I was thinking about the qualifications of getting a concealed-carry permit. Mind you, I probably will not get one, as I don’t own a gun. Do I have to be in a certain profession, like a bail bondsman? Or do I just have to show my flawless criminal record and fill out loads of ATF paperwork? I live in Ohio, if this helps. Thanks!
The ATF doesn’t issue CCWs. The local police agency where you live does. They would be the ones to contact for the requirements, but they are usually (1) completion of an approved forearms safety course (2) demonstrable need to carry a concealed weapon. And the permits usually require renewal annually.
Yes, your forearms have to be operated safely before you can carry a gun. Of course, I typoed ‘firearms’.
Unless they just recently change the law, there is no such thing as a CCW permit! You can’t get one because it doesn’t exist! Like here in Wimpsconsin there is no way for law abiding civilians to carry concealed. If you decide to buy a gun your only option is to do what I had to do and get a sheriff to deputize you for the limited power of carrying concealed. This makes you a peace officer and over rides the law (at least here is does.) This will cost you money in political contributions! And when that sheriff retires, or looses the next election, your special deputy status will vanish. It’s really not worth the trouble!
Move to Florida. CCW permits are easy to get there!
I meant to say was CCW permits don’t exist in Ohio. Lots of other states issue them.
California issues CCW permits, but whether you’ll be allowed to have one is completely up to the sheriff’s department in the county where you live or work. If you live and work in Los Angeles County or Santa Clara County, you can pretty much count on not being issued a CCW permit, no matter how much you might need one.
As of a few years ago, two states (Idaho and Vermont) allow concealed weapons with no permit required. I’m not sure, but I think Idaho changed its law recently, so Vermont may be the only one.
Many states have discretionary concealed carry laws, meaning that permits are issued only at the discretion of some authority, usually the sheriff or a judge. Generally, authorities in rural areas are much more willing to issue permits than in urban areas. Illinois and Colorado are examples of states with such laws.
Many states have non-discretionary concealed carry laws meaning that the sheriff or other authority must issue a permit to anyone who asks and who meets certain requirements (over a minimum age, not psychotic, not a convicted felon, not under a restraining order, etc.). A few hours of some kind of training, in a classroom or firing range (or both) is usually required. Maine and Florida are examples of states with such laws.
I don’t know what the rules are in Ohio. Contact your contact sheriff’s office.
I forgot that there are (I think) a few states that don’t allow concealed weapons at all, and do not issue permits. Illinois may be in this category (contrary to what I posted above), but I don’t remember. My source is More Guns, Less Crime by John Lott, but I don’t own a copy and it was a while ago that I read it.
This site lists Ohio and 27 other states in the more restrictive category (no carry or discretionary) and the ohter 22 states in the more permissive category.
Whattaya need firearms for, when you’ve got firebreath? Mmm, knights… Crunchy!
Building on what tracer said about California, each county’s sheriff and city’s chief of police has the authority to issue a CCW based on his/her own judgement alone. Presumably, you have up to two chances of getting one, then, and that’s to convince either the sheriff or police chief that you need one. A few years ago, there was a police chief in a little town called Isleton, who decided that the city coffers could stand fattening, so he essentially sold CCW permits to just about all comers. I think you needed to pass a background check, and your personal check had to pass, too, but he issued more CCW permits than everybody else combined.
I suspect it doesn’t but does Ohio have any provision for open carry? Arizona has always had legal open carry with no required permit and relatively few exceptions for where carry is allowed and CCW is now shall-issue. Texas is very contrary with concealed carry legal with permit but open carry illegal under all circumstances.
YES, it is very easy to get a CCW in Florida. All you need to do is pick up a packet or have one mailed to you. You need to have some sort of firearms class under your belt. Pretty much anything will pass for that. A military dd-214, ANY NRA class, a letter from a hunting or pistol club etc. If you have nothing, you can take some quickie class at a gun show or other place.
Then you mail your certificate, ONE page (who said there had to be a lot of paper work?) application, a check for $117, a completed fingerprint card, and a passport sized photo. Then within 90 days (usually 30-40) the Department of State, not a local agency, will mail you the permit. They are good here for FIVE years… not one.
