[Bags57]

I have a GA GFL and I've been wanting to apply for a VA and a FL non-resident permit for a while now. I know that some of you have done this and I have some questions for you.

Training- What training class did you take? I know that VA, for example, accepts any NRA course or nationally recognized course but I'm having trouble finding one in the Metro Atlanta area. Maybe I'm not looking in the right spot.

Fingerprint cards- I'm in Dekalb County. Is it a hassle to get fingerprinted here or should I go to another county? What is the fee?

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

 

[Malum Prohibitum]

Why get Va's license? A Florida license will cover you there. So will a Utah license.

 

[Malum Prohibitum]

We have some Utah instructors on this site. Run a search for "Utah."

 

[Bags57]

I want to get every non-resident permit I can. My wife thinks I'm nuts.....She's probably right. But I still want them anyway.

I'll do the search for Utah instructors.

 

[Bags57]

Malum,

I noticed in another thread that you recently got your VA and Utah permits. Did you use the Utah class for you VA permit training requirement?

Bags

 

[RedBeard]

I used my hunter safety course I took in Alabama when I was 12. You don't need anything fancy to satisfy Florida.

(h) Demonstrates competence with a firearm by any one of the following:

1. Completion of any hunter education or hunter safety course approved by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or a similar agency of another state;

2. Completion of any National Rifle Association firearms safety or training course;

3. Completion of any firearms safety or training course or class available to the general public offered by a law enforcement, junior college, college, or private or public institution or organization or firearms training school, utilizing instructors certified by the National Rifle Association, Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, or the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services;

4. Completion of any law enforcement firearms safety or training course or class offered for security guards, investigators, special deputies, or any division or subdivision of law enforcement or security enforcement;

5. Presents evidence of equivalent experience with a firearm through participation in organized shooting competition or military service;

6. Is licensed or has been licensed to carry a firearm in this state or a county or municipality of this state, unless such license has been revoked for cause; or

7. Completion of any firearms training or safety course or class conducted by a state-certified or National Rifle Association certified firearms instructor;

A photocopy of a certificate of completion of any of the courses or classes; or an affidavit from the instructor, school, club, organization, or group that conducted or taught said course or class attesting to the completion of the course or class by the applicant; or a copy of any document which shows completion of the course or class or evidences participation in firearms competition shall constitute evidence of qualification under this paragraph; any person who conducts a course pursuant to subparagraph 2., subparagraph 3., or subparagraph 7., or who, as an instructor, attests to the completion of such courses, must maintain records certifying that he or she observed the student safely handle and discharge the firearm;

The fun part of this is the fact that many state fish and wildlife agencies do not have a range component to their hunter safety courses. Florida FWCC does and I guess Florida assumes the other states do as well.

Alabama does not have a range component nor does Georgia but Florida accepted my Alabama card as enough to satisfy the training requirement.

 

[Malum Prohibitum]

Malum,

I noticed in another thread that you recently got your VA and Utah permits. Did you use the Utah class for you VA permit training requirement?

Bags

I do not have, nor have I applied for, a Va license. I did get a Utah license.

 

[Bags57]

My bad. I was scrolling fast and misread part of the thread.

 

[GAGunOwner]

Is your goal to be covered in as many state's as possible or just to get the most licenses as you can. If you do some reading you can determine which ones to get to maximize the benefit to you. Getting all of them can be pretty expensive especially if you don't really need a state and get it anyway. Another thing to look at is that there might be some state's that you never visit, so why get the license.

Here's a good example:

Mass. is almost shall issue to non-residents who jump through their hoops and already have a license from their state (from what I've read).

Getting the Mass. license is the only way to carry there. The catch is that the license is over $100 a year. If you don't go to Mass. very often or at all, this may be one you'd want to pass on.

 

[ptsmith24]

The only state I'd possibly be interested in getting added to the places I'm able to visit is SC.

 

[oldguns]

I just recieved my Va. permit today, took about a month. They accepted my Ga Hunter Education instructor card as proof of training. Now if SC would do something about their reciprocity I'd have the Southeast covered.

 

[ptsmith24]

I just recieved my Va. permit today, took about a month. They accepted my Ga Hunter Education instructor card as proof of training. Now if SC would do something about their reciprocity I'd have the Southeast covered.

They took that as training? If it was anything like the one I sat through a little while back, it can hardly be considered firearm training. But hey, whatever works.

 

[Bags57]

Good to hear that VA accepted the GA Hunter Safety course for the training requirement. But I agree that it leaves a lot to be desired in the firearms training segment. At least the course I took did.

I had thought about getting a Mass license but since it's only good for a year at time and $100 bucks each time I decided against it. Don't think I'll be going there anytime soon anyway.

I think my main purpose for getting non resident permits from the states that issue them is just a matter of convenience as I travel a lot and I get tired of double checking the reciprocity maps and printing up reciprocity agreements everytime I go to another state. I'm willing to do it mind you, just would like the idea of having a permit issued by the state I'm visiting (where possible) in the unlikely event that I'm pulled over etc.

I do appreciate all the advice given, though and will reconsider my approach.

 

[Bags57]

I'm guessing since no one addressed my question regarding the fingerprint cards that it's a non-issue.

 

[oldguns]

I got my prints done at the local PD, no charge and no hassle, but it is a small town and I know most of the LEOs. The only issue I had was with the photos. They sent my whole package back because the pictures weren't exactly 2"x2". They were taken with a digital camera and printed out so I just had to resize and send the package back. VA was very prompt sending the application package and processing it.

I considered a FL license but mainly will be carrying in VA and thought, like you, that I'd be better off with a Va license in VA.