Florida Non-Resident Permits A Poor Choice...
Wayned...
You may state you went for the Florida permit because it was slightly less expensive, and for a longer period, but did your training consist of extensive examination of Louisiana law pertaining to carrying concealed, and Use of Deadly Force under Louisiana law?
The Louisiana State Police have designed an excellent course, which taught properly, well educates the applicant on what is permissible pertaining to concealed carry in Louisiana, and what is not.
It is my understanding the state of Florida will NOT recognize non-resident permits from any other state, but issues theirs to anyone who offers a certificate from a course where they fired a gun. Yet we here in Louisiana recognize non-resident permits from Florida and other states.
I understand the permitting division that issues these Florida permits accepts a Louisiana Hunter Safety Course certificate as sufficient training to be given a Florida Non-Resident Permit--the purpose being to allow non-residents to carry in the state of Florida.
My information comes from conversations with the head of the Concealed Handgun Permit Section of the LSP, and reading Florida's requirements.
As manager of the Baker Range (in Baker, La) I have hosted a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Hunter Education Course where over 30 youths and young adults were certified to receive a Louisiana Hunter Safety Certificate. These young people only had to fire a .22 rifle three (3) times in the course of the class to receive the certificate. Three shots with .22 rifle! Does that qualify them to carry a concealed handgun?
I'm sorry, but I cannot sympathize with anyone who purposefully has subverted our Louisiana laws to get a concealed carry permit the easy way. You have not received the training or education required by our state police to carry concealed in the state of Louisiana.
The LSP have designed an excellent course, and once completed, the applicants are reasonably educated in the statutes pertaining to concealed carry in our state, have had extensive lectures on use of deadly force, and have received at least a modicum of training on proper and safe handling and firing a handgun.
I've heard too many stories of so-called instructors giving people a two or three hour course, issuing them a certificate, and advising them to apply for a Florida non-resident permit. I think this subverts the law, gives money that should be spent in our state to Florida, and puts ill-educated and poorly trained individuals on the street carrying concealed.
If they screw up because they were not properly educated due to the lax requirements of Florida, their actions will reflect poorly on every concealed handgun permit holder in the state--and none of us want that.
Gordon Hutchinson
www.gordonhutchinson.com
