CCW advice.........

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1newbie

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I'm not a gun fanatic, but I realize that we live in a crazy world and I just started the paper work to get my CCW in CA.  I have a vacation home in a county that (I think) will make it feasible to get a CCW (we'll see).  Is there reciprocity if you go to other states?  Anyone else here gone down this path?  Thoughts on a CCW?  IDK if I will carry every day, but my wife and I do some hiking in remote areas and I will definitely carry in those scenarios.  My goal is to have it, but hope to never have to use it.......I'm actually saddened that the country has digressed into a state that I feel that it is necessary for personal protection.......   😞

 
i have worked a side job from my every day grind for the last 10 years, doing property maintenance and mgmt at night and weekends.

I got a text the other day from one of the partner owners.

Do you carry?

I'm thinking holy chit I screwed something up, I carry liability  insurance, but respond

a gun?

he says yes

I reply yes I do.

he says good, one of the partners was stabbed to death by a homeless man this morning. If you can get off your regular job, we will have an office lunch on fridays at the gun range, lunch and ammo provided.

fast forward to sat, I see a man in an alley of a shopping center dumping all his trash, tree limbs, etc into our dumpster. I confront him, he cops an major attitude when I get out of my tahoe, tells me to eff off, so i start to reach as he comes towards me, he notices it, jumps in his truck and drives off. I call the cops.

I don't have a ccw permit, we have open carry here, but i'd rather fight the courts for no permit, vs. fighting for my life with some of these a holes I keep running into. The world has gone crazy and I refuse to lay down and let them run me over

 
I'm alarmed at what has happened in Chicago and NYC.  I think you should do everything you can to get your CCW in California no matter which city or town you live in.  But I'm an Arizonan and I can't give you CA related advice.

Personally, lately I've become upset with myself on how I've become lazy with my carrying strategies.  I have the luxury to do concealed carry in AZ without a CCW.  I'm totally prepared when driving my Armada (Glock 10mm by my side), but when I'm walking or riding my bike I have become lazy, maybe because of the low-crime suburb I live in.  Yet risk is everywhere, and I really need to step it up.  Even if I'm riding my bike on the bike path I ride on every day, I need to simply open up the Armada and slip my Ruger .380 into my pocket.  It's that simple, but I haven't been doing it.  I have encountered sketchy drug-addict-like people on the New River bike path (plus dozens of biking pros who kick my ass every day 😉 ), so I'm hoping that your topic and my reply motivates me to do more carrying actions over here in AZ.

 
If you go to usacarry.com there is a reciprocity map that lets you see the states that will honor California’s permit.  Plus if you travel you can easily obtain Arizona and Utah non-resident permits which give you even more states. 

 
1newbie said:
I'm not a gun fanatic, but I realize that we live in a crazy world and I just started the paper work to get my CCW in CA.  I have a vacation home in a county that (I think) will make it feasible to get a CCW (we'll see).  Is there reciprocity if you go to other states?  Anyone else here gone down this path?  Thoughts on a CCW?  IDK if I will carry every day, but my wife and I do some hiking in remote areas and I will definitely carry in those scenarios.  My goal is to have it, but hope to never have to use it.......I'm actually saddened that the country has digressed into a state that I feel that it is necessary for personal protection.......   😞
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You may have to justify using a vacation home address on a ccw.  They will most likely require you to use your primary residence.  Other than that the process is rather simple and the worst part is the wait. 

 
There are states that reciprocate(look on the CA DOJ site), but in CA your address for your CCW much match your ID. That taps out the vaca home unless you change your ID. I have my CCW in AZ, currently they recip with I believe 38 states & CA ain't one... luckily I have residency in both states but if I got caught here it's gonna hit me with a misdemeanor.

 
I have my CCW here in AZ which is honored by several states.  Honestly, I don't carry much as I stay local almost all the time.

Plus I'm a mouthy f*ck and that enters a realm of being illegal or gray area that can get me in trouble if I'm carrying... :lol:

 
Goes without saying but if you are going to carry it better be second nature to carry, draw and shoot. That takes a lot of practice.

