Poll taxes

[harrygunner]

Submitted the paperwork to renew my Florida CCW permit today. Cost nearly $150 plus gas and my time. Takes a good deal of effort to exercise a fundamental right. Fingerprint cards, photo, notarization of application, certified mail to insure against loss. At least it's good for seven years.

I travel, so in addition to my home state, I have Utah, Florida and Arizona permits. Added the Arizona permit late last year since I find myself in Nevada more often than before. My collective "poll taxes" have paid for permission that's good in thirty-eight states.

I've moved to  a "shall issue" state and appreciate the improvement over California. California used to issue permits that were good for one year. By time one paid license fees, training fees and proficiency fees for each gun on the permit, it added up to at least $300+ per year. Later, they extended to valid period to two years, not for the benefit of permit holders, but to ease the burden on the sheriff offices. The high cost and the elitist selection process was a real turn-off. If I didn't own a business, I would not have been issued a permit. Taking advantage of having a CCW permit in that state reminded me of those in the past that easily accepted society's benefits denied to those of different races. Never felt comfortable with it.

SCOTUS found voting poll taxes constitutional in 1937. Took nearly thirty years and outside unrest (in the form of the Civil Rights Movement) for them to do the right thing. Today, they are allowing similar fees on our natural right to self defense codified in the Constitution.

Well, I'm good for a few more years until another permit needs to be renewed.

[sqlbullet]

Thats one good thing for Utah.  $15.00 + the cost of a passport photo.  You can mail it, appear in person or do it online.  And, as long as you pay on time, your permit auto-renews.  No lapse.  If the background check turns something up, then there is an investigation.  Permit is still good during this time.  If the investigation has a positive finding, only then does the state contact you to revoke your permit.

[harrygunner]

I appreciate what Utah and Florida have contributed, given our current legal environment. Those states have provided some shelter to honest people against those who would incarcerate them for exercising their right. The Utah renewal is the easiest I've experienced.

Guess I was a bit weary after finding a sheriff office for finger printing, a notary for the application and another trip to get the post office money order and certified mailing. (Florida has lost applications, so I send all my applications via certified mail.).

I keep several permits since some states change their rules. Things have settled down for the most part. But New Mexico recently went through a wave of changes that had me going from covered by multiple permits, all the way to completely illegal to legal again. I was visiting near the Missouri/Kansas border when my carry status in Kansas went from legal on 01/05/2007 to illegal on 01/17/2007. Kansas didn't settle down until 07/01/2009.

Nevada, Wyoming Alabama, Colorado are among states that spend too much time worrying about which states they should recognize. Obviously, none of them took the time to ask how their changes affect public safety. The criminal statistics for people who have a permit from any state are a fraction of the population as a whole.

Vermont, Alaska and Arizona support the self-defense rights of all U.S. citizens. Even while covered by permits the whole journey, I feel different whenever I cross into Arizona. Crossing the state line didn't change my legal status, but somehow, it just feels better knowing my citizenship is all that's needed to avoid arrest.