ace529

I would like to get a concealed carry license but Im not sure which is the best method for getting one. I know the gun show will be at the fairgrounds this weekend and they offer a class? I've also heard something about taking a hunter safety class and going over to ft. walton at some office and its faster that way? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

JMSUN

The quickest way would probably be to take the course at the gun show. If you have hunter safety course certification you are good to go. If not, you could take the hunter safety course and kill 2 birds with one stone. I think it might be free as well. And yes, the quickest and easiest way is to go to the office in Fort Walton. Have you ever been involved in any firearms competition? some things like that will be accepted as well.

JMSUN

I might add that the hunter safety course certification does not have to necessarily be from Florida.

midnight son

Ace,

First thing I would do is peruse chapter 790 in the FL statutes to see exactly what training qualifies the state requirement for getting a CCW. The list is located there. Prior or current military, Hunter Safety, and a class taught by an NRA certified instructor are the most common methods that I know of to receive acceptable credentials.

The Florida Department of Agriculture, licensing branch, in Ft. Walton Beach is the best, and quickest, way to process your permit application after you have received acceptable training. Much faster than sending all paperwork to Tallahassee. I've known people to get permits in less than a week after processing at Ft. Walton. They work by appointment only, give them a call.

If you still need assistance or training, I teach the NRA's "First Steps Pistol" class at Shoal River Sporting Clays in Crestview. This is a 4 hour class that meets the state requirements for training. My next class is February 24th. If I may be of assistance, shoot me a pm.

No matter what your avenue to secure training, some are better than others, just make you mind up to do it, and go get thet CCW!

collectorden

My wife got her's from the class at the last Pensacola gun show. It took about 2 months to receive it. I got mine from the Ft Walton DOA office with my DD214. It took about 10 days to receive it, but it took 4 weeks to get an appointment, and that was 2 years ago.

Edit: She went to class on 19 Nov, mailed it 22 Nov and received it 14 Jan.

dholley77

I took my class at the gun show back in December and got it back in two weeks.

Firefishvideo

If you search for similar threads you will find that this topic gets rehashed quite often, but with good info.
Quick re-cap .......once you get your safety cert, you should call the FWB office and set up an appointment, they are usually about 2 weeks to 2 months behind....but still the fastest and most efficient way.
As far as the safety cert goes. The Gunshow is the cheapest and fastest way to get it, but you will be competing with a LOT of other people to get into the class, and in the end will be certified by shooting ONE bullet.
This may satisfy the law, but I would not want to walk into a gunfight with that training. Do yourself a favor and choose a local instructor for some real training on multiple weapons. I don't know the others, so I will suggest Capt Ron. You will fire over 200 rounds with multiple weapons, and be taught to shoot quickly and fix jams and failures quickly.
http://www.iwillnotbeavictim.com/

__________________
www.firefishvideo.com

ace529

Thanks for all of the information guys. I have been putting off getting my license for way to long. I just didn't wanna miss the class at the fairgrounds again if that is the best way to go about getting a license. I have no kind of certifications but i was raised around hunting and have been shooting for many years. Is the class at the fairgrounds a complete package for getting a license?

scubapro

The class will give you the certificate of completion and the application package for the State. You will have to complete the application and send it to the State with the license fee. If the Fairgrounds class doesn't include the finger prints (some do & some don't) - you will need to have that done at the PPD or ECSO. You'll also need a passport-size color photograph to go with your application package. Going to the Dept of Agriculture office in FWB seems to provide the quickest turn-around time.

As for the training in the class at the Fairgrounds...it is not that valuable -- but required to get the license unless you have a hunter safety course certificate or a military DD214. Just sit through the class and take what you are told with a grain of salt. Much of it will be more opinion rather than fact...

Once you get your license -- and you are legal to carry a CCW firearm, seek out some good training from a qualified instructor. I made a decision when I satrted carrying a firearm daily that I wanted to develop a level of proficiency, rather than the bare minimum needed to obtain the license.

Such training will focus on safety, the fundementals, mindset, and dealing with malfunctions. A good instructor will allow you to "take the curve" as fast as you can -- but is not simply motivated by speed. Getting good hits is the most important skill -- and that usually involves a significant amount of time and instruction devoted to proper trigger control.

Expect that such training will involve a considerable financial investment. Spending two to three times the cost of a typical self defense firearm on the training to use it is the norm....for quality instruction.

Ask plenty of questions and find out what the training, experience, and background of your instructor is -- before you sign up for the training. There are many "instructors" out there -- but their teaching style, personality, and methods range from excellent to downright unsafe and dangerous.

My sig line in this post has links for who and where I personally choose to train and maintain my firearms proficiency -- if that helps. I recommend both highly.

__________________
www.southernexposuretraining.com

www.centerfire.net

Draw Quickly -- Shoot Carefully... No one has ever been killed by a loud noise... Col. Jeff Cooper

97ford150

I got mine thru Escambia River Muzzle Loaders they are a great much of people they just use the range for the shooting part.
This is the link - http://www.erml-gunclub.org/

If you want to get good hands on information go see Capt. Ron (he is on here also)
This is his website- http://www.iwillnotbeavictim.com/