Buyer Beware: Taking CCW training early may not qualify you
In the hours since HB12 became law, OFCC has literally been overrun by requests from persons interested in receiving training, so that they may apply for a license the first day the applications hit their county sheriff's office.
After years of being forced by law to be defenseless, we certainly understand the enthusiasm. But there are many unanswered questions in terms of what current training will be able to serve as acceptable in terms of qualification. Both the Ohio Attorney General and Ohio Peace Officer Training Council, working with the Buckeye State Sheriff's Association, have some serious work to do to pave the way for trainers to have the right information and resources in place to comply with the new law.
Until they act, please keep the phrase "buyer beware" in mind when considering any advertisement of "Ohio CCW training".
Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.
Would-be applicants and certified trainers aren't the only ones asking questions
Clermont County Sheriff A.J. "Tim" Rodenberg Jr. spent most of Friday studying the new law. He said there is a lot to worry about.
"There are a lot of little twists and turns in there that can really trip people up," Rodenberg said. "And not just citizens - governmental agencies, too. The first few months are going to be real interesting. We're going to have our hands full, and we're going to have to circle the wagons and be ready for it."
In Hamilton County, sheriff's spokesman Steve Barnett sent out an advisory asking that the public not call because there are too many unresolved issues.
Sandusky Co. Sheriff David Gangwer said there's "no sense" in contacting the sheriff's office at this point with the law having just been passed.
"We're just telling the people who call that they have to wait," he said. "There's nothing we can do right now. We'll notify them through the news media when we'll start accepting applications. Nothing's going to be done here until the 90-day period is up."
The law is expected to take effect April 7. Applicants can apply for their permits from the sheriff in their own county or an adjacent county. Once they apply, the sheriff's office will conduct background checks to determine if a permit will be issued.
Before the background checks can be processed, the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation has to build a database of those declared mentally incompetent by Ohio courts so the information is available for sheriffs deciding whether to grant concealed weapons permits.
Another stipulation for those receiving permits is that they complete a state-required training class created by the Ohio Police Officers Training Council, something that could slow the implementation of the law even more.
"The training criteria isn't even required to be set until after the bill takes effect," said Ottawa County Sheriff Craig Emahiser. "This could take even longer than (people) think to go into place. We're just kind of waiting for this whole thing to shake out."
Buckeye State Sheriffs' Association much more positive about implentation procedures
"The process is not going to as cumbersome as many think," Bob Cornwell, executive director of the Buckeye State Sheriffs' Association, said Friday. "The Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission will develop the application and the permit and make them available to sheriffs' offices."
The concealed-carry law, signed Thursday by Gov. Bob Taft, will be in effect April 7, but processing won't begin until April 10, Cornwell said. It applies to handguns only.
Cornwell estimated permit processing will take roughly 20 to 25 business days, but that in reality, the wait may only be a few days depending on the volume of applications.
Those interested in obtaining a permit must first complete a 12-hour firearm safety and shooting course approved by either the National Rifle Association or the peace officer training commission, Cornwell said. Proof of the training is required before being handed an application, he said.
Permits will cost $45, and the money will be used to pay sheriffs' costs in processing applications, Cornwell said.
Permits must be renewed every four years for $25, Cornwell said.
Applicants will be fingerprinted. Cornwell said fingerprints will be sent to the state Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, which will run them through a nationwide database.
Sheriffs will do the local background checks, Cornwell said.
Cornwell said those convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor crime of violence, such as domestic violence, are prohibited from obtaining a permit. Also excluded are those judged mentally incompetent by a probate court.
Completed applications must be accompanied by a recent color photograph, Cornwell said.
Cornwell also said applicants will be allowed to apply for a concealed-weapon permit from the sheriff in the county where they live or an adjacent county.
From OFCC's newly updated Frequently Asked Questions:
· I took an NRA class before the bill passed. Will it qualify?
While every situation is different the answer is probably not. First, your certificate of completion can not be more than THREE YEARS old. Secondly, if your class did not cover the specific items listed above at the minimum, including ten hours of instruction and two hours of range time, it can not meet the mandated requirements. See lines 1429 through 1448 and lines 1634 through 1699 of the final legislation (PDF on our website) and compare the requirements to your specific training. Consult your instructor if possible.
· I'd like to take a class right now. Will XYZ's class qualify me?
You must approach these scenarios with extreme caution and the understanding that nobody can guarantee you that a Sheriff will accept training classes conducted now. It is important to make sure that you specifically review the course material and the certifications that the instructors will provide you, and compare it yourself to the line numbers of the legislation referenced above. Make sure you are confident that the class you are being taught meets the requirements or exceeds them. Make sure your instructor intends to give you a pamphlet when they get them. Ask your instructor or source of education what they will do if your Sheriff refuses to accept their certification and insists that you re-take the class after the pamphlets are available and after the effective date of the legislation. Are refunds available and guaranteed in writing? Buyer Beware!
Ohio CCW Training Options -- An Open Letter.
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