The very long wait on CCW permit

I have turned in my CCW permit applications in my home state of Delaware and for a non resident Arizona permit. According to Delaware Code the process is to take 60 days. I am now well beyond the 60 days. I contacted them and they said they are now receiving 5x's the amount of requests than previous years and are way behind and she has no idea when it will be ready.

I also contacted Arizona about their permit. Their code states 60 days as well...at least until I called them. Since my call they have added to their website (was posted on their website less than an hour after my phone call) under "announcements" to allow 60 "BUSINESS" days for processing. which they have had my application over their "new" processing allowance. They also stated which now all of a sudden shows on their website since my call that even after the 60 "business days" to allow 15 more business days to receive in the mail. But if you go to their code section it still states 60 days..not business days. The lady on the phone from Arizona screwed my name up and my DOB and other info I gave her over the phone several times before finally just telling me that "its been received and still being processed." She told me they are receiving over 1000 applications a day now. And according to her calculations they have until August to send me my permit. Not sure what kind of calculations she using but even at their newly posted time allowance, they are still over their time limit.

I understand there is a new flood for CCW permits all over the country and I understand that most places even though there is a huge increase in applications coming in they are still working on the same amount of employees they did when they were a lot slower.

But, my question is, if these states have clearly posted in their codes/laws or whatever that the process is suppose to be done within a specific amount of time, when does it come to a point where someone's rights are being violated or rules/laws are being broken? Or at least when does it become a point when they are being held accountable? I am not trying to be a butthead or give anyone trouble. I just feel, I have complied with all the requirements, I am a person of good morale standing, no felony issues, no probation issues, taken all my training, etc etc etc. so I shouldn't have to keep waiting. Am I wrong for wanting them to stick to their guidelines? I know because I am just very eager to get them it has me on edge a little especially since I have waited so freaking long.

Welcome to the wonderful world of 'off the radar' gun control. It is true that localities have set time-limits for issuance of the CCW, but there has been a large increase in CCW applications nationwide. I consider such limits as optimistic as factory ballistics tables.

Issuing authorities are understaffed and unable to handle the upsurge in apps. However, in this era of shrinking budgets, the powers-that-be are not hiring additional people to process the CCW 'surge.' Nor are they taking people from other departments to speed up the process, regardless of what the statute says. They will immediately cash your check for the app fee, and then you wait. I don't like it either.

Understand something else: they may have to issue CCWs under the law, but they don't really want to, especially if the issuing agency is a police organization. Like wisps of smoke drifting in the air after a fire, there is a general distrust or dislike of, or outright suspicion of CCW holders. It does not exist on paper, but it is there, nonetheless.

Originally from NYS, I've been battling the antis for four decades and have too much experience in these matters. I could go on, but there are other posters with valuable thoughts!

Just another reason for nationwide constitutional carry. We shouldn't have to jump through hoops and pay a tax then find that the government doesn't play by their own rules.

I keep trying to remember what it is that the government does well. I'll let you know if I find out what it is.

In the case of Az , I would be reasonably certain that the extended times really are the result of being overwhelmed by high volumes, rather than any deliberate foot dragging.

In a situation of actual foot dragging , as of today I am on day 89 of a " 7 day " waiting period for a purchase. Best intelligence indicates close to 2 more weeks for the paperwork to be approved. with an additional week for the completed paperwork to be actually faxed to the FFL.

Meanwhile more directly related to the OP, a good friend has his Utah permit in the process. They were up front in being slammed, and offically modified the 60 days from recipt to 60 day from payment clearing. He is just slightly past 60 days now.

( insert long seperate story about home state permit process)

But be restrained about making official stink about non-resident issueing times. The easiest remedy is to simply no longer issue non-resident permits.

Likewise...Plan ahead on "renewing" your CCW

I would get the renewal application submitted several months ahead of the expiration date.

r/Mike

We now have a LifeTime CC here in Louisiana. Many people cant wait to renew their 5yr license and get the LifeTime one.

Everyone will still be required to take the Class every 5 years. But no more renewal BS to put up with.

After you get them, It won't seem like it took so long.

I might be a little niaeve, but I really don't think it is a form of gun control. I think they are just people trying to get permits out as fast as they can. I would bet they are overwelmed with applications.

Be patient. I bet it will be here pretty soon.

Wingmaster

some areas probably is foot dragging. I have one guy who took the class in Kentucky from me who cannot get his actual permit. I have control over the class application and certification, but he got that on time. It's his county sheriff who isn't sending in the apps in a timely manner to the state police for approval. Nothing I can do there but tell him to howl at the authorities about his county sheriff.

But at the same time in Kentucky the entire class certification process is handled by one very nice lady with little help. She has to process every person who takes the class plus all the instructor/trainer certifications as well. They just don't have much staff for the job and the number of people applying has gone through the roof nationwide.

So it's some of both, some people happily dragging their feet, but a lot of people just flooded with paperwork that has backlogged badly who are doing their best. I always warn people in the class to be patient b/c at least in Kentucky the folks at the state police are trying to do their job the best they can with the hand they've been dealt.

PortRoyalDad said:

I would get the renewal application submitted several months ahead of the expiration date.

r/Mike

Click to expand...

Here in Oklahoma, which is a relatively gun friendly state, they're swamped too. A good friend that has had a CCL for the past ten years told me how much trouble he was having renewing his license. He started trying six weeks before his renewal date & still hasn't received it. He was told that once his permit expired he needed to stop carrying, even if he has the renewal process started already.

