[soberbyker]

http://delcotimes.com/articles/2013/01/3...=fullstory

By GIL SPENCER
gspencer@delcotimes.com


When it comes to my gun rights, I learn something new every day.

Tuesday morning, after filling out my application for a license to carry a concealed firearm, I stopped by our Sheriff’s office in the Delaware County Courthouse to turn it in.

Carole Rowlyk was at the gun permit desk.

It was Carole I talked to last week when I called to ask about what I needed to do to apply.

She told me it was “very, very easy.” And it is. When the damn state computer isn’t on the fritz like it was Tuesday.

Carole was very apologetic, but there was nothing she could do until she was back online.

She did tell me that after last week’s column ran, there was a spike in applications.

“We had like 119 people come in the next day,” she said.

A coincidence? Who’s to say?

But even though I couldn’t apply for my permit, one of the things I learned Tuesday was this: I don’t need one to carry a gun in public.
Pennsylvania is an “open carry” state, which means if you want to strap a holster to your leg, you can carry your gun in plain sight walking down any public street in the commonwealth — except, of course, in Philadelphia. (First-class cities are excluded.)

From Lt. Michelle Conte I learned that though I am required to put down the names, addresses and phone numbers of two references, no one will bother to call them because it is assumed that they’ll stick up for me no matter how bad my character or reputation. Besides, it costs too much. All they do now is run names through the National Crime Information Center and the Pennsylvania Instate Check System and they pretty much leave it at that.

“We have done (reference) checks for the last five years,” Michelle said. “We used to go out and even do home checks on people, but it became too costly” in time, gas and money and there were “officer safety” concerns.

As it is, the $20 licensing fee collected by the county doesn’t begin to pay the full cost of processing all the applications. Last year, the county set a record of receiving 6,051 of them. But the county only gets to keep $5 of each payment. It takes two full-time clerks to keep up with all the permit requests. So do the math.

The county used to charge $40 for the license, but the state’s Uniform Firearms Act set a limit of $20 because, the thinking went, cost should be no burden when it comes to the right to protect oneself.

As our state constitution, which predates the federal version, makes clear: “The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.”

~snip~

[heili]

I'd like to know what they mean by doing 'home checks' on people.

Allowing the sheriff's department to inspect my home is not a reasonable condition for a LTCF.

[soberbyker]

I'd like to know what they mean by doing 'home checks' on people.

Allowing the sheriff's department to inspect my home is not a reasonable condition for a LTCF.

My guess would be to see if people actually lived where they say they did on the app. When I got my original license in DELCO, they did phone your references and even your employer, (I complained to the PA AG about some of the things the DELCO Sheriff "used" to do, to no avail) things have changed, no one was contacted for my renewal.

[bogey1]

I read that this morning. I'm surprised at gil, didnt know he was a gun guy.
As for the renewal calls. None of my references have been called in the last ten years.

[heili]

My guess would be to see if people actually lived where they say they did on the app. When I got my original license in DELCO, they did phone your references and even your employer, (I complained to the PA AG about some of the things the DELCO Sheriff "used" to do, to no avail) things have changed, no one was contacted for my renewal.

I put down my office number for my employment. My office is in my house. Allegheny County has never called.

As for living where I say I do, they also require an ID with an address on it, so that should suffice for proof of where I live.

[Yosemitesam]

I'd like to know what they mean by doing 'home checks' on people.

Allowing the sheriff's department to inspect my home is not a reasonable condition for a LTCF.

It is called a pre computer age background check.

[Gman106]

Spencer has been writing frequently on gun issues of late and has participated in live roundtables sponsored by the Daily Times as one of the "pro-2A" representatives. He is pro-2A for the most part, but he's in a learning curve on the issue and gets his facts wrong here and there.

In today's column, he incorrectly stated that one can OC everywhere in PA except Philly. Of course, we all know one can OC with an LTCF. It's simple enough to get the facts so I don't know why this veteran columnist keeps making these rookie mistakes.

[soberbyker]

Many moons ago when going through DELCO domestic relations crap for child support Spencer was writing about how messed up and antiquated DELCO was in that respect.

[goofin]

I'd like to know what they mean by doing 'home checks' on people.

Allowing the sheriff's department to inspect my home is not a reasonable condition for a LTCF.

It is called a pre computer age background check.

somewhere around here i have my original ccw paper permit issued in 1984 by the perry county sheriff. it had my dan wesson listed on it as my primary carry gun. they contacted all 3 of my references and my employer