Do You Remember Getting Your First Concealed Carry Permit?

[BC38]

Yup, in 1986 I was an insurance agent working in the Hilltop area of Tacoma (a very rough neighborhood at the time - read about it here Ranger Ash Street Shootout Remains Part of Tacoma's Gang Lore - SouthSoundTalk).
It wasn't unusual for people to pay an annual premium in cash. So carrying large sums of other people's money in a bad neighborhood was my justification for a permit - because IIRC at the time they were MAY issue in Washington State, so you had to give a "good reason" why you needed one.
Once you had one though you could renew it indefinitely without further "justification".

 

[Racer X]

Yup, in 1986 I was an insurance agent working in the Hilltop area of Tacoma (a very rough neighborhood at the time - read about it here Ranger Ash Street Shootout Remains Part of Tacoma's Gang Lore - SouthSoundTalk).
It wasn't unusual for people to pay an annual premium in cash. So carrying large sums of other people's money in a bad neighborhood was my justification for a permit - because IIRC at the time they were MAY issue in Washington State, so you had to give a "good reason" why you needed one.
Once you had one though you could renew it indefinitely without further "justification".

When I got my Washington permit in @'93 I think it was the new "Shall Issue" Yes, Hilltop was pretty rough back then. Only marginally better now. My old girlfriend's dad played a part in cleaning it up.

I got mine because getting robbed at gunpoint and pistol whipped will cause you to re-evaluate things.

 

[stansdds]

Meanwhile here in Florida.

Florida is looking better every single day. Maybe if my step-daughter follows through on her plan to move to Florida, my wife will be willing to move as well.

 

[SW Gun Guy]

I remember it well. I was in the first available class when AZ passed the law for concealed carry. Back then you had to attend an all day class and do a range shooting and get fingerprinted. Don't remember the exact distance for shooting, but it was close. I used my 624 for the shooting as it was my most accurate gun I had. It appeared I had missed the target completely on one shot, but they accepted that I actually put one shot through the hole of another. The first time I renewed you still had to do that whole same full day thing. I again used my 624, but this time I deliberately spread my shots around on the target. I have kept my CCW renewed since that original although now you can concealed carry here in AZ without any kind of permit. The CCW still carries like one other clearance for certain establishments and it helps carry over to other states that have a reciprocal arrangement with AZ. Already have my calendar marked for renewal in Sept.

 

[Targets Guy]

Remember it well. The wife and I took a course and got our certificate and then went to the county sheriff and got our CCW license. That was back in 2013.

 

[MetalMan]

Got my first CCW in Arkansas in 2000.

Currently licensed in OH (resident) and CT (non-resident).

 

[BigBill]

Working nights pumping gas, I figured it was time to get mine. Right after 10 people were shot in a new Britain bakery in ct, during a robbery that's all the push I needed. I think it was 1974. Fill out the form, we get the local town permit first. Fill out the state form we automatically get the state permit.

 

[upcountry]

In the early 80's in Ashland MA. The chief at the time restricted me to 'target and hunting' even though handgun hunting in MA is not allowed and my kids played on a soccer team with his kids.
I became a NRA instructor and eventually moved to Cambridge MA in the late 80's. Ask my ex-wife why. When time to renew I wrote a required letter to accompany my application stating all the reasons why I wanted an unrestricted LTC, a list of about 10 reasons. I also included my resume (2 graduate degrees and a licensed social worker--they love that stuff in Cambridge) as well as my handgun training certs, courses I had taken and taught. Basically, I said "I dare you to reject me". So I got an unrestricted LTC.
The first time I was in a gun shop the clerk asked to see my LTC before allowing me to handle a handgun. He looked at it and showed a coworker and said "Damn, I know Cambridge cops who can't get one of these".

