Getting a concealed carry permit?

[3nigm4tic]

I've been wondering about various laws regarding concealed carry, since I intend to be a gun owner (Im sure much to my parents dismay.. if they knew) when Im legally allowed and have the cash.

Does anybody offhand know about gun laws in A)Florida B)Virginia, or more likely, where I can go to find out the laws?

and on a side note, what, generally, are the laws to carrying other concealed weapons (such as a knife)?

[kegstandman556]

I wish I could help you out more than what I can, but www.packing.org has tons of useful information about carrying concealed for every state. I'm pretty sure that every on state goverment's website you can find out exectly what you need to know, so check on them also.
As for knives, I think that there is a length requirement you have to follow, and the type of knife. I know that around here you aren't allowed to carry butterfly knives.
BTW, what kind of gun were you planning on carrying?

[3nigm4tic]

not sure yet, probably a pretty standard handgun, beretta or glock seem to be recommended in the other thread. Im still a couple years off (19 now, 21 to carry) but since this forum was just sitting here and I was wondering, I decided to ask.

Thanks for the link, btw

[drktitan56]

most states you have to go to your local police department and get the conceal pistol permit application. The price varies from state to state. Also alot of states are now wanting people who are wanting to get a conceal pistol permit go through a firearms safety course. In all states you can not carry a firearm in any federal building or buildings posting no weapons. Also if you are going to carry you have to have your permit on you at all times. Here in washington state the price is $60 you fill out a form and questionare and get fingerprinted. After all the background checks which takes up to a month you get your permit. In Oklahoma state you are required to take a firearms safety course and the fee is $200. This just gives you a general idea af what to expect.

[mrwaukegan]

As noted above concealed carry laws vary State to State. Note conceal carry is not always reciprocal; meaning that you may be allowed to carry in your State does not mean you can carry in another State even if it is a conceal carry State. Also do not, and I mean do not try to carry in State that does not have conceal carry laws.

Regarding knives, most States do not have laws for knives per se. Concealment and size of a knife only comes into play if your arrested for a crime with a knife, like knife fighting. Concealment issue can come up as evidence to show intent.

One other thing on concealment of knives, if your arrested with concealed knife or somehow get to be known by cops; the concealed knife thing will be noted on your contact history with the police and you may be deemed a dangerous subject. Thus the police will act accordingly

[3nigm4tic]

One other thing on concealment of knives, if your arrested with concealed knife or somehow get to be known by cops; the concealed knife thing will be noted on your contact history with the police and you may be deemed a dangerous subject. Thus the police will act accordingly

interesting little side note there, I'll keep that in mind. The only time I mighta been in trouble with the cops and was carrying the knife I usually carry around my first thought was to ditch while I ran in case they caught up, wouldn't want an extra item on the sheet. Moot point since I didnt get caught, but apparently woulda been a good idea

[funtonof]

I live in WV and have a CWP. It was very easy to get. I just took a safety class, then turned in the forms at the court house. It took 3 weeks for the back ground check, then it was $95 for then papers. As far as CWPs being resiprical in other states, most will work in neighboring states. I went ahead and got a CWP from Florida. Florida CWPs are valid in most east coast states. Important to remember, even with a CWP, no weapons of any kind are allowed in D.C. area.

[redfox5]

www.packing.org i think virgina and florida have reciprocity.

[tazwolfe]

The same for out west if you get CWP in UT you can carry in ID and CO if you live in WY or MT it is kinda a way of life.

[Calculon 9]

To get a weapon in California is damn near impossible. I went to Minnesota and looked at like fifty people walking around with guns and thought, "What the Hell?" I think both Florida and Virginia are kinda lax. Don't carry a knife your better off with a stun gun or pepper spray. I don't know much about guns but I've taken two knives off people in fights. Unless your sneaking up on someone anyone fast and big is gonna take it from you.

[skyNet]

Alaska has concealed carry for everyone. If you get one, it's reciprocal in many states. I have a georgia permit simply because I was stationed there, although it wasn't required... Georgia law allows military to carry pretty much anywhere off duty, concealed.

[grippin]

http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/license/forms.html

you can fill this out and they will mail you a packet to fill out and mail back.
you will have to get your figerprints done at the police station but its cheaper and easier to get.

[warfrat1]

You should give very careful consideration to carrying a gun concealed or not. For instance, it is possible for someone in a struggle to turn your gun on you. Also, do not carry unless you are willing to shoot to kill. Be sure your opponent is about to use deadly force before you shoot. Be very sure you know the law. Most people do not. This is why many judges require a class before issusing a concealed permit. In VA, anyone of age can carry a gun unconcealed, but they cannot brandish it or threaten with it.

[skyNet]

Hence why people don't get within my reactionary gap if I consider them a threat.

Hence why I know weapons retention techniques plus hand to hand.

