CCW Background Check

[powderedtoastman]

Question: I'm turning in my application tomorrow to Sac County, and I'm a bit concerned about the illegal substances question. If I smoked pot 5 years ago, will this negatively affect my approval? I've done some utterly stupid things that I regret, but I'm hoping that my past mistake won't hurt my ccw app. They also have this on record since it was in my personal history statement when I got accepted to the Sheriff's Academy in March 2009.(Which I couldn't attend due to military contract.) Thoughts?

[wildhawker]

If you've put it in writing (especially in the context you mention), your best best is to disclose.

-Brandon

[jb7706]

PC 12051:

(c)Any person who knowingly makes a false statement on the application regarding any of the following shall be guilty of a felony:

(1)The denial or revocation of a license, or the denial of an amendment to a license, issued pursuant to Section 12050.

(2)A criminal conviction.

(3)A finding of not guilty by reason of insanity.

(4)The use of a controlled substance.

(5)A dishonorable discharge from military service.

(6)A commitment to a mental institution.

(7)A renunciation of United States citizenship.

Not getting your CCW is the least of your worries if they find you lied and want to pursue it.

[powderedtoastman]

I'm not talking about lying, I'm going to disclose. I'm just curious to know if that's grounds for denial.

[Anti-Hero]

Shouldn't be a problem.

From my experience the whole CCW process is just one big character test. The livescan is the actual criminal background check, everything else is just sizing you up.

[Billy Jack]

Question: I'm turning in my application tomorrow to Sac County, and I'm a bit concerned about the illegal substances question. If I smoked pot 5 years ago, will this negatively affect my approval? I've done some utterly stupid things that I regret, but I'm hoping that my past mistake won't hurt my ccw app. They also have this on record since it was in my personal history statement when I got accepted to the Sheriff's Academy in March 2009.(Which I couldn't attend due to military contract.) Thoughts?

Put your mind at ease. It is not a disqualifier. I have reviewed many CCW files where prior youthful drug experimentation was disclosed. Many of your interviewers were also experimenters. It is not like you were arrested for impersonating a police officer or something.

Do not let this trouble you. Address it when and if it comes up.

Best of luck to you and thank your for your service to our country.

Sincerely,



Billy Jack
'The Force is strong with this one'

https://www.californiaconcealedcarry.com

[powderedtoastman]

Thanks guys for the info, I appreciate it. What I did in addition to my application, is I brought in some reference letters, including one of my Coast Guard reviews(marks). I mentioned them to Detective Wright, and he actually kind of perked up and seemed excited to take copies of them and put them with my packet. So maybe for the rest of you, take some reference letters or reviews with you, it can't hurt. Unless they are BAD references/reviews!

[jb7706]

I'm not talking about lying, I'm going to disclose. I'm just curious to know if that's grounds for denial.

Sorry, I let Brandon's post shape my response. I was not denied, but my one experiment with weed was back in the late 80's or very early 90's. Not sure they even wrote it down in my app, but I did disclose.

[Robidouxs]

Question: I'm turning in my application tomorrow to Sac County, and I'm a bit concerned about the illegal substances question. If I smoked pot 5 years ago, will this negatively affect my approval? I've done some utterly stupid things that I regret, but I'm hoping that my past mistake won't hurt my ccw app. They also have this on record since it was in my personal history statement when I got accepted to the Sheriff's Academy in March 2009.(Which I couldn't attend due to military contract.) Thoughts?

I kind of think this is what is holding people back from applying for the CCW license, after the varying issuance of licenses by counties and attached fees.

[AKrazy]

Medical record?

How far do they look into your medical record. I.e. anxiety issues.

Put your mind at ease. It is not a disqualifier. I have reviewed many CCW files where prior youthful drug experimentation was disclosed. Many of your interviewers were also experimenters. It is not like you were arrested for impersonating a police officer or something.

Do not let this trouble you. Address it when and if it comes up.

Best of luck to you and thank your for your service to our country.

Sincerely,



Billy Jack
'The Force is strong with this one'


www.californiaconcealedcarry.com

[Billy Jack]

How far do they look into your medical record. I.e. anxiety issues.

That will depend on the department and what is disclosed on the DOJ Application and during the interview. Current use of anti anxiety drugs would in most cases be a disqualifier. A LEO would be prohibited from carrying if taking such drugs.

This is why so many 'Shall Issue' advocates are so rabid. They have skeletons in their past that will come up during the Psych or background investigations. It all comes down to what and when certain events occurred.

Hope I have addressed your question.

Billy Jack
'The Force is strong with this one'

https://www.californiaconcealedcarry.com

[neuron]

Question: I'm turning in my application tomorrow to Sac County, and I'm a bit concerned about the illegal substances question. If I smoked pot 5 years ago, will this negatively affect my approval? ... Thoughts?

It depends on whether or not you were cited for using dope...Lots of folks smoked pot at sometime in the past (including a couple of guys who were elected to high political office)...But if you were actually arrested and charged, not to mention convicted for abusing drugs or alcohol, you could have a problem.

I assume that you just want to be completely honest about using dope (even though there is no "record" of that anywhere. If so, kudos to you. Is it perchance more than that?

[golfkelpman]

What if more than once?

As it relates to Sac County:

What if, instead of a single instance of pot, it's more than 1 but less than 8 with (1) no arrests, citations, charges or convictions and (2) the last instance being more than 10 years ago? Does this go to good moral character?

[powderedtoastman]

It depends on whether or not you were cited for using dope...Lots of folks smoked pot at sometime in the past (including a couple of guys who were elected to high political office)...But if you were actually arrested and charged, not to mention convicted for abusing drugs or alcohol, you could have a problem.

I assume that you just want to be completely honest about using dope (even though there is no "record" of that anywhere. If so, kudos to you. Is it perchance more than that?

No, it isn't more than that. Just stupid youthful experimentation. I was never arrested/charged/convicted/any of that.(Thank God!)

[moooboy]

Well I'll chime in. I just got my CCW. I had 2 DUI convictions and one had a possession of a controlled substance. No felonies just misdemeanors, all are over 16-24 years old. It seemed to make a big difference i went to a hospital sanctioned rehab for 3 months 16-17 years ago. Been squeaky clean even since, not even a traffic ticket in 16 years. Learned my lessons and they could see that and now I'm Married now with children(God i feel like Al Bundy,lol)
So you see you dont have to be mother Teresa to get a CCW. But not all counties in Calif are the same. I was kind of surprised i got it so easily, especially since i contemplated it many many times in the past but didn't because i thought i would get denied for my past.