then go to your state on the map.

As far as a permit to carry a concealed weapon, I'll second www.packing.org as the best resource out there. Most states have gone to "SHALL ISSUE" wording in their law. That means that, unless they find a legit reason to deny you a permit, then they must grant one in a timely manner. In those cases, what they're looking for is the same set of things that preclude any firearms purchase (felonies, DUI sometimes, restraining orders, criminal mental health issues, drug abuse history, etc.). If you can legally purchase, you can legally get a carry permit.

Other states have "may issue" laws that leave the permit o.k. up to a chief LEO or attorney general or whatever. Those states usually look for things like, wife/son/brother or a high-ranking judge/politician, celebrity status, power and wealth as major factors in granting the permit. For example, some time ago the commissioner (IIRC) of the NYPD took a limo and went backstage at their concert to hand deliver carry permits to Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith. As a simple citizen of NYC, you wouldn't be able to put together a "good enough" permit to get approved.

Sometimes these areas do grant permits to average citizens IF you can prove that you have already been attacked, or in some cases, threatened. Need the police reports/court documents though. For best results, it would be very beneficial if you can prove that you've already been murdered.

Look up nra-ila and packing.org and see what they say. I would also suggest a forum like www.1911forum.org which has a lot of members all over the country and has a "legal" forum where you can post asking for tips from members living in your area who may have already gone through the process.

Good luck!

-Sam

 

Boy...do I love Virginia!

 

Just to show you how goofy the rules are surrounding guns, here is what happened to me when I tried to purchase a rifle several years ago...

First off, I'm a Major on active duty with the United States Air Force and additionally I'm a pilot with all of the requisite security clearances. While stationed in Alaska, one of the more "gun friendly" states around, I tried to purchase a Marlin .22LR single shot bolt action rifle designed to teach children to shoot. It was for my son who was 11 at the time.

When I reached the counter they called my information in for the "background check" and the reply was "DON'T SELL HIM THE GUN"!! Apparently, I can fly multi-million dollar aircraft in combat, but I did not meet the minimums for some portion of their check. You should have seen my son's face when I had to explain why they wouldn't let his dad purchase his first firearm.

They did call back the following week and admit they had glitched, but for the moment I was a unworthy. The rifle is now tucked away in my gun safe and has taught both my son and now my daughter the finer points of firearms handling.

The Moral: Know the rules in your state and be ready for nimrods to screw those rules up. Hit the hyperlinks above and talk to the guys at you local gun shops. When I lived in Arizona you could walk down main street with a .44 magnum strapped to your leg without a permit and everyone accepted it. Try that in California and you will be someone's "main squeeze" while you await bail.

Edmo

 

Yeah, amazing thing is you can step accross an imaginary line in the dirt and be in MD, where there are really wierd restrictions on things, but it is sort of livable (I just heard of a Class III/SOT dealer who just opened up in Annapolis!), OR step accross another line and be in D.C., where you'd almost have to be nuts to try to own a gun.

I know someone quite high up in the NRA who just bought a house in the District and he won't keep any of his stuff there. He just will not deal with the hassle and risk. It's THAT bad. (Just as a sample, you have to store everything dissassembled. Everything must be registered BEFORE you take posession. Possession of AMMO for something you don't own/haven't registered is a FELONY!)

Hopefully the Senate will pass the D.C. 2nd Amendment Restoration Act (or whatever it's called) that the House passed last year - which would strip D.C. of all but the basic federal gun laws. Almost unbelievable, but their situation COULD change overnight! You should hear the D.C. gov folks squaking about it - they sound like my cat when he sees the vacuum cleaner! It truly warms my heart! :-)

I shouldn't say more 'cause I don't want to get into politics, but, law is a funny thing. We have somewhere between 40,000 and 80,000 gun laws throughout the country. I guess we just haven't written the MAGIC law that makes everything perfect, eh? Maybe if we had 100,000 gun laws we'd be safer. 200,000?

-Sam

 

I suppose I should clarify.

I know the rules in my state for guns, I also know how to handle guns. I grew up around them & have had firearms training when I was younger.
I also know Minnesota issues 2 different permits to purchase a hand gun. One to purchase & one to carry.

I was wanting what they look at for a deciding factor for issuing or denying those permits. I haven't owned a gun in years & would like to have a hand gun now.

 

if you go to www.packing.org and click on your state it explains exactly what you state requires (what they look at) to obtain a CWP. you state of MN is a "shall issue " state, which means if you meet the criteria, you get a permit.

 

Wow, that page loaded for me today. Last night all it would do was load the us map & the statistics on the right side.

I should'nt have any problems them.

 

I guess Alaska hasn't been "jaded" by crime like a lot of the states...here it's still legal to carry a handgun open or concealed without a permit. There are a few exceptions...banks, bars, and federal buildings, but other than that, you can carry a handgun just about anywhere.

 

In west va. you have to enroll in a NRA gun safety course, 8 hr. then qualify on the range.Then the state police do a back ground check ,if you pass that you get notified that you can get your c c permit.. Good for 5 years ..total 175.00 dollars

 

hey Parks-

i just renewed my MN "permit to purchase a handgun" license yesterday.

they ask all the "are you on crack, do you use marijuana, have you commited a felony, have you fleed from a state to avoid prosecution" questions. you then sign the paper, and they just check to make sure you dont have any felonies or are under investigation. as long as you havent assaulted anyone recently, shot anyone, take medication for mental dissabilities.... you should be fine. they didnt even fingerprint me, just took a photo copy of my drivers license. its free, and it takes about a week in my county ( dakota ) im pretty sure all counties in MN follow the same rules.
the license is good for one year. any questions, email me

 

Parks- i suppose i should have mentioned, in MN to get the CONCEALED CARRY permit, you have to take a ? 4 hour ? class i think, costs $150.00 , and you can have absolutly no felonies or assault convictions. BUT, when they went to renew the CCW permit after its 1 year anniversary a couple months ago, the judge DENIED it. only people who need it for work ( armed guards, dangerous jobs ) can get it right now, from their county sherriff.

according to the guy at Armored Fire gun range though, by April the situation should be fixed so that all people with a clean record can get it, which is when i will try for it.

 

In Washington, if you get a concealed carry permit, you can go buy a handgun in a couple minutes. They just make a phone call and run the numbers on your permit to make sure you're not an evil felon and then you go on your merry way. If you don't have a permit you have to wait a couple weeks while they do some research to make sure you not a criminal. I guess it's also to make sure that people don't get all pizzled about something, buy a gun, and start shooting up the neighborhood. It gives you 10-14 days to 'cool down'. No classes are required here to get your permit; just the fees, fingerprints, and background check.