Thoughts on CCW? Should a constitutional right be licensed?

Vanity | 8/16/10 | Me

[Pessimist]

My wife and I passed our CCW certification yesterday.

While I'm happy we at least have the "right" to CCW in Ohio, I have trouble swallowing the whole process. Is there another constitutional right which can only be excercised after training and fees?

Several people in our class were poor and lived in bad neighborhoods. They needed the protection much more so than we do.

What if their neighbors can't afford $100+ for a class, and $67 for a permit? No rights for them?

Frankly, I find it outrageous.

And I'm torn. While I support the NRA in general, I think it's an unholy alliance between them and the gvt in that they mandate that you take a 12 hour class by an NRA certified instructor.

No self interest there, huh?

[Yo-Yo]

[roaddog727]

Down here in FL, if you are a Veteran or a LEO, you don’t need to take the course. Just pay the CCW license fee. IT’s a bit pricey, but well worth it.

[Vaquero]

although I have a CCW....but I do not believe we should need one.

It is our 2nd amendment right to carry...I consider these CCW laws a stopgap to be utilized before we finally get our constitutional rights back.....

...I keep my mouth shut about my opinions on the subject when talking to the issuing officer....

[andy58-in-nh]

Here in NH, the process goes like this: fill out application to your town’s police chief. Pay $10-15 fee for a 5-year license. That’s it. Training is your responsibility.

[massgopguy]

Here in MA the process goes like this: move to NH......

[PGalt]

Should the right to YOUR life (birth certificate notwithstanding), and the necessary corollary to defend that right be licensed?

Should the right to armed resistance against any totalitarian government be licensed?

[andy58-in-nh]

Here in MA the process goes like this: move to NH......

That's what I did. ;-)

[pnh102]

Should a person be required to undergo training and pay licensing fees to ejoy a consitutional right?

Absolutely not. The words "shall not be infringed" make that clear.

[Little Ray]

I support “Vermont-style” carry. Open, concealed, no licensing.

[Gilbo_3]

I did a rant on this last week...I'll let the sages chime in on the need to be 'law' abiding, while living in 'the world'...

gotsta be in the fight to win the fight...

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"Should a person be required to undergo training and pay licensing fees to ejoy a consitutional right?"

Short answer, no. But we have to learn to fight like the statists. Our constitutional rights were taken away a little bit at a time. We will only get them back a little bit at a time. You win a battle which will ultimately lead to you winning the war.

[smokingfrog]

Technically no, but I think it does encourage responsible gun ownership. I agree that the fees are excessive.

[Gilbo_3]

...I keep my mouth shut about my opinions on the subject when talking to the issuing officer....

i tried, but upon explanation that 'for the low, low price of $145, i can have 2A 'Rights' for a whole 5 yrs'...my sarc got the best of me...hopefully I wont have that problem when i am allowed to go back for the application...

[rickomatic]

Here in NH, the process goes like this: fill out application to your town’s police chief. Pay $10-15 fee for a 5-year license. That’s it. Training is your responsibility.

Very similar here in leftist WA state, believe it or not. Although our fee is up to I think $35. While I'd rather not have to do even that, since I can open carry without a license, I can practice my 2nd Amendment right without one in that manner if I choose. The only problem with that is dealing with the occasional knucklehead subject or leo.

[calex59]

Nope, there is nothing in the constitution that says the government has the right to license your 2nd amendment rights or any of the other 9 amendments either.

However, we opened the door to this crap when we allowed cities to require permits to gather and speak in public places, which is also unconstitutional, IMO, and used mainly for the revenue but occasionally to stifle some people's first amendment rights.

[Elderberry]

I know that ammo is expensive and sometimes unavailable.
But I wish there was a way to encourage continuing firearms practice. How many people take the mandatory training and then that is the only time they fire their weapon?

[Dead Corpse]

L. Neil still put it best...

Every man, woman, and responsible child has an unalienable individual, civil, Constitutional, and human right to obtain, own, and carry, openly or concealed, any weapon -- rifle, shotgun, handgun, machinegun, anything -- any time, any place, without asking anyone's permission. - L. Neil Smith. The Atlanta Declaration

[stuartcr]

I agree. Virginia has an open-carry law, but I believe it should be CC without a permit.

[antiRepublicrat]

Should a person be required to undergo training and pay licensing fees to ejoy a consitutional right?

Concealed carry is not necessarily a defined constitutional rights. Back then it was not considered normal. For example, the North Carolina constitution, while echoing the right to keep and bear arms, specifically excludes concealed carry. It is any restriction of open carry effectively constituting a poll tax that we should be worried about from a constititutional standpoint.