Get It While It's Hot...and You Still Can!

With all the hub-bub about the current Administration making efforts to restrict gun use (if not downright making handguns illegal), is it a good time for you to consider obtaining a CCW Gun Permit? And if so, how do you go about doing so?

As a Certified Pistol Instructor in Michigan, I can fill you in on the particulars - and it's surprisingly, not all the complicated!

First and foremost, make sure you have a clean record. If you are not sure, or may have some grey areas you have a question about, contact your local county's Sheriff Department. Definite no no's are: If you have been convicted of a misdemeanor in the past THREE YEARS or a felony within the past EIGHT YEARS, or are now awaiting judgment, you are NOT ELIGIBLE to receive a CCW gun permit at this time.

Secondly, you must be at least 21 years of age.

Third, find a Certified Pistol and Handgun Instructor, like myself, and take the State of Michigan Pistol Training Course. Upon successful completion of the course, you are given a certificate by me.

Fourth, take your Certificate and passport sized photo of yourself to your local County Courthouse.

Fifth, fill out the application there and pay the fee (around $105). You will be required to be digitally fingerprinted at the courthouse for this application.

After the Gun Board (and every county has one) reviews your information, you could be awarded a CCW Gun Permit.

Some counties require that you come in for a face to face evaluation before they issue a CCW Gun Permit.

If approved, your CCW Gun Permit typically arrives in the mail in about 4-5 weeks and your are now certified!

Your CCW Gun Permit is good for 5 years and renewal can be done with no further training.

So that's the logistics of the CCW Gun Permit being acquired.

To CCW or NOT to CCW?

As a CCW Gun Training Instructor in Michigan, I am in daily contact with many people who have chosen to exercise their 2nd Amendment rights and obtain their CCW Gun Permit. The Southeastern Counties of lower Michigan have been inundated by CCW applicants. It appears that most all counties are experiencing a fairly quick turnaround time for approval and issue of a gun permit (of course, making sure all gun class requirements are met and completed).

In most cases, a four week turnaround time seems to be the norm for our state.

However, if you have special circumstances surrounding your request, the waiting period can be reduced to a number of days.

A woman that had taken our gun training course actually received her CCW in 3 days because of personal protection issues as documented by a court.

At CCW Protex, we have made it a priority to accommodate those needing to take the State Required Basic Pistol Training Class. We can conduct the class in a home or office setting, and travel to a nearby live-firing range to conduct the gun firing portion of the testing.

The question usually arises, "What kind of gun should I buy?" And that, my friends, is a loaded question. [chuckle]

The type of gun you purchase or need can vary greatly depending on your intended use, and frequency of use.

One thing that IS very important is that we continue to exercise our Constitution Rights by owning a gun. However, it is important to also know the correct way to store and use a gun in our home. I'm sure the Founding Father's didn't intend for anyone to shoot themselves in the toes with their freedoms.