Of course, Uncle sam helped me learn all of that.. ;)

[micahd02]

I live in VA, and do not yet have my concealed carry permit. But I have taken the course (Mike Wilson, an NRA certified Range Master and Instructor, e-mail gun_training@yahoo.com) with Mike Wilson, who also provided my wife and daughter the training. VA is a "must issue" state, as are about 40 others, meaning that if you can qualify according the federal standards (no felony convictions, basically) VA WILL issue residents a permit. It is not difficult to get a permit here, and most of the Eastern states, as noted, share reciprocity. I have no idea whether New England states, or New Jersey, do, but I know Pennsylvania does, and carrying ammo and weapons separately THROUGH MD is at least legal. I tranvel to PA to shoot with my son and daughter pretty regularly.

As far as knife carry goes, I have carried several for years, such that I seldom remember I have them, or which ones. But I don't carry them as weapons, nor do I think of them that way, and I am not trained to use them that way. I happen to be a collector of working knives, and I lecture on the idea of knives as tools, as a sideline. Working for the Federal Government, not in law enforcement, and with the office in VA, I don't generally have problems with the knife carry issues (no restrictions in any federal buildings to which I am badged, but can't carry them where I am not, such as the Commerce Department, the Pentagon, Department of Justice, etc.) but I do sometimes forget I have them, and since 9/11, lose them the security guards in various buildings I travel to.

Things to think about when carrying.

It is never wise to "ditch" anything if a law enforcement officer is already heading your way. "Hinky" behaviour will trip their radar and make them extremely hostile/careful with you everytime
No one, EVER, can measure the legal length of a knife by laying it across his palm/hand/fingers/etc. In fact, since few states have a specified length limit, and most folding knives (which are the only ones you'd carry concealed, anyway) are under a 3 3/4 inch blade (measured from tip to pin/hinge), you will seldom have any problem with folders. While it is true that butterfly knives (proper name BaliSong) are commonly frowned on, and most DO exceed a total blade length of 5 1/2 inches, the biggest issue with a BaliSong is that they are impractical AS TOOLS, due to structural fragility, and are thus suspect to most LE officers as having no useful purpose other than fighting. In addition, 95% or better of the BaliSongs you can find are made of highly inferior steels, and thus suffer from blade fragility, also. If you wish to carry a knife to a fight, better to get a Buck (119 is a good model), a Cold Steel Tanto (or any other name brand, Tantos are a good and useful style), but a fixed blade regardless, and carry it in a sheath on your strong hand side. But be aware that if you carry a knife on that side, and you are strongly "handed" (as I am, being a dedicated right hander), you will not be able to switch the knife out for the gun you also carry that way.

Frankly, I, too, think knives are impractical for defense. In fact, good friends on the Fairfax and Prince William County, VA, police forces agree that if you expect to defend yourself with a knife (let alone start something up), you'd better expect to get cut at least as badly as you cut your assailant.

That said, I have a Llama 1911 .45. My daughter has a Glock 19 in 9mm. I prefer 10mm and .40 cal, but shoot what I have.

According to Massad Ayoob (what, you've never read him? How can you know anything about the legal aspects of self-defense without including him in your reading? Go find his stuff, in any of the mainstream gun mags, and sin no more), and the aforementioned police force friends, among others, a man with a knife in his hand can cover 20 feet from a standing start, and inflict fatal knife wounds, before the victim, no matter how fast he/she may be, can get a gun into action, in almost all cases.

Thus, while noting that if you pull it, you'd better be ready to use it, and, as (not) noted above, if you use it, you will almost always have to defend the action in court, its a good idea to not wait too long to get the firearm of choice in hand and ready, and its an even better idea to start your target practice at 7 yards, putting double taps in a 6" paper plate, until you can empty your mag, rapid fire, at several plates, putting at least one round in every plate (but using two for each, regardless), until you can do it without even thinking about putting the weapon at the up and ready. Till you can do that, don't even start working on the more traditional precision targeting at stupid ranges that Hollywood makes look so cool Remember, Hollywonks don't even have to pull the trigger, since the special effects guy ensures that the squib blows a hole in the target for them no matter what.

Oh, yeah. Do I (and my daughter) do double taps? Best betcha. 200-300 rounds per session, trying for at least once a month. Do we do precision targeting? Not yet. I'm not a magician, so I still have to work on the double-taps.

Micahd02

[micahd02]

Sorry for the length of that thing. I read everything everyone said before, then tried to comment on it all. Now thats out of my system, it will never happen again.

Micahd02

[badburns]

I believe that many states honor or acknowledge the fact you have obtained a CWP regardless where it was issued. I live in Dallas, Texas one of the nations hot spots for crime. I carry a S&W .357 Highway Patrolman 4". I do not have a CHL nor do I intend to get one. At my age, almost 50, who would think gramps would be packing! If you are a young person I strongly suggest GET A PERMIT. Y'all are more apt to be profiled than some semi-gray haired old man.

[schutzenkonig]

3nigm4tic, micahd02 has pretty much everything right in what he said, although I'd like to add a few points.

