I've been thinking that I should see about getting a CCW. I don't know that I really feel the need to carry a weapon much of the time, however, I can think of some times that I would want to have one. I also don't know that I'd be able to use it in all but the worst-case kind of scenario, although I suppose that is a matter of training and alertness. I started looking at reports from the State Police on CCW statistics. It's some interesting stuff. It amazes me the number of people who mix alcohol and firearms -- just stupid. Granted, I have been quite a drinker, and have at times had firearms out of their storage location(in my house, though) when engaging in drinking, but to do something like that in public, especially knowing what all it could cost you... jeez, it's simple, carrying gun, don't drink. Want to drink? Don't carry gun.
I am heartened, though, by some of the statistics on the crimes that CCW holders were involved in. Aside from things mainly involving alcohol, there really aren't that many violations(and this is mainly all legal issues, and they are reported whether or not the CCW holder was carrying at that time.)
Drawbacks
There's some things I don't like about the CCW, though. For instance, the finger-printing to get it... that seems kind of... wrong. I guess I could deal with it, since really, I'd pretty much have to.
Also, the CCW is similar to a driver's license in Michigan, meaning that holding one is 'implied consent' to a breath, blood, or urine test if a law officer wants you to do so. I really don't like things like that.
Advantages
Get to carry a weapon! oh boy, oh boy... I really don't think I would carry all that often, actually. Well, probably quite a bit just to be used to it, but not a whole lot otherwise. The really nice thing, is that it would mean I could have loaded magazines in the car when going to the range. This isn't a major thing, and it's unlikely that it would ever come up, but if a police officer really wanted to nail me on that, I've mistakenly carried loaded magazines in my car before (not loaded weapons, and the magazine was stored with the rest of ammo.)
Buy permit! One of the other really great things about it is that it acts as a 'Buy' permit for handguns, meaning that I could walk into the store, pick out a pistol, buy it then and there, and then just have to take it to the police station for registering. That could be quite nice. Also has a lot of potential to increase the rate of pistol acquiring. That could be a bad thing for the wallet, but hey:)
When and Where?
I'm interested in differences in how the counties handle it, which the statistics from the state police seem to show to be small. Also, I wonder how they handle moving to a different county? I would guess it wouldn't affect it at all, being a state-wide thing. Kalamazoo and Wayne don't seem to be a lot different in percentages they issue, Kalamazoo is at .9% denied, Wayne at 1.8% -- still not a huge number. I'm quite amazed at the number of people with felonies that apply for a CCW, though.
Eh, I guess I'll have to think about it a bit more. I'm also not entirely sure I have the disposable income to drop on the class right now. Not that it's that expensive, and it would probably be quite a bit of fun, but hey... I should pay off some other things first.
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