Got my CCW permit today

[Filbird]

The envelope was in the mail this afternoon, and I am now legally able to carry a concealed handgun in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Though tempted, I have decided not to carry today. There is still a lot that I want to learn before I go out with a weapon, and the only handgun I have at the moment is a borrowed 4" Diamondback with a horrible holster. It's a great gun, I shoot well with it, but it's just not what I want to carry.

I am grateful to the forum members who have helped me with my questions and offered good suggestions. Now that I have my permit, I will accelerate my trips to the range, my testing of rental guns, and my training (there is one more class that I want to take), so that when I wear a gun for the first time, I'll feel prepared.

I thought I'd be very happy to get the permit, and I am, but what I feel more than anything is a tremendous sense of responsibility.

The VA permit is also a bit more flimsy than I had expected. A trip to Kinko's for laminating is definitely in order!

 

[flop-shank]

Congratulations and good luck!

 

[USAF385]

Congrats!

I think you showed good judgment not running out carrying just to carry. Also finding the right gun is very important.

My PA permit is just... paper with the Sheriff's seal embossed into it. They give you two... the "real" permit which is a big piece of paper.. almost 4"x6"... not really something you can put in your wallet without folding... My sheriff's office is nice enough to also give you a reduction which fits in your wallet.. still just a piece of paper with the seal.. but that one you can laminate if you'd like. I didn't laminate mine.. but I got a clear plastic card holder thingy that is slides into.

 

[HAWKEYE10]

congrats and good luck with your new training. but after training it takes practice practice practice. in tn. we get cards that look like our drivers license,pretty neat. don


"don't worry be happy"

 

[cshoff]

Congrats, Filbird! Carry safe, and carry often!

BTW - If you ever get down here Missouri way, your permit is good here too.

 

[Super38]

Welcome to the club!

and fwiw- you could carry a lot worse than that Diamondback

 

[bigt5150]

Congratulations on your permit. Keep those skills up to date. FYI your permit is good here in Texas too.

 

[mrwildroot]

Carry your weapon now, and keep working on your rig.
Have it when you need it, and get over the nervous attitude.
We'll help you when you need it.
Congrats and good luck,

Mrwildroot

 

[11B Lifer]

The greatest challenge will be finding a pistol that you can carry comfortably hidden and accessible for hours and hours. I have gone thru about ten holsters-now I carry in my pocket (I have a nice pocket holster). And I have six pistols available for carry-My preference: M1903 Colts in .32 or .380, M51 Remington in .380 and for those times when I need to hide a little gun: a Colt .25. My wife has an old M36.

 

[ltcdoty]

In New York State, in one county the permit was like a credit card, nice

. I moved to the next county and I'm back to paper...can't laminate it because your handguns are listed on the back, and if you want to add more, they have to be able to ammend it

 

[tmbrcruizr]

Mississippi's ccp are just like a drivers license, even issued at the same location.

 

[gunnut2u]

Itcdoty: I wasn't aware in new york that your guns are listed on the back of your license.Is this in other states or just in yours?gunnut2u

 

[cshoff]

Originally posted by gunnut2u:
Itcdoty: I wasn't aware in new york that your guns are listed on the back of your license.Is this in other states or just in yours?gunnut2u

I believe there are a couple of states that have restrictions like that. If you live in Missouri, you have nothing to worry about. Once you complete the CCW course in Missouri and obtain your permit, you can carry whatever legal handgun you wish, and as many as them as you'd like.

 

[tiger27]

Being that you've never carried before, its natural to be nervous. You will feel this way for a while. You will be worried about "printing", that is people being able to tell you're armed. That too will pass. My CCW instructor's always told me, carrying is a way of life, you don't just do it sometimes if your going to do it, you do it all the time or not at all. It is a change of lifestyle. With great power comes great responsibility. Congratulations on your CCW, that is definitely a bid deal. Remember, you'd rather have one and not need it than need one and not have it!!

 

[Bear Country 88]

You're feeling more responsible, and that's good. Many find that since they began carrying concealed they're more relaxed. They say an armed society is a courteous society. That may be true.

You either have or you'll soon realize that it's no longer acceptable to be the aggressor - at least that's what I've come to realize over the years. Me, I'm much more calm.

The only fight you truly win is the one you manage to avoid.

So go out there and enjoy life. Relax. You simply have a tool with you which can increase force. I would suggest the book "In the Gravest Extreme: The Role of the Firearm in Personal Protection" by Massad Ayoob.

 

[kennyb]

want to sell the colt?