Changes to Missouri and Iowa CCW Permit laws

Bad news (it could be worse) for Missouri and very good news for Iowa.  For Missouri no changes from our present way of doing things.  Three bills this year were introduced in the Missouri Legislature concerning extending our permit from 3 years to 5 years and lowering our age for CCW Permit qualification from age 23 to 21.  These simple changes would have put us in line with other states protocols.  There were also some other positive requests to expand our Castle Doctrine Law.  While legislative support seemed to be enthusiastic, when all was said and done,  none of the bills made it out of the committee session for a legislative vote.  Kudos to the Western Missouri Shooters Alliance (WMSA) and others for their efforts this year.  Please go by their web site for more information at: www.wmsa.net  

Good News for Iowans (and those of us that like to visit Iowa)!  A long fought for "Shall Issue" system for Iowa was recently signed into law.  For many years Iowans wanting to carry a fire arm for self defense had to endure a blatantly discriminitory "May Issue" system.  The extra good news is Iowa will allow  reciprocity for Missouri CCW permit holders.  Caution:   The law doesn't go into effect until Jan. 1, 2011.  

For more information on the Iowa CCW permit process please go by the nice folks at Iowa Concealed Carry at   www.iowacarry.org  To read a copy of Iowa's new Shall Issue law google Iowa SF-2379.

If any one has more information on the recent CCW events in Missouri and Iowa please leave a comment. Thanks!

Update on Jackson County MO Sheriff's Office CCW Permits and Drivers Lic. Info.

As I've mentioned in class always check the web site of the Sheriff's Office of your county of residence for the specific times they will accept CCW training affidavits (applications) and renewals.  Some counties only accept the applications one or two days of the week.

Jackson County will accept new applications Monday through Friday.  Feed back I have recently received indicates the currant wait time for CCW back ground approvals is 30-40 days.  Since the first of the year the Jackson County Sheriffs Office has been averaging 15+ applications a day.  Busy times are early mornings and noon time.  Sometimes the wait can be up to 1 1/2 hours to get to the brief 15 minute finger printing procedure.

Take a book and be prepared to wait if you go in during the above times.  What I would suggest for the initial application is go in on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday around 10:00 am or 2:00 pm.  These days and times seem to be past the peak periods.  One student I spoke with said he went in mid morning/mid week and only had to wait in the lobby about 15 minutes.

The vast majority of feed back I have received is the Sheriff's staff has been very  friendly and good to work with.  The only negative feed back I've heard was one of the staff got a little snappy while trying to get every one through in the order they came in and the lobby was packed with CCW applicants. It was standing room only. Apparently some one got a little rude because they had to wait and that set the tone for the rest of the morning.

If you haven't been there yet the Jackson County Sheriffs Office lobby is the size of a large walk in closet.  Put a smile on your face, maybe bring some cookies to share,  and have some patience.  In defense of the staff; they are human and under funded and many times under appreciated.  I think they have about 2.5 staff dedicated full time to the CCW permit program and they could probably use another two people and double the space.

The following info is applicable state wide.  If something changes on your Missouri drivers license, like a name change or your home address,  you must respond to the Sheriff's Office of your county of residence within 30 days and make the change per your CCW permit. Then respond to the closest  Drivers License Bureau and make the change on your drivers license record.  Show the Drivers License clerk the CCW change of information form the Sheriff's just gave you.  All of this is simple to do and very quick.  Remember when making any change to your drivers license record your must show proof of citizenship such as a certified copy of your birth certificate or a US Passport (expired is OK).

If you don't change the information in 30 days with the Sheriff's Office your CCW permit is void.  If a CCW permit holder is blissfully carrying concealed with an invalid permit, and gets caught,  that is a Class D Felony!  

Never carry if your permit is expired.  If your permit is expired simply respond to the Sheriff's Office and have it renewed (renewals are done while you are standing there and you will fork over a $50 renewal fee.)  There is a small money penalty for letting your CCW permit expire.  Be aware that if your permit is expired after 6 months you must complete the whole back ground check, waiting period, and pay the $100. back ground check all over again.  

If you have a question on this process email me via the web site at www.SafeShoot.com  

Take Care and Stay Safe out there...........

Senior Citizens, Hand Guns and Self Defense

It is not an unusual occurrence to have people come through my CCW classes that are in their 70's.  My oldest student was an 83 year old great grandmother and retired banker.  She first took a Basic Pistol class (a good idea for some one with little or no hand gun experience) and later for the CCW class did fine on the range and written test.  She decided not to apply for the CCW permit because as she put it, "I don't get out much". Plus the $100. fee for the Sheriff's Background check is expensive on a small fixed income.

There are many advantages a senior citizen has to offer from a self defense stand point.  These advantages are: maturity with decision making based on decades of life experiences, most of the men have military experience and the discipline structure has stayed with them, calmness under stress, determination, and perseverance. They made it this far in life haven't they?