These apply if you live in VA (permenant residence in VA, going to school in FL for instance), and not necessarily, and most likely not if you live in another state.

First, if your parents don't want you to own a gun, there goes one way that you can get a handgun (they could buy you one and give you it as a present, but you cannot give them money to buy it for you, it must be a genuine gift). Another way before you're 21 is if you are actually lucky enough to find someone in VA who does not have an FFL that knows that it is legal to sell a handgun to someone 18 or over in a private sale provided they are not a prohibited person.

You cannot conceal it legally until you get your permit when you're 21, but you can open carry in VA. You CANNOT open carry in FL.

[onemelloracer]

Really check Packing.org thier site is much easier to navigate now.

[cotturj]

hey whats up guys,
i am from the state of VA and have a concealed carry permit. i have read into the laws a great deal. first off you have to be 21. second you have to get into a concealed carry course or for VA you can take a hunters calss for that matter any kind of class that you would get a competent feel for guns and gun saftey. i am in the millitary so i already had a good source for VA to go by in the case of gun saftey knowledge. sencond it only cost me sround $45. third the state will finger print you and do a background check on you. after all that the police and the state will decide if they want to give you the permit.

well thats about all i have on that topic hope it will help you out.

[cotturj]

oh yea and you can acctually print an application for the permit off line at virginia's website which i forget but look around for it
out!

[robspier]

I live in Oregon and have a Concealed Handgun License. I carry a Para-Ordnance P12 .45. Quite a handy little pistol, I'm rather fond of it. Oregon is also a "shall-issue" state, meaning if you can pass the qualifications they have to give you a permit to carry a handgun. Qualifications are passing a criminal and mental health background check at the state and I believe federal level, and a knowledge of firearm safety. I took a class but here I'm pretty sure that prior military or law enforcement training works also. The wait is 42 days and everyone I know that has a CHL here got theirs in the mail on exactly the 42nd day from when they were fingerprinted. Can't find anyone who had theirs arrive early for some reason.

Not sure how other states work as I don't travel a lot, but in Oregon, the permit is good for handguns only. It is not a concealed "weapons" permit. A person with a CHL here, not packing a pistol, but carrying a concealed knife would still be arrested. Pretty sure the the legal blade length limit on a concealed knife here is 3". A knife with a longer blade must be openly carried.

If you're set on getting the permit, look into the laws carefully beforehand. Know what the permit allows you to carry. If you travel out of state and plan on packing there also check reciprococity laws. Pretty sure the only adjoining state my permit is valid in is Idaho. I'm 100% certain it isn't good in Washington and Cali is definately out of the question. Not even sure my pistol can be legally sold in California anymore. They have very restrictive firearms laws. The state police of neighboring states should be helpful in finding this out or telling you where to get copies of the applicable laws.

Take the time and research the laws first, save yourself a lot of headache later. My only other recomendation is find a good range that rents out pistols. Shoot as many as you can to find one that your comfortable with before shelling out your hard earned cash.

Rob

[schutzenkonig]

hey whats up guys,
i am from the state of VA and have a concealed carry permit. i have read into the laws a great deal. first off you have to be 21. second you have to get into a concealed carry course or for VA you can take a hunters calss for that matter any kind of class that you would get a competent feel for guns and gun saftey. i am in the millitary so i already had a good source for VA to go by in the case of gun saftey knowledge. sencond it only cost me sround $45. third the state will finger print you and do a background check on you. after all that the police and the state will decide if they want to give you the permit.

well thats about all i have on that topic hope it will help you out.
Couple things, fingerprinting isn't required by state law, so it depends on your locale. Second, the course can be substituted for something to prove profiency with a handgun. I took a course for it when I was 18 (knew the instructor) but my other proof (cause I lost the paperwork for the class :duh: ) is a marksman classification for outdoor conventional pistol (bullseye pistol).

The course will cost around 70 bucks depending on where you go, permit fee may not exceed 50 bucks.

[mramelbass]

Take a local class. They will know what your states current laws are. Learn and practice the states of readiness, so you are aware of developing situations around you. The wisest action is to avoid life-threatning situations. The sooner you realise you are heading towards a life-threatning situation, the more choises you have to avoid it. If you are not in code "Yellow" you will soon find yourself in a situation where you have only one choice! You can learn situation awareness before you are of age to get your permit.
As for a choice in weapons, a Glock should be your only choice! Don't get a 9mm, they are only for "Spraying and Praying". Once you get your weapon....practice, practice, practice!

[mramelbass]

Take a local class. They will know what your states current laws are. Learn and practice the states of readiness, so you are aware of developing situations around you. The wisest action is to avoid life-threatning situations. The sooner you realise you are heading towards a life-threatning situation, the more choises you have to avoid it. If you are not in code "Yellow" you will soon find yourself in a situation where you have only one choice! You can learn situation awareness before you are of age to get your permit.
As for a choice in weapons, a Glock should be your only choice! Don't get a 9mm, they are only for "Spraying and Praying". Once you get your weapon....practice, practice, practice!