New to Forum...devils advocate

[dbglock]

If MO is like NC you'll be required to take a day or two long classroom session where you're heavily bombarded with all the legalities concerned with carrying a concealed weapon in your state. Then you'll have to pass a test on it. I'm a walking encyclopedia of NC gun law, due to the class plus my own research. Of course the fun part is the range test.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[ghost tracker]

Not pickin' a fight but IMHO you should get clear separating the obvious myth of what you're heard from the letter & intent of concealed carry laws. Until you're grounded in good intel, making the permit decision is like avoiding travel to Maui because someone told you there are cannibals there.

[Caertaker]

Welcome to the forum from S.E. Michigan. I'm glad to see you voicing your concerns and not surprised to see solid responses. I hope you enjoy the time you spend here.

[ccw9mm]

Here are a few basic places to start, for Missouri state carry laws and overviews.

HandgunLaw.us/states/missouri.pdf

Missouri Revised Statutes -- RSMO 571, Weapons Offenses

Missouri Revised Statutes -- RSMO 563, Defense (Use of Force)

Missouri Concealed Carry -- forum, information, community related to carry of firearms in Missouri

Another exceptional resource: In The Gravest Extreme, by Massad Ayoob. A great overview of the pros/cons of carrying a defensive firearm, related use-of-force responsibilities and risks. IMO, this book is required reading for anyone contemplating concealed carry.

[OldVet]

You've made a lot of general assumptions about carrying, much of which is either wrong or doesn't apply equally from state to state.

There are fifty sets of laws concerning firearms, carrying, and the use of deadly force, regardless of whether in your house, your car, or anywhere in public. Each state differs from the rest, some slightly, some to the extremes.

No one needs a concealed firearm . . . until they need it. Diligent research is needed on your part.

[nedrgr21]

Great info so far. As to permit tied to DL (which it is in MO), get a FL non-resident permit.

[Blackheart6]

Yes, in Mo people over 21 are allowed to keep a weapon in their vehicles without a permit. My advice to you would be to take the conceal carry course through the most reputable person in St. Louis. Do some research on this, you don't want the cheapest, that has you bring the bare minimum of rounds required by MO, they should emphasize legal aspects in their course description. During class and breaks you will get to ask any and all questions you have, and have them answered by someone who should have solid answers. Have a list of questions ready and write the answers down. Your instructor should be able to give you the name(s) of lawyers you could contact for future use, and questions they can not answer.

[oakchas]

As of 2009 (IIRC) The National Safety Council claimed that your odds of dying were one in 314 (over your lifetime) of being killed in a firearm assault.

Your odds of having a reportable house fire are about the same... You probably have a fire extinguisher in or near your kitchen... Is it "worth it?"

Regardless of cliches I posted earlier, or the above statistics; if I lived in a metropolitan area or near one... Like St. Louis, KC, Nashville, Atlanta, Phoenix, what have you... I would most assuredly carry. I didn't list Chicago or NYC because I would never live there... Because I could not carry.

Play Devil's Advocate all you want... You can carry, or not, as you wish... I live in the sticks... I work in a smaller metro area (100,000 pop) I carry.

Here's a thought provoking article that I carried with me in the 1980's, it's a little long winded, but worth the effort.

Letter From An Angry Reader (Sept, 1981 Esquire Magazine)

[Black Knight]

First welcome to the forum from Virginia. Before you make up your mind please take an approved class from a competent instructor. Your instructor should be able to answer all your questions. If they can't then they should find out and get back to you. As long as you are still considering and asking questions that indicates to me that you take carry seriously which you should.

[SignalZero]

Our dispatchers (depending on how good they are) will run a name through the State database and let an officer know if the driver they have stopped has a CCW issued to them. Whether or not they are in possession of a firearm is something that will only come up if the driver volunteers this information or if the officer asks. I had many encounters where the driver immediately told me that they were armed even before I had a chance to greet them. I ALWAYS let these folks off with a verbal warning as a courtesy and never found myself overly concerned with the guy or gal who readily shared this information with me. I will say this: many of the folks I worked with ask armed citizens to exit their cars and produce their firearms while they ran driver license/CCW permit checks. This made a 5 minute traffic stop a 10 minute traffic stop and I always saw that as unfairly inconveniencing someone who was trying to do the right thing...

P.S.

In line with Black Knight's reply, if you are going to do it...get good training. This is something that you don't want to get into blindly because it can do you just as much harm as good. Exercise your right to protect yourself bud...

[ccw9mm]

As long as you are still considering and asking questions that indicates to me that you take carry seriously which you should.

Good point.

Here are some of the questions I had asked myself while initially contemplating the concept of carrying a defensive firearm: To Carry or Not to Carry - What thinking did you go through?

[Eagleks]

I'm debating getting the CCW permit

I'm concerned that getting the permit will garner unwanted attention.

If pulled over in my car I am automatically identified as a CCW holder. This could present a problem when I travel by car especially through Illinois whether I have a firearm or not.

The penalties for DUI as CCW holder are exponentially worse. Though I have no intention of driving while intoxicated will I automatically be suspected if pulled over?

Most states honor castle law so I can keep in my car anyway.

If I need to use a firearm without a CCW I'm not sure that the penalties outweigh the actual result.

I understand there are laws and my intention is to obey them. I'm just not sure if its worth the trouble either way

So, you are worried about having a CCL because of the laws.... that you never intend to violate ?? That's a bit confusing.

If you don't want one, don't get one.... but don't carry illegally. Second, having a loaded firearm in your car .... especially if you do NOT have a CCL , is not legal in many states. If you have a CCL here, it's legal, however if you don't have a CCL ... it is NOT legal to do.

[9MMare]

WHat penalties exactly?

And if you are traveling anywhere, you need to know and follow those laws.

If a cop pulls you over and acts improperly, you take the high ground, and then report his unprofessionalism to his dept.

I dont know your reasons for wanting to conceal carry. I know mine and none of this stuff outweighs it.

I havent found my permit to be 'any trouble' at all. I've been pulled over a few times (lights out, tabs expired, etc) and never a blink from the cops who get that info on the computer.

And welcome to the forum

[gasmitty]

Here's a thought provoking article that I carried with me in the 1980's, it's a little long winded, but worth the effort.

Letter From An Angry Reader (Sept, 1981 Esquire Magazine)

Thanks for the link - I saved that article from when I used to subscribe to Esquire, but lost it when I moved. It's timeless.

[MASSIVE]

Oy, that was a bit longer of a read than I was expecting -- But worth every word.