Some disadvantages of age are the degradation of some physical capabilities, slowed reaction time, sometimes hearing and sight problems, and arthritis. Concerning slowed reaction time and decreased physical capabilities many issues can be resolved by simple exercises, walking, and getting physically active. Bad knees and hips can make moving in a defensive manner difficult.

Avoidance and the ability to retreat quickly is always the best option in a gun fight.  Exercise like the life of your spouse, the grand kids, and your life depend on it.  Because one day they might.

I have found that working with people of a mature age arthritis has been the biggest challenge towards manipulating a hand gun and it's controls.  Arthritis in the hands makes it difficult to bend the fingers to get a good grip or pull the trigger back.  Find a good fire arms instructor  that will teach at your pace and can guide to to the type of pistol that is best for your abilities. A firearms instructor with gray hair is a good person to start with.

If you have joint or muscle issues meet with a physical therapist or trainer at a local gym.  If a trainer or therapist is not supportive of  your right to self defense or owning a hand gun tell him or her you are getting ready to play on a .38 caliber baseball team.  A fire arms instructor will tell you one grips the pistol like a base ball bat.  You don't have to tell anyone what the "bat" looks like and the team you are joining is the Sheep Dog's team.  Anyone that has been through a CCW class can tell you what the role of a "Sheep Dog" is.

 An experienced and competent firearms instructor will also be honest with you if your physical capabilities  can safely operate a hand gun. Capabilities that also includes one's mental and emotional state.   What is needed are people of all ages who can safely operate a hand gun appropriate to their capabilities coupled with good decision making abilities.  If there is any doubt, one should consider a non lethal defensive tool such as Pepper Spray.

Self defense skills, including the use of a firearm can be taught to a variety of ages and physical capabilities.    People disabled from birth with one functioning arm and confined to a wheel chair have been taught to effectively defend them selves with a fire arm.  A competent fire arms instructor will be honest & gentle but absolutely honest with you.  Self defense with a hand gun isn't for everyone.

Here is a story of a 71 year old hero and his encounter with two armed thugs.  The story was originally reported in the  South Florida Sun Sentinel ^ | 6/29/2007. 

Plantation, Florida: Last week police were called to investigate an attempted armed robbery: The 71-year-old retired Marine who opened fire on two robbers at a Plantation, Florida, Subway shop late Wednesday, killing one and critically wounding the other, is described as John Lovell, a former helicopter pilot for two presidents. He doesn't drink, he doesn't smoke, and he works out every day. Mr.. Lovell was a man of action Wednesday night.

According to Plantation police, two masked gunmen came into the Subway at 1949 N. Pine Rd. just after 11 p.m. There was a lone diner, Mr. Lovell, who was finishing his meal. After robbing the cashier, the two men attempted to shove Mr. Lovell into a bathroom and rob him as well. They got his money, but then Mr. Lovell pulled his handgun and opened fire. He shot one of the thieves in the head and chest and the other in the head.

When police arrived, they found one of the men in the shop, K-9 Units found the other in the bushes of a nearby business. They also found cash strewn around the front of the sandwich shop according to Detective Robert Rettig of the Plantation Police Department..

Both men were taken to the Broward General Medical Center , where one, Donicio Arrindell, 22, of North Lauderdale died. The other, 21-year-old Frederick Gadson of Fort Lauderdale is in critical but stable condition.

A longtime friend of Lovell was not surprised to hear what happened. The friend said, ''He'd give you the shirt off his back, but he'd be mad as hell if someone tried to take the shirt off his back.''

Mr. Lovell was a pilot in the Marine Corps, flying former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. He later worked as a pilot for Pan Am and Delta Airlines.

He is not expected to be charged authorities said. ''He was in fear for his life,'' Detective Rettig said, "These criminals ought to realize that most men in their 70's have military backgrounds and aren't intimidated by idiots."  Florida law allows eligible citizens to carry a concealed weapon.

Self Defense Fire Arm Reading List

There are dozens of books out there that deal with the safe operation of fire arms, tactics and self defense, and scenarios. Here are several that I recommend as an initial reading list for my basic CCW students. With one exception all can be had from Amazon.com If you have a favorite please include it in a comment. Please include your self in the follower area of the blog so you will automatically receive new blog information as it comes out every few days or so. Here is my list:

Guns, Bullets, and Gunfights
Jim Cirillo 1996

The late Jim Cirillo was a retired NYPD detective and was involved in many gun fights as a result of being assigned to the Armed Robbery Detail for many years and staking out convenience stores in high crime areas of New York City. His account of what an actual defensive gun fight is like and how to prepare for that event is good information to have. He has a chapter or two on reloading, which unless you are into that, you can skip. The rest of the information is very valuable to anyone carrying a defensive concealed fire arm.

