Quote:
Originally Posted by mexMan
Not anymore... Actually they won't mess with anoyne else anymore...
The real question here (sorry if I didn't make myself clear) is, what does it take to get a licence to own/carry (because now I know its two different cases)? Is it neccesary some kind of background check, like, psychological, economic and/or social? I mean, you guys check all that stuff to a potential cookie buyer, why not for guns (if that were the case)?
Anyway, I'm getting a slingshot.
The real problem here in Mexico (as I know because I live in the most dangerous area of the country) is that the authority wont even do their jobs, nor they're able to. Also, it's like watching try to slay a Komodo Dragon with a paperclip.
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Owning a gun and carrying a gun are two separate issues in the eyes of the law. Also, keep in mind that certain states within the US have more strict laws. Off the top of my head, they are, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, and there are probably a few more that I am missing. The rest of the country has less restrictive laws.
If you buy a gun from any FFL (federal firearms license) dealer they will run a background check. The background checks are handled by the FBI and tap into various state and federal databases to determine if you are a convicted felon (prior hardcore criminal). If you have never been convicted of a felony, then you are able to purchase the gun. Some states have a waiting period, so you can't walk out with the gun same day. Most states do not, and you can walk out with a firearm in as long as it takes to run the background check (usually less than an hour). There are no other tests or requirements to own a firearm. The more restrictive states that I mentioned above, have other requirements, but I can't get into the details, because I choose to avoid those states if at all possible.
In order to carry a gun, loaded, on your person, most states require a permit. Arizona (and maybe another state) have what is called "constitutional carry." In other words, as long as you can legally own a gun (see above) then you can carry it on your person. There may be subtle distinctions as to whether the gun is in plain sights or concealed. Again, this varies by state. I live in TN, so I can break down exactly what the las is here. In order to carry a handgun, loaded, on my person or in my vehicle, I need a permit. In order to get a permit there is a required 8 hour class that covers basic firearm safety and some range time. Once the class is taken, you have to get fingerprinted, and then you can apply for a permit. As long as you are not a felon, have met the classroom requirement, and paid a fee (I think it is about $100), then you will be issued a carry permit. In TN you can carry open or concealed.
If you want to know the details of the carry laws in all the states, you can browse this website:
http://www.usacarry.com/concealed_ca...city_maps.html
You will see that some states are "shall issue" while others are "may issue" and Illinois is the only state that "will not issue," but that is about to change.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.
Andrew