 

[S&WIowegan]

My wife and I both got our carry permits right after 9/11/01. Permits were "may issue" at the sole discretion of county sheriffs. Urban sheriffs were anti-gun and rural sheriffs were easy. Finally, about 10years ago the NRA sent a guy to work with the legislature and governor to go shall issue. The permits are 5 year term with only a NICS check. The Des Moines Register newspaper is left-wing anti-gun and had a major fit over the permit law. When the dust cleared, it turned out only a modest percent of citizens would get a permit and carry. Most shootings are either in the ghettos or by crazy meth-heads and none of them have permits.

 

[Dragonwing]

Got mine in WA state in 1973. They asked why I wanted one and I told them "to be legal when going to the range and hunting. I've been renewing it every 7 years since. Glad I got it when I did! I just wish Congress would get off their a_ _ and pass the Bill treating it like a driver's license, being accepted in every state.

 

[rwt1405]

When Montana became a SHALL ISSUE instead of May Issue in 1988, I got mine in 1989 and have had one since.

Randy

I'm sure you are correct, but my understanding was that Montana did not go "shall issue" until 1991.

 

[pistolpete10]

In 1996, took a 10 or 12 hour class(required by law) from the Sheriff's dept. We weren't allow to carry a handgun at all til 1996. Carpet Bagger's ruled til then. Was expensive, 140.00 I think.

 

[RETDOE]

first Concealed Caryy Permit

Born and raised in CT and a neighbor friend of my parents mentioned in my presence that he had a CT State Pistol Permit, I asked a couple questions then researched it (not easy back then in 1985). Like a previous post mentioned in CT you could get a Pistol Permit at 18 back then. Completed the process (very easy) and got my Pistol Permit before I graduated High School. Military Service and a new job in Texas and the CT State Police changed my permit to non-resident with just a phone call, amazing how things change.

 

[Mike_Fontenot]

Born and raised in CT and a neighbor friend of my parents mentioned in my presence that he had a CT State Pistol Permit, I asked a couple questions then researched it (not easy back then in 1985). Like a previous post mentioned in CT you could get a Pistol Permit at 18 back then. Completed the process (very easy) and got my Pistol Permit before I graduated High School. Military Service and a new job in Texas and the CT State Police changed my permit to non-resident with just a phone call, amazing how things change.

What exactly did that permit allow you to do?

 

[mauser9]

I remember too. Was back in 74. Cost was $25 for 5 years. Bought a S&W 39 new for $125. Now a May Issue state for long guns as well. Boo-Hiss Gettin so old now my next is free of charge.

 

[Dieseltech56]

It was in 2007 right after I turned 21. At the time in Pittsburgh you needed to submit your application, wait for a call and go back downtown to get your picture taken. Since then they've streamlined the process and even now they have satellite events.

 

[biku324]

No real need in NM. You can carry concealed on your property, business, and in your car/truck with no permit and have been able to for at least 45 years. Open carry is legal but few do it.

 

[retrieverhunter]

Texas CHL law went into effect in November 1995 (IIRC), and the first class I was able to get in was in Jan 1996 and was taught by a lawyer. My first license issued by the state in March or April of 1996, and I've kept it current until right now. It renews again in May 2022, and even with "permitless carry" about to finally be a reality, I will continue to renew my CHL.

 

[themightyhawk]

CCW permit

when CCW became law, here in texas, it was 1995. got my license in january 1996. i took the first class available in my community. loved the class. a bunch of gun guys and a sweet ole lady, were in my class. there were two of us with perfect scores on both the written and shooting part, and i [yes, tootin' my own horn] was one of the two. i qualified with a sig 226, and the the other guy with perfect scores shot a 6" colt python. the sweet ole lady had a .38 special ladysmith. she did not know which end of the gun to hold. she received loads of coaching, advice and tips from several of us. she listened, practiced, and worked hard. she qualified shooting a 222 out of 250. i was more proud of her score than i was of my own.
texas now has license to carry instead of concealed carry, and there is a pretty good chance that constitutional carry, with the blessing of the governor, will become law in september.