In the Gravest Extreme
Massad Ayoob 1980

The author is a police officer and attorney with over 30 years of law enforcement experience. In the book he talks about mind set, preparation, decision making, situational awareness and avoidance of a gun fight. He has a number of books in print and all are excellent and easy to read. This is good information to start off with.

On Killing
Lt. Col. Dave Grossman (Ret US Army) 1995

Col. Grossman is a Psychologist and is considered an expert in the emotional process of using deadly force by a rational normal human being (just like you and I). He also talks about Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. I would also recommend his companion book "On Combat". The book is written in an academic format but for the most part understandable for the average reader. This is a good resource for a college student doing research on any use of force issues; and a recommended read for anyone carrying a self defense fire arm.

Missouri Weapons and Self Defense Law
Kevin Jamison 2003

A required reading for anyone acquiring a Missouri CCW permit. It is a good read for anyone in the USA who is carrying a fire arm for self defense. The author discusses at great length use of force decision making and backs his points up with real life situations he has run into in his 35+ years as a Criminal Defense Attorney. While the title may suggest a dry read the book is filled with personal quips and the author's own brand of dry humor. The author was also a US Army Special Forces soldier in Vietnam.

The book is available at most gun shops in the Kansas City area, at my class room, or from the author at KLJamisonLaw@earthlink.net

Thank God I had a Gun
Chris Bird 2007

The book from beginning to end deals with actual citizen self defense situations with a critique of each one. If you are new to carrying defensive firearms and, especially if you have a significant other who is doubtful about self defense situations, this book is also a "must read".

Terror at Beslan
John Giduck 2005

The author is a retired US Army Special Forces member with a depth of knowledge (and contacts) with the Russian Special Forces. The author was able to get into the public school in Beslan, South Ossetia, Russia a week after religious terrorists took over the school and initially held over 1,000 hostages. When the final battle took place four days later 600 hostages remained. 300 hostages were killed, executed by the fanatics, before the Russian Special Forces were able to take control. Of the 300 people murdered in the last battle 179 were small children. This is a book that goes into great detail about how a terrorist is turned into a merciless psychotic. Can this happen in America? Professionally written and researched this is a must read for anyone who wants to learn more about the terrorist mindset.

It was a Dark and Stormy Night.........

While corny I always laughed at the way Snoopy began his oft started but never completed novel. Like many people Snoopy was blissfully unaware of the world around him except when it came to supper time.

From my days in Law Enforcement I know that when the economy goes down crime goes up. Another factor in todays crime rate is the break down of the family and too many parents letting video games and TV provide the moral structure for their children. That coupled to a lack of positive role modeling over the years by one or both parents is a recipe for social disaster. I think we are reaping the harvest now.

One example of a poor role model occurred when I made a traffic stop one day on a speeder. He had his really cute 6 year old son seat belted properly in the back seat. As I was talking to the Dad the little boy loudly offered up some graphic explicative's as to my manhood and sat in the back seat with both middle digits in the air. Had he a third hand that middle finger would have been raised also.

The Dad was horrified, very embarrassed, and admonished the child. The little boy quickly replied to his Father, "But that's what you always call the cops!" I had a feeling when that parent's child reached his teen years the parents would have further opportunities to be horrified and embarrassed. By then it will be too late to do much about it.

The first of two goals for this blog is to simply motivate people from all walks of life to think about and acquire safe personal habits when it comes to possible assailants or crime happening near them. Many people are acquiring a new found appreciation for the role of fire arms in our society. Owning a fire arm also requires a sense of responsibility towards the safe use and storage of fire arms.

The second goal is to have an open discussion around the issues of lawfully carrying concealed weapons especially as it applies to the Kansas City metro area.

I will try and get some statistics from the Jackson County Sheriff as to the number of CCW permits issued in Jackson County Missouri, the number of people turned away and common reasons for denial of a CCW permit. Hopefully this will provide positive feed back to the many CCW permit holders in the area and the Sheriff's Office alike. And on that subject I have heard positive things this last year about the customer service improvements at the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.

I will pass along to you books or other publications that I have found helpful towards self defense of our selves and our families. These are publications and web sites I share with my CCW and Advanced CCW students in my classes. Go by www.SafeShoot.com for more information on my offerings.

As appropriate I will have some comments about recent or national crime events and incidents involving citizens using firearms in self defense situations. One issue I will be commenting on in the near future is the role of parents educating their children in the safe use of fire arms and why is this subject not addressed in our school districts?

Most comments and suggestions on either side of an issue are encouraged and welcome. Those comments not welcome are ones including profanity, racial, gender, or religious slurs, personal attacks, or comments about political affiliation. If my 12 year old son reads a post and says, "Dad what does that word mean?" the post will probably be deleted.