And you do not need to have a NEED for a permit here, only a WANT.
The gun laws in Florida are great!!
In Virginia, the local circuit court judge must issue you a permit if you have completed an approved firearms course (either NRA-type or previous military or the like).
I am no expert on Ohio, and the following should be taken as a lay opinion only. Consult a lawyer licensed in Ohio or your local law enforcement agency if you have questions.
In Ohio, it is unlawful to “knowingly carry or have, concealed on his person or concealed ready at hand,” any firearm. Exempt from this prohibition are: officers, agents, and employees of a state or the federal government or law enforcement officers authorized and acting in the scope of their employment. State law permits the carrying of a handgun openly, but many municipalities prohibit any carrying of firearms.
It is an affirmative defense to a charge of carrying a concealed weapon if the person was:
-
In his own home;
-
Engaged in or going to or from his business or occupation which is of such character as to justify a “prudent man in going armed;”
-
Engaged in lawful activity and had good reason to fear attack on himself or family such as to justify a “prudent man in going armed.”
Transporting a firearm in a motor vehicle is unlawful unless the firearm is unloaded or is accessible only by leaving the vehicle. The unloaded firearm must be carried:
a. In a closed case, box, or package; or
b. Secured in a rack in plain sight; or
c. “In plain sight, with the action open or the weapon stripped,” or if the firearm’s action will not stay open or it cannot be easily stripped, in plain sight.
A firearm in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle is considered loaded if its magazine is loaded or a loaded magazine is ready at hand. Muzzleloading weapons are considered unloaded if the percussion cap or priming powder in the pan is removed. The affirmative defenses under (2) and (3)are available to a charge brought under the provision of carrying in a motor vehicle. Affirmative defenses are generally strictly construed against the defendant.
State law has no provision for a license or permit for carrying concealed firearms.
It is unlawful to possess a firearm in any room in which liquor is being dispensed pursuant to a liquor license. This prohibition does not apply to a police officer, or to any room used for the accommodation of guests of a hotel, or the possession of an unloaded rifle by a veterans’ organization, or possessing or displaying unloaded firearms in a soldiers’ memorial or in a convention center or other public meeting place by an exhibitor, trader, purchaser, or seller. It is an affirmative defense that a person was not otherwise precluded by law and kept a firearm for defensive purposes and whose business or occupation was of such character as would justify “a prudent man in going armed,” or kept a firearm for defensive purposes while engaged in lawful activity and had reasonable cause to fear a criminal attack as would justify “a prudent man in going armed.”
Hope this helps.
- Rick
Too bad for you guys…
Without a permit a person may keep and transport a handgun in his or her vehicle as long as it is securely encased OR not readily accesible. Securely encased can be snapped in a holster or in a zippered case or any container where a lid must be opened for access. This includes a glove box or a shoe box. The handgun does not have to be unloaded. Readily accessible mean that it cannot be within easy reach. So if the firearm cannot be reached (like the back of a van or SUV) it does not have to be encased.
These laws are great because a person can keep a loaded handgun in a shoebox on the front passenger seat. Or in a holster connected to the dash board for easy drawing.
Why do I keep saying handgun? Well any long guns ( rifles, shotguns, etc ) can be kept anywhere in the vehicle in any manner (loaded or unloaded) except on the person. So it is ok for a person to keep a loaded shotgun on his passenger seat next to him.
It is also legal for a person to be driving with a fully loaded machine gun on his passenger seat. People who own machine guns usually have nice cases for them so this does not really happen, I am just saying its LEGAL.
Machine guns?? Yes, many people around here own machine guns. It is much easier than people think to buy them. I work at a gun range on Sundays and people bring in their own all the time. We also rent them. These people are just average Joes. They are doctors, lawyers, accountants, construction workers, etc. They are not affiliated in any way with law enforcement or any other such work. They just like machine guns and they have the money to spend on them.
No special permit or license is needed by the Federal Government to OWN machine guns. The owner gets a tax stamp after they pay the ATF their taxes for it and that is it.