A LOT! 

It's not good enough to just have it with you if you need it. Under stress you will perform differently than on the range. 

There is a saying, train as you fight, fight as you train. 

I'm not discouraging you from getting the CCW, I am encouraging you to practice, starting now. 

There is the physical aspect of using/shooting the gun. There is also a mental aspect, scenarios, run them through your head. IE, sitting at a light, how would you react if,,,

While riding your bike, what if,,,? 

Always remember, be a better witness than a victim. The gun is the last resort. If you are in a store or bank and someone is robbing the place, do you pull your gun? Or do you watch and be a witness,,,,,there is no perfect answer. It all depends on the situation. Is your wife and/or kids by your side? Do they know what to do if you decide to draw your gun? Have you talked about it with her or them? 

Scenario or roll playing training (physical or mental) is important. 

 
Mac said:
I have my CCW here in AZ which is honored by several states.  Honestly, I don't carry much as I stay local almost all the time.

Plus I'm a mouthy f*ck and that enters a realm of being illegal or gray area that can get me in trouble if I'm carrying... :lol:
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it's kinda nice to have Mac back :lol:  

 
Theres an app called CCW that I have been using recently. Its pretty good with staying updated on the ever changing laws and what not, and it lays it out for you as far as what you can and cant do based on where you are and what permit you have. 

 
In Nevada it can be done in a week, 

In CA, i was told from a good friend that this can take over a year,  

Would be easier to move to NV or AZ or UT  

 
J Alper said:
In Nevada it can be done in a week, 

In CA, i was told from a good friend that this can take over a year,  

Would be easier to move to NV or AZ or UT  
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It depends on the county issuing, but that is correct that CA is about a year process (or at least was that long, I doubt it's any better now). 

They also want tax returns and utility bills in your name to verify that you are living at that address, not just a rental or vacation home.  They are very strict about that!  I have a buddy that sold his house and is renting for a while.  His rental includes all utilities and they will not renew his CCW to his new address because he does not have a utility bill in his name, even though he has a rental contract that specifies all utilities included!

 
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J Alper said:
In Nevada it can be done in a week, 

In CA, i was told from a good friend that this can take over a year,  

Would be easier to move to NV or AZ or UT  
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Mine took 18 months, so ya... it takes a while lol.

 
2dasand said:
It depends on the county issuing, but that is correct that CA is about a year process (or at least was that long, I doubt it's any better now). 

They also want tax returns and utility bills in your name to verify that you are living at that address, not just a rental or vacation home.  They are very strict about that!  I have a buddy that sold his house and is renting for a while.  His rental includes all utilities and they will not renew his CCW to his new address because he does not have a utility bill in his name, even though he has a rental contract that specifies all utilities included!
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In Nevada it is 100 times easier to get your CCW than you Non Commercial drivers license,  So most drive 5th wheels with the wrong license, ant the other just open carry, Still the wild west here,    

 
2dasand said:
It depends on the county issuing, but that is correct that CA is about a year process (or at least was that long, I doubt it's any better now). 

They also want tax returns and utility bills in your name to verify that you are living at that address, not just a rental or vacation home.  They are very strict about that!  I have a buddy that sold his house and is renting for a while.  His rental includes all utilities and they will not renew his CCW to his new address because he does not have a utility bill in his name, even though he has a rental contract that specifies all utilities included!
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They also send an officer to your house to verify. 

 
I received mine in about 3 months in CA, just be sure to have supporting documents for your “Good cause statement “.  I had to show gas receipts, family pictures and schedules for yearly events for mine.  Other than that as long as you can legally own a gun at the time of application in OC, and follow the rest of the process you will receive the permit.

FYI.... you must use the address you live in for application, and yes they will verify.

good luck 

 
RIDERED said:
They also send an officer to your house to verify. 
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 I never had to show tax returns nor did a LEO come to the house. Good cause statement, utilty bill, photos of me camping out in the mountains as that was part of the good cause. You will need to complete a live scan. Took me about 60 days for the initial. 

I live in OC 

 
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