Conceal Carry for Alcoholics

D

deerhunter

New member
I am in the process of filling out my conceal carry application for Durham County, North Carolina. As part of the application process, I have to release my medical records.

I am an alcoholic who has been in recovery for 5 years. When I was 18, I spent the night at Duke University hospital for alcohol poisioning. I also see doctors to get antidepressants at Duke University.

That all sounds pretty bad, but I am about as normal a guy as it gets. Anyway, does anyone have any experience getting a conceal carry permit, despite having these occurances in my life? There is no "explain yourself" place on the application.

Is alcoholism a condition that prevents you from getting a license?

Let me know. Thanks!
 
Well it's different in every state and I don't know what it is in NC. But I can tell you that that the Utah non-resident permit I applied for mentioned there can be no alcohol offenses going 6 years back. I have more than one DUI but the last one was over 15 years ago so I'm good there.

Obviously alcohol, drugs, and guns do NOT mix. I hope you're 100 percent clean and sober if you want to carry. I haven't touched a drop of alcohol in 15 years and plan on keeping it that way for life.
 
Deer Hunter is not saying that he committed a criminal offense because of his prior alcoholism, he is saying that he had an addiction to alcohol and got help. He wants to know if we believe some jackass will use that information as a weapon against him.
 
kn1080 said:
Deer Hunter is not saying that he committed a criminal offense because of his prior alcoholism, ...
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I know that. It doesn't change my response.

He wants to know if we believe some jackass will use that information as a weapon against him.[
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Where does he say that? He's asking if his problems with alcohol can keep him from getting a permit. How can "some jackass" have any effect on that? What matters is the law in his state.
 
Deerhunter, call your licensing authority and ask them. That might save you some trouble, or at least prepare you when they see your medical recods.
 
I'm actually surprised that they will want to see any medical records, unless there mental health related and you've been diagnosed as down right crazy, Schizo, suicidal, involuntarily committed to a psych ward, etc.

Guess we have it good here in Kentucky. We don't have questions that delve into your health records. But, you can't have a DUI that is less than three years old at the time of conviction. I believe it's the same with the 4473 check, If you've had 2 DUI's within a 3 year period you are a "do not proceed" with the purchase of the firearm until you've been without a DUI conviction for 3 years from the date of the last conviction.

Hell, I'd just call your local Sheriff and ask him if it's going to give you any problems. An an attorney as mentioned above in other posts.

Just sayin.

Deerhunter,

Good job on staying clean and sober for 5 years. Your actually, in reality, the best person for a CCW. I'm betting an awful lot of CCW holders are daily drinkers and functioning alcoholics. They just haven't had any legal problems, yet.
 
cardinalfan said:
I would think (based on the MO application) that the anti-depressants would kick you out. Let alone the alcohol issue.
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This is where I start to get my blood boiling.

Anti depressents can be taken for many reasons. They are not narcotics, they are not scheduled drugs and no one wants them on the steet like Vicodin or Percocet.

If the state is making an assumption that anyone being prescribed an anti depressant then it's far too objective and not at all subjective to the patients need for that particular drug. Maybe the patient just needs it for sleep, which some anti depressants are known to be prescribed for.

I'd rather have the CCW holder on his meds, then off his or her meds. It doesn't mean anyone is crazy just because they are prescribed a particular medication.
 
Deer hunter, congratulations on your sobriety. You stated they will see your medical records. Is that a north Carolina specific request from the licensing authority?
You may wish to include a letter from your primary physician, stating he see's no physical indication of alcohol, or drug use. Or, a chemical dependency assessment.

Good luck.
 
In NC, the only mental health records they check is the city/county (public) mental health facilities. And in many city/counties, the mental health facilities refuse to release the records.

So unless you have used the services a local public mental health facility in connection with your alcoholism, there will be no problem with your CC permit.

And even they sent an inquiry to Duke, I believe it extremely unlikely that Duke would release any records.
 
billwot said:
In NC, the only mental health records they check is the city/county (public) mental health facilities. And in many city/counties, the mental health facilities refuse to release the records.

So unless you have used the services a local public mental health facility in connection with your alcoholism, there will be no problem with your CC permit.

And even they sent an inquiry to Duke, I believe it extremely unlikely that Duke would release any records.
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When asked about your mental health or chemical dependency issues please remember the phrase "I dont recall" when asked where you may have been treated.
 
I agree with ropeadope,
Just because you take perscribed medicine doesnt mean your nuts nor should it dis quailify you from an CCW Good luck Deerhunter and, Congrads on beiing sober and beating it sounds like you got you stuff together
 
Thanks guys!

I put my application in yesterday, so we will see how it goes.

Lots of people in my local AA have concealed carry permits. I do not know that any of them have looked for help outside AA or not. If they have not, then it would obviously not show up on any paper work.

Part of the application process in Durham County is that you have to sign a form requesting the medical record release from the local state hospitals as well as Duke. Since my doctor is part of the Duke medical system, I am pretty sure that my anti-depressants will show up.

I am in complete agreement (obviously) that a Prozac perscription shouldn't disqualify you from having a CCW permit. I think the majority of people would be pretty suprised if they saw how many people take anti-depressants to help them lead a more fulfilled life.

Anyway, I was speaking with one of my friends in AA about this. Evidently he got arrested in SC for a charge that SC considers a misdomeaner, but NC considers a felony (or something like that, maybe the opposite). He got denied for his CCW permit, but was able to meet face to face with the sherrif and get it sorted out. If I am denied, I hope that the sherrif will give me a minute of his time as well.

I will let you guys know! I applied on April 1, so I should hear back by July 1.

Thanks so much for your comments and your support!
 
deerhunter said:
Part of the application process in Durham County is that you have to sign a form requesting the medical record release from the local state hospitals as well as Duke. Since my doctor is part of the Duke medical system, I am pretty sure that my anti-depressants will show up.
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Again, I will be very surprised if Duke actually releases any information. Keep us advised of the outcome.

My ex-wife was a drug/alcohol counselor when i lived in Ohio. One of the questions on the application for an Ohio driver's license asked if you were an "alcoholic". Since you are still considered an alcoholic no matter how many years you have been sober, she knew several people that had answered teh question honestly, in spite of years of sobriety, and were denied Ohio Driver's licenses.
 
The only records they hsve poll is county dept. of health records. Unless you TELL THEM that you were in a program somewhere, they don't know where to go look. It's not like they are gonna inquire at every hospital and clinic in the state. Obama hasn't established a national medical database...YET.
 
billwot said:
Again, I will be very surprised if Duke actually releases any information. Keep us advised of the outcome.

My ex-wife was a drug/alcohol counselor when i lived in Ohio. One of the questions on the application for an Ohio driver's license asked if you were an "alcoholic". Since you are still considered an alcoholic no matter how many years you have been sober, she knew several people that had answered teh question honestly, in spite of years of sobriety, and were denied Ohio Driver's licenses.
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I agree with Bill on the medical information release issue. More specifically, psychiatric or chemical dependency information. More and more medical institutions are not releasing psych records unless your Release of Information specifically says psychiatric or chemical dependency records by you. I too would be surprised if they released them by default.
 
deerhunter said:
I am an alcoholic who has been in recovery for 5 years. When I was 18, I spent the night at Duke University hospital for alcohol poisioning. I also see doctors to get antidepressants at Duke University.

Is alcoholism a condition that prevents you from getting a license?

Let me know. Thanks!
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I MI I think that would prevent you from gettintg one.

Yes.
 
New Mexico

In New Mexico, no one addicted to alcohol or drugs is permitted a license but I don't know if they check. It may just be on the "honor system" to divulge.
 
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