archer51

I can't really add much more to what has already been said. I would go ahead and get it, you never know when you might want to carry and it is better to have it and not use it than want to and not be able to. If you ever travel just remember your permit is honored by numerous states and the list continues to grow.

BigMike424

Hi, I agree with Doc. I too do not have my permit yet but will remedy that next month. In addition, by obtaining your permit you add to the numbers of permit holders sending a signal to the state. Use it or lose it... In the past Virginia has been fairly gun friendly. Check out "VCDL.org" for current trends. Regarding the laws in Va., your CHP class should cover most (if not all) of that. Mike

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AMH

I work for the Department of Defense and work on a military post. I cant carry while on post, I cant even leave my weapon in the car while on post. I am unarmed 40+ hours a week.

But I carry 100% of the rest of the time. My family deserves it. My countrymen deserve it.

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flagflyfish

Something not touched on yet. When I first started thinking about getting a CWP, it was because I liked the thought of having a pistol in the cab of the pickup with me, not because I really felt a need to tote one around. A CWP circumvents a lot of problems during a encounter with LEO. In Arizona my gun can be loaded , in the truck but has to be in certain places without a permit, with a permit it can be anywhere, IE; in my briefcase, in the door, in the console,etc, etc.
Today I carry everywhere I can legally, by choice, by habit, whatever you want to call it. My point is that a CWP is a good thing to have for a lot more reasons than just the ability to carry a gun.

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Ricebrnr

what's that adage that us ccw'ers like to say?...

Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it? :)

kentuckycarry

I originally got my permit for traveling, not knowing where or how often I'd carry. I just wanted the option to carry and ya can't do that without the permit (unless I open carry).
Once getting educated on it, mostly on this forum, I now carry 100% of the time. Alot of people can't carry at work. That's only part of your day.

FearSheeple

some great points were raised! :) Thanks to everyone for the responses...I didn't realize this forum was this active!

I didn't think of a few things like the financial support of the 2nd amendment, and being able to purchase a firearm faster. So some great points there.

I made the comment about not needing a CCW permit for home defense because I already have firearms in the home, I don't need a permit to allow me to use them.

The bad neighborhoods i visit are pretty much in downtown DC...which according to them if you own a handgun legally, you must be a drug dealer/criminal/rapist...Hoping to see this law get changed.

I also hadn't considered the grandfather clauses...Excellent points. After thinking about these, I've decided to go ahead and start the process of obtaining my CCW. Next comes deciding to carry, a decision only I can make.

Thanks to everyone for the responses, much appreciated!

-Matt

Anubis

I advocate CCW and agree with the points made earlier in the thread. Here are a couple of other points to consider:

If you were ever to need the pistol for home defense, it must be instantly available. Since open or concealed carry is legal on your property, it's true that you don't need the permit for home defense. You could carry all the time on your property, and take it off every time you leave the property, but I bet you don't. If you get a permit and get in the habit of carrying all the time, I think you will be more likely to always have it on you when you are at home.

You have probably already answered the following questions for yourself, but if the answer to any of them is "no", you are probably philosophically opposed to CCW:

Am I capable of killing someone for defensive reasons?

Could I live with myself if I killed in self-defense?

If I find myself in what I consider to be a kill-or-be-killed situation, there are several possible results:
(a) I do not act and am killed or otherwise victimized,
(b) I kill and the DA finds my action to be legal,
(c) I kill and the DA does not agree that I was acting correctly, so I am tried, convicted, and sent to prison.

Would I think option (c) is preferable to option (a)?

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FearSheeple

Other than option C i had considered those questions already...and option C is much more preferable than option A to me :)

As i'm reading through the applications, and rules/laws/reciprocity...I'm extremely annoyed that MD does not honor VA CCW permits. I frequently travel to MD, and through MD -- to many bad parts of town. to be frank, it sucks that states can't get along on this issue.

Anubis

Yes, MD is a may-issue state, most of which do not recognize the permit of any other state. AL and DE are the only may-issue states (that I know of) which do recognize at least some others.

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"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -attributed to Benjamin Franklin-