Does a pre approval include an initial background check?

[Titans]

I was curious as to what a pre approval entailed? I know having a sufficient good cause is one factor but do they perform an initial criminal/traffic background check as well? If all is well then they issue a pre approval?

[Doheny]

You pretty much nailed it.

While you're sitting in your interview, or while your investigator is going over your app, he's checking your criminal background via computer. If anything were to jump out at him which would keep you from getting a permit (prohibited person, excessive police contacts, recent drug use, etc.), you wouldn't proceed to res check and after that your initial approval email/phone call. Basically, there's no reason to waste their time or yours if they know you're a no-go.

You're on your way to getting your permit unless the LiveScan turns something up which isn't likely at this point.

[thesav]

Fresno County here. This may be different for you.

You'd be surprised what those guys can dig up. I had a few 'man with a gun' and 'shots fired' calls on me that were the result of a zealot neighbor up in the Nat. Forest that would call the Deputies on me if I went out target shooting. Everything was legal and safe, but the neighbor didn't mind bothering them and me with a phone call. The calls never amounted to anything more than friendly conversation with Deputies and this was noted in their reports. I still had to explain these to my issuing authority. It was fine and I was approved, but every contact you've had with LEO or .gov should be assumed to be accessible during the CCW process. Don't hide things or think they are irrelevant to the interviewer, just explain them and own them. The interviewer in my case brought this up as I hadn't disclosed it because nothing ever happened worth mentioning, or so I thought.

This all was part of my pre-approval interview. The 2nd interview for me was just formalities like instructions, fees, test, and fingerprints. Your IA may operate differently regarding how the steps are ordered. They can sift through whatever records they want. I assume that they look for anything they can use to question you that could put you in the hotseat. This could be a strategy to dig into your personality and temperament. Don't sweat it, they just want to know who you are. I was approved verbally during my 1st interview. The official letter came about a month later. Obviously not everyone will experience this with every dept. or even in the same dept.

I asked my interviewer, and later Sheriff Mims, what typical denials were like. Each said that denials were usually due to crazy and erratic behavior or past legal trouble. I got the impression that the denied were either demonstrably nuts in conversation or should have known they were prohibited in the first place because they couldn't pass a NICS or legally own a firearm. The denials are also purportedly rare. Fresno is a great county and we are very fortunate to have Sheriff Mims and her Deputies. If only everyone were so lucky.

Good luck OP, and I hope you become a responsible daily carrier.

[thayne]

Fresno County here. This may be different for you.

You'd be surprised what those guys can dig up. I had a few 'man with a gun' and 'shots fired' calls on me that were the result of a zealot neighbor up in the Nat. Forest that would call the Deputies on me if I went out target shooting. Everything was legal and safe, but the neighbor didn't mind bothering them and me with a phone call. The calls never amounted to anything more than friendly conversation with Deputies and this was noted in their reports. I still had to explain these to my issuing authority. It was fine and I was approved, but every contact you've had with LEO or .gov should be assumed to be accessible during the CCW process. Don't hide things or think they are irrelevant to the interviewer, just explain them and own them. The interviewer in my case brought this up as I hadn't disclosed it because nothing ever happened worth mentioning, or so I thought.

This all was part of my pre-approval interview. The 2nd interview for me was just formalities like instructions, fees, test, and fingerprints. Your IA may operate differently regarding how the steps are ordered. They can sift through whatever records they want. I assume that they look for anything they can use to question you that could put you in the hotseat. This could be a strategy to dig into your personality and temperament. Don't sweat it, they just want to know who you are. I was approved verbally during my 1st interview. The official letter came about a month later. Obviously not everyone will experience this with every dept. or even in the same dept.

I asked my interviewer, and later Sheriff Mims, what typical denials were like. Each said that denials were usually due to crazy and erratic behavior or past legal trouble. I got the impression that the denied were either demonstrably nuts in conversation or should have known they were prohibited in the first place because they couldn't pass a NICS or legally own a firearm. The denials are also purportedly rare. Fresno is a great county and we are very fortunate to have Sheriff Mims and her Deputies. If only everyone were so lucky.

Good luck OP, and I hope you become a responsible daily carrier.

I asked my interviewer the same thing and he said they occasionally get convicted who felons apply. They seem to think they may slip through the cracks or something