San Bernardino

[Gray Peterson]

Read the last few pages of this thread to get an idea of where SB stands currently.

Update (2014 Jan 09): added a "thumbs up" symbol to thread title. Explanation for it at: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...php?p=15600007

Update (2014 Feb 15): In the below interview, McMahon says that going to the bank at night and personal protection meet his GC standard (2:00 - 2:26). He also sounds like he believes SD = GC because of the 2nd A (3:55 - 4:50).


Application Submission Procedure

I had the same problem with mine and ended up printing and calling, left a voicemail and they called the next day to schedule it. But between me leaving the voicemail and them calling the next day, I was able to submit by using Acrobat reader directly.

1) Save the PDF file to your hard drive (won't save any data),
2) open the hard drive copy in Acrobat reader,
3) fill it out, hit submit,
4) it saves an XML file with the data only to the hard drive and opens your Outlook, Thunderbird, etc. (won't work in webmail as posted by Cokebottle.)
5) Attach that unaltered XML data file to the email and send.

It's an unnecessarily complicated process that only works if you are computer savvy. Wish they'd let me fix their file and process. There is no reason that file can't be data "saveable" once it hits the hard drive.

[MrBrent]

First Post for San Bernardino County

I guess I will start this off. I received a CCW a little over a year ago in this county. I am very grateful that it is possible but I have a few issues I would like changed that come to mind. First they do issue for personal protection as a GC which is a good thing. Recently they have reduced their staff of BI's down to one and are starting to back up again on applicants so it is a long process. My time line was end of February to early August to get my permit. Now for things I would like to see changed in no particular order.
1. Fees are high. Total was about $250.00
2. You need 7 references. Three letters written and 4 that will be contacted with questionnaires. This seems excessive.
3. You are limited to only 3 guns on your permit and are charged a fee to change if you don't do it during a renewal.
4. I don't like the fact that they contact your employer.
5. I don't like the fact that they disclose to your neighbors that you are applying for a ccw when doing the neighborhood check.

This is what comes to mind tonight.
I do want to say that the people we deal with at the Sheriff's office are awesome. Very professional and easy to work with.

Thanks
Calguns for all you do

[winnre]

1. If you cannot afford the fees you cannot afford the gun.
2. I had no problem with references. You need more friends. :>
3. I'd like to see them approve by caliber.
4. My employer is weirding out on me now since they were contacted.
5. My neighbors answer the doors with guns.

[1_Grendel]

[AndrewMendez]

MrBrent,
1.) The max a County can charge by law is $100.00, but don't expect a refund.
2.) Illegal, will be taken care of
3.) They can not limit the amount of guns 1 can carry. Did it give you the option to add an addt sheet of paper?
4.) and 5.) scratching my head on this one. I will look into it though.

[Knauga]

1. If you cannot afford the fees you cannot afford the gun.
2. I had no problem with references. You need more friends. :>
3. I'd like to see them approve by caliber.
4. My employer is weirding out on me now since they were contacted.
5. My neighbors answer the doors with guns.

1. It is besides the point. While the fee isn't excessive by California standards, it is too high to charge for something as basic as self defense.

2. I didn't have problems with references either, but I do have a problem with invading my privacy. I don't want anybody knowing my business unless I bring it up with them.

3. I would like to see them issue a license for me to carry concealed, and keep out of the minutiae of the type and caliber of handgun I do carry.

4. I had to threaten my boss with taking him to HR if he continued in his notion to include documentation in my personnel file about my having a CCW. HR and corp security finally told him that it was none of his business and anything he was thinking of doing as far as documentation was wrong.

5. My neighbors don't need to know whether or not I have a CCW, just like *I* don't need to know whether or not my neighbors have a ccw. For the record, they never did a neighborhood check with me, they were too backed up.

The process in this state (this county) is too invasive and it is getting too restrictive. The whole process ought to surround whether or not my prints came back clean and that I am not a subject in an active investigation, period.

The fee for the license should be the bare minimum to run my prints and issue the license (materials).

[1_Grendel]

[MrBrent]

MrBrent,
1.) The max a County can charge by law is $100.00, but don't expect a refund.
2.) Illegal, will be taken care of
3.) They can not limit the amount of guns 1 can carry. Did it give you the option to add an addt sheet of paper?
4.) and 5.) scratching my head on this one. I will look into it though.

The fees I paid were 3 cashiers checks. One for $112.00 the second for $110.00 and the third was for $30.00 for the Concealed weapons course. I don't remember which of the first two went to the person at the Live Scan window.

As far as the references and letters go I didn't have any problems once I determined who I wanted to ask to do this for me. It cost me several lunches as I took several of them to lunch to discuss and let them know how important this was to me and it must be kept confidential. I still think 7 references is extreme.

My neighbor was told I was applying for a CCW and she directly asked me about carrying a gun the next day so they did not use general questions in my case.
Lastly my employer received a very basic questionnaire (four or five questions if I remember correctly) and HR called me into her office and she asked a few questions. The letter specifically stated I was applying for a CCW no question about it. Luck for me she had just moved here from TX and it didn't seem to phase her at all. It has never been mentioned again at the office.

[Southwest Chuck]

What if you're self employed as I am. Do they interview me twice?

[Thunderhawk]

1. If you cannot afford the fees you cannot afford the gun.
2. I had no problem with references. You need more friends. :>
3. I'd like to see them approve by caliber.
4. My employer is weirding out on me now since they were contacted.
5. My neighbors answer the doors with guns.

1. That is a rather arrogant way to look at self defence. So you figure the poor don't need to protect themselves?

2. Seven is rather excessive. The fewer people knowing your business, especially for CCW, the better.

3. Approval by caliber is better than a 3 gun limit.

4. Some employers freak out over guns and CCW. It is none of their business. All they should be told is that it is a background check.

5. What if you have a very "anti-gun" neighbor? Maybe you need a better neighborhood? ;- )

I've had my CCW for almost 4 years. The renewal process is much better now, but the initial process for new CCW applications needs to be streamlined and made more affordable so more folks can carry.

[vampLer]

5. What if your neighbors are the reason you want a CCW...

[Noah3683]

5. What if your neighbors are the reason you want a CCW...

^This. Directly to each side of me, they are cool. 2-3 doors each direction = about 7-8 punks divided among 3 homes + their friends.

[Cokebottle]

^This. Directly to each side of me, they are cool. 2-3 doors each direction = about 7-8 punks divided among 3 homes + their friends.

Similar situation here.
The guy next to me is a firefighter and has watched me camo the AR in the back yard.
The guy next to him is a fellow 03/COE.
3 of the 4 in the building across from me, I would prefer that they don't know that there are any guns in the house.
Same goes for around 30 of the 44 units in my complex.

The neighborhood check and personal references are the two things that have stalled me from applying.

[1_Grendel]

Similar situation here.
The guy next to me is a firefighter and has watched me camo the AR in the back yard.
The guy next to him is a fellow 03/COE.
3 of the 4 in the building across from me, I would prefer that they don't know that there are any guns in the house.
Same goes for around 30 of the 44 units in my complex.

The neighborhood check and personal references are the two things that have stalled me from applying.

[MrBrent]

+1 Well said Grendel!!