Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 4, 1995 TAG: 9507050028
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Those who teach gun safety are expecting big turnouts for their courses in the next few months.
Starting this month, those itching to carry a concealed weapon supposedly will find it easier to get a permit, thanks to a new law.
But the new permit application process is no cakewalk. There are still many steps in the process - applying, getting fingerprinted, undergoing a criminal history check and demonstrating you know which end of the gun should be pointed at the target.
Two weeks ago, this newspaper ran a rather long report on the new law.
I was still basking in compliments commending the report last week when John Q. Public quickly brought me down to earth.
A man came into the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office to ask about when and where he could pick up a new application. He then wanted to know what "proficient with a handgun" meant because "the paper wasn't too clear about that."
My shoulders sagged, but then I promptly got my chin up, introduced myself and explained the definitions were in the application packet and that there wasn't enough room in our news pages that day to spell out each element of the new law.
Demonstrating proficiency means that you can show the judge you know your way around a weapon, I told him.
The application packet lists eight ways you can do that:
Complete a hunter education or hunter safety course approved by a state agency.
Complete a National Rifle Association firearms safety or training course.
Complete a firearms safety or training class offered by a law enforcement agency, college, private or public institution or organization, or firearms training school using instructors certified by the NRA or the Department of Criminal Justice Services.
Complete a law enforcement safety or training course offered for security guards, investigators, special deputies or any division of law enforcement or security enforcement.
Show equivalent experience with a firearm through participation in organized shooting competition or military service.
Show that you have previously had a license to carry a firearm in Virginia, unless it has been revoked.
Complete a firearms training or safety class taught by a state-certified or NRA-certified instructor.
Complete any other firearms training which the judge deems adequate.
A photocopy of the certificate issued after completing the training or an affadavit from the instructor constitutes evidence of qualification.
While the new law went into effect Saturday, most court clerks suggested people wait until this week to pick up forms and start the process. That's because the new forms didn't come in until last week and, with some localities giving workers an extended July 4 holiday, no paperwork would begin until Wednesday.
J.D. Harman, Radford's circuit court clerk, got the new forms last Tuesday morning, along with a computer disk with a program to print out permits that people must carry along with their concealed weapon.
Harman said he doesn't expect a rush on applications: Radford issued nine permits in 1994 and six through mid-June.
Just in case, though, Harman headed to his computer to get acquainted with the new software.
"I'm going to get set up for it in case we get a little rush here," he said.
Kathy Loan covers New River Valley police and courts for The Roanoke Times.
by CNB