[ajaxakita]

I got my permit to carry about a year ago now but I thought it was kind of odd that after filling out the questionaire and a 5 minute background check, i had my permit and was on my way! They had no information on the do's and don't's, where and when's....I thought they would give me a booklet or website to review about carrying. I've been reading alot on this sight but is there an official rulebook out there for carrying? Thanks!

 

[Czechbikr]

That's probably why UT and FL require a class. If you check around the 'net, LGS's and ranges you may find classes for those permits. Congrats on the CWP!

 

[91 whiskey]

Try going to your state government's website. In Michigan they've got all that type of information on the state police site.

 

[Harrychl]

The two suggestions above are good and really just good old common sense comes in play. When you carry, conceal, conceal and conceal...you just don't won't to "alarm" anyone in the public with your carry! Having to answer questions from a LEO if someone calls in on you, won't be pleasent....don't carry in hospitals, amusement parks, goverment offices where courts are at, but I'm sure you already know most of this...But carry....only God knows what you can run into out there anymore....God Bless and keep you...

 

[Divebum]

Considering that carrying a lethal weapon requires a lot of responsibility, it would be the responsibility of the license holder to research the rules and regs in his or her state, as well as the states to which he or she might travel. Considering ignorance of the law (re: the recent spate of arrests in NY) is no excuse, I don't think I'd depend on he said she said information.

 

[MOONDAWG]

Most permit's have their state's website printed on it along with an address and contact phone number.

A little research should get you the info you need.

 

[Fibonacci]

Welcome to the forum. Have you joined the PA Firearm Owners Assn? That is probably a very good source of information for you.

 

[ajaxakita]

Thanks for the replies. I pretty much knew the obvious stuff but I just thought it was odd that they just sent me on my way after about 20 minutes. I am very familiar and careful with guns. My Father was a police officer but has passed away. We owned an indoor pistol range for a while....I just don't want to do anything I'm not supposed to that's all.

 

[Armd2DaTeeth]

Congrats on your permit I'd check out your state's AJ's site.

 

[youngandfree]

Check this out. It stays pretty up to date. Plus you can see which states honor your permit.

Handgunlaw.us

FWIW, I got a non resident PA permit last year right before they stopped doing mail in applications. Someone posted about it ending, so I printed the app, copied my VA permit, and sent a $25 money order. A couple weeks later, I had a PA permit to cover some states that don't honor VA.

 

[wiredgeorge]

I suggest you join the Pennsylvania gun group that was suggested. While rules and regs from across the US are interesting, I think you had best know what is going on specifically in your state. A few things: DO YOU HAVE A CASTLE DOCTRINE LAW? What do you say to the LEO when you are pulled over for a traffic stop? How do you know if you can carry concealed in a building if it has some sort of sign posted? Can you drive into the next state with your weapon? Can you keep a weapon in your car when it is parked in a school parking lot? These things are all governed by your particular state's law and Texas law, for instance, make be completely different.

It was interesting when I tried to google concealed carry in Pennsylvania, a TON of anti-gun groups popped up. This seems the leader:

CeaseFirePA

Look at their partners link.... a who's who of gun haters. Once they manage taking guns out of the hands of law abiding citizens, they will have time to worry about the criminals. These nut cases seem to think that the criminal is going to go down to the gun store and try and purchase and be foiled by long waits and back ground checks. Right. Again, join your local gun rights group and the NRA - QUICK!

 

[ajaxakita]

Thanks for the link and the advice!

 

[ajaxakita]

What's funny is....I am familiar with most of the areas that are posting the anti-gun stuff and they are the nastiest, gang riddled areas! these are all the parents of gang bangers crying that their child was killed by guns! WHILE SELLING DRUGS!!!!!!

 

[bushy223]

Go to the Pa site at the link in post # 7. There are stickies with all the info you need. Register and join in the discussion, but the members of the forum are believers in searching the site for prior post/questions/threads before asking something that's been beaten to death before. Also, they will be quick to point out that it's a License to Carry Firearms (LTCF) not a "permit." :^)

 

[oso]

Pa. doesn't require you to take a CCW class? if that is the case now i know why there is no recoprocity with Ohio. there should be a website Pa.'s for cocealed carry that will have all law2s and requirements.

 

[MadKaw]

Standard advice is to check your state's website. Pennsylvania's website sucks bigtime. If they've hidden it on there, I couldn't winkle it out without putting in a lot more work. In fact, a number of Pennsylvania sportsman's groups complain about the obscurity of the firearm code.
Try Pennsylvania Firearm/Gun Law

 

[Montkun]

1. No Castle Doctrine as of yet, but it is on the House floor for review. So no shooting bad guys unless you feel threatened, and if you shoot them in the back you're in the wrong.

2. No requirement to inform a LEO of a concealed firearm, but doing so tends to yield good results in most cases. From personal experience, it's very beneficial to do so in most cases. Especially when your cards are in the pocket under your CC.

3. No carry in schools, official buildings (courthouses, city/county office buildings, jails), or casinos. Carry anywhere else you please unless a sign is posted or someone asks you to remove the weapon from a place of business.

4. Any legal resident over the age of 18 can open carry a pistol or long rifle while walking. But the moment they enter any type of enclosed vehicle it is considered concealed and they are in violation of the firearm code. A permit is required in such cases, but oddly enough can't be acquired until the age of 21. The permit fee has been reduced now from $25.00 to $20.00 with the modernization of the processes involved (NICS, on-site photography and permit making)

As most things in PA, the website is a chore to find things out as they change the laws constantly it seems. As long as you stick to those 4 basic rules, you have much of nothing to worry about in PA. Distribution of permits is handled by your local county Sheriffs department (except in Philadelphia since it is a "City of the 1st Class", permits are distributed by the Philadelphia Police Department) while enforcement of firearms laws in PA fall to the State Police, while the Attorney General mostly handles reciprocity.

Overall, we're a pretty 2A friendly state. As long as it's not a full auto weapon in state ranges, and no shooting within your city limits if the local laws frown upon it, you're pretty much good to go. You can apply for a non-resident permit in Maryland, Washington, and Massachusetts to broaden your carry range. No carry in New York, New Jersey, or Ohio. But feel free to run down to West Virginia or Virginia all you want to either purchase, sell or carry weapons. Not sure if there's a waiting period in Virginia, but i know West Virginia was like buying a gun locally here in Pittsburgh.

For more info
Washington County Sheriff Firearms Division
Allegheny County Sheriff Firearms Division
PA State Police Firearms FAQ's
PA Attorney General Firearms Reciprocity

 

[ajaxakita]

Thank you for the advice! It was very detailed and helpful. I grew up in PGH but now live down by the Meadows casino and ACE sporting goods!!

 

[Montkun]

Thank you for the advice! It was very detailed and helpful. I grew up in PGH but now live down by the Meadows casino and ACE sporting goods!!

I haven't been in ACE in a long time, almost stopped in after my last Cabela's trip though just to see what was around. I think I'm gonna have to get down that way sometime soon to browse the inventory. I also love that the Walmart down there kept their long guns, they took them all out of the Pittsburgh ones because they consider them 'urban' stores. But luckily, they're coming back soon.

 

[Montkun]

1. No Castle Doctrine as of yet, but it is on the House floor for review. So no shooting bad guys unless you feel threatened, and if you shoot them in the back you're in the wrong.

I need to make an amendment to this post, apparently Castle Doctrine was approved here in PA and not much was reported on it last August. So that's a welcomed win for gun owners here in PA. It covers the use of deadly force in/on your property against an intruder and in public if your life or others are threatened.