Heh, here in PA my "long wait" was mostly because the guy at the sheriff's office thought my kids needed some toy sheriff's badges to wear around . After he was done giving my kids presents we were back in the car and on our way to lunch... took about 20 minutes.

In at least one Ohio county, there is a great deal of evidence that there is deliberate foot dragging. County employees and women get theirs in minimum time (like surrounding counties), but men seam to always be within a few days of maximum! Ivan

To followup , my *7 day wait* came thru on Day 108 .

After the agency that handles these was sued , they made wishywashy statement about not retaliating for dealers doing a work around, and promised to speed things up. Well since then the staff was previously 14 , is now 5 . Needless to say the backlog grows each day.

bunkshaner said:

According to Delaware Code the process is to take 60 days.

Click to expand...

In a perfect world.

bunkshaner said:

I contacted them and they said they are now receiving 5x's the amount of requests than previous years and are way behind and she has no idea when it will be ready.

Click to expand...

Bureaucracy is slow. Backlogged bureaucracy is slower.

bunkshaner said:

I also contacted Arizona about their permit. Their code states 60 days as well...at least until I called them. Since my call they have added to their website (was posted on their website less than an hour after my phone call) under "announcements" to allow 60 "BUSINESS" days for processing. Which they have had my application over their "new" processing allowance. They also stated which now all of a sudden shows on their website since my call that even after the 60 "business days" to allow 15 more business days to receive in the mail. But if you go to their code section it still states 60 days..not business days.

Click to expand...

You're expecting honesty and efficiency from bureaucracy? Wishful thinking.

bunkshaner said:

The lady on the phone from Arizona screwed my name up and my DOB and other info I gave her over the phone several times before finally just telling me that "its been received and still being processed." She told me they are receiving over 1000 applications a day now. And according to her calculations they have until August to send me my permit. Not sure what kind of calculations she using but even at their newly posted time allowance, they are still over their time limit.

Click to expand...

So you were disgruntled applicant #1,001 for the day. Guess how deeply your paperwork got filed after giving Ms. Clerk grief on the phone.

bunkshaner said:

I understand there is a new flood for CCW permits all over the country and I understand that most places even though there is a huge increase in applications coming in they are still working on the same amount of employees they did when they were a lot slower.

Click to expand...

Actually you don't. The increased number of CCW applications over the last year has been record-setting. The resulting number backlogs in most locales is also record-setting. Days have become weeks, weeks have become months for many in the queue. And who is dealing with the vast majority of these applications? Understaffed and overwhelmed departments of file clerks. Think about that equation.

bunkshaner said:

But, my question is, if these states have clearly posted in their codes/laws or whatever that the process is suppose to be done within a specific amount of time, when does it come to a point where someone's rights are being violated or rules/laws are being broken?

Click to expand...

You're kidding, right?

bunkshaner said:

Or at least when does it become a point when they are being held accountable?

Click to expand...

I guess you're not kidding.

bunkshaner said:

I just feel, I have complied with all the requirements, I am a person of good morale standing, no felony issues, no probation issues, taken all my training, etc etc etc. so I shouldn't have to keep waiting.

Click to expand...

And how are you different or more deserving than the countless others who find themselves in the same waiting game?

bunkshaner said:

Am I wrong for wanting them to stick to their guidelines?

Click to expand...

No, not wrong. Unrealistic, yes. Impatient, definitely. Your paperwork has been filed and now you need to sit tight, stop whining, and objectively evaluate the current situation nationwide. The 2A portion of this country is in a protracted struggle against self-righteous anti-gun factions. This ongoing battle is magnified by the glacial pace of state/Federal government bureaucracy, coupled with a continuing wave of CCW applications. Add it all together and you have a massive dustercluck that is grinding the CCW process to a halt. All the foot-stomping and pleas for justice won't speed up the process one whit. Some states get things done quickly, others don't. Obviously you reside in one of the latter. It is unfortunate, but you are not in CA, MA, NJ, NY, Chicago or DC, so consider yourself fortunate that you will have a CCW in due time. Patience is a virtue.

Arizona is pretty strait laced to deal with. I received mine in about 60 days.

In your home state do you have any legal options? Also contact your state legislature and ask them to make an inquiry. Lower level public officials hate to hear from legislatures about issues ie. why am I hearing about this? I know it sure works with the federal government.

I don't think it is unrealistic for them to adhere to the statute. In Florida, the CWP process is a revenue generator for the state, so they hired additional staffing when they got swamped with applications.

I spoke with the CCW permit dept in my home state, Arizona, regarding the lengthy wait for my permit recently.

My wife received her permit very quickly, but she already had background checks and fingerprints on file because she is a teacher.

The person I spoke with told me that they are receiving over 1,000 permits per day and the state has cut the number of people processing the permits due to budget constraints. In addition, the background checks, through whatever federal agencies, are taking longer than ever to be returned to the CCW unit.

Whatever the reasons, they are trying to get them done as quickly as possible.

Have patience. Mine took 3 months and I am a resident!

For those guys waiting forever on their CCW permit. Lords forbid u guys ever apply for a tax stamp for an SBR or a CAN. It could be a lengthy vacation.

I had to wait over three months to get my Florida CCW non-resident. However, since Illinois is still trying to get its CCW process started, the wait will probably be more like 12-18 months to get my Illinois CCW.

I don't get it.

Here in little ole Iowa it takes me FIVE days from the time I stop by the sheriff's office to pay my money and have my photo taken until it is ready for pickup!

It takes that long only because Iowa started having all permits issued out of Des Moines when we went to a Shall Issue state a few years ago.

Anything over a couple of weeks is just incompetence on the part of the state..............OR, they only hire one person to handle all the paperwork!!