Concealed carry training question - former MD resident

[ShadowByte]

I moved from Maryland a few years ago where they required me to go through their firearms safety program (Maryland Police Training Comission Firearms Safety Course) before purchasing my pistol. Is this a valid training course for the concealed carry permit application? I don't mind going through another program, but would like to save a bit of money if I can.

Thanks!

[Vahunter]

Virginia accepts a DD214 or hunter safety course. Which I don't undersatnd because I never touched a handgun in the Army and there wasn't much mentioned in the hunter safety course. Or if you want to take a real course Pro Shooter should be along shortly, he offers courses. Oh and

[Hiwaytahell]

You should be good. But not sure. Proshooter should be able to tell you for sure.

[ShadowByte]

Thanks for the quick replies! I am trying to get all the information I can before I apply so there won't be any issues.

And thanks for the welcome I just found this board today, and am looking forward to reading up on some of these forums.

[ProShooter]

Hey there Shadow, welcome...

I don't know much about the Maryland Police Training Comission Firearms Safety Course but from what I can see, I believe that it would meet the minimum training requirement for Virginia. I am certainly not a fan of any kind of online firearms training but on the face it appears to meet the requirement.

if you choose to seek out additional training, we'd be happy to help you.

Jim

[ShadowByte]

In the future, I would like to take something more in depth, preferably with some live fire exercises. The MPTC course just covered the fundamentals of firearm safety, basic common sense things, but like other courses, it didn't really have any live fire instruction. When I took that course, I actually had some face time/video instruction and I was able to ask/answer questions with a real person, but it did always surprise me they didn't go over at least one live fire exercise.

Thankfully I had a LEO friend and some others, who had been shooting for quite a while and could step me through actually shooting the pistol properly. I've been shooting for about 7 years now, but still think there is an awful lot to learn.

The whole concealed carry aspect is new to me and I think I'd feel a whole lot more comfortable having learned all the ins/outs of it with regards to the legality aspect. I'll see if I can try to talk to someone at the VSP perhaps or the Sheriff's Department to confirm if the MPTC course is all I need for the permit. Hopefully someone on here has been in the same circumstance and can confirm/deny it for me

It'll be a while before I would consider carrying concealed (not to mention I don't have a pistol yet that I could comfortably carry concealed), but I thought I would go ahead and get the permit at least.

[fireman836]

Shadow I live on the Eastern Shore also and would be glad to meet up with you and discuss concealed Carry and other gun related issues. I just got my CHP renewal the other day. PM me and we can meet up some time.

John

I was born and raised in Maryland moved to the shore about 8 years ago.

[wally626]

The basic law for courses or training is State Code § 18.2-308. Personal protection; carrying concealed weapons; when lawful to carry. (see link to the upper left of the page)

G. The court shall require proof that the applicant has demonstrated competence with a handgun and the applicant may demonstrate such competence by one of the following, but no applicant shall be required to submit to any additional demonstration of competence, nor shall any proof of demonstrated competence expire:

1. Completing any hunter education or hunter safety course approved by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries or a similar agency of another state;

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

3. Completing any firearms safety or training course or class available to the general public offered by a law-enforcement agency, junior college, college, or private or public institution or organization or firearms training school utilizing instructors certified by the National Rifle Association or the Department of Criminal Justice Services;

4. Completing 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. Presenting evidence of equivalent experience with a firearm through participation in organized shooting competition or current military service or proof of an honorable discharge from any branch of the armed services;

6. Obtaining or previously having held a license to carry a firearm in the Commonwealth or a locality thereof, unless such license has been revoked for cause;

7. Completing any firearms training or safety course or class, including an electronic, video, or on-line course, conducted by a state-certified or National Rifle Association-certified firearms instructor;

8. Completing any governmental police agency firearms training course and qualifying to carry a firearm in the course of normal police duties; or

9. Completing any other firearms training which the court deems adequate.

A photocopy of a certificate of completion of any of the courses or classes; an affidavit from the instructor, school, club, organization, or group that conducted or taught such 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 subsection.

It looks like your course would qualify under part 3 above. The person to ask is the Clerk of the Court you apply to, they are the one that accepts or rejects the application on training grounds.

[ShadowByte]

Just in case any future (former) MD residents wanted to know, or current ones looking for non-residents permits, the MPTC course does *not* fall under the qualified courses. I finally received an email back from the VSP in regards to the non-resident permits. I also received word from the local clerk's office here and he said the judge would not accept it as well.

So, looks like it's time to look for a locally offered course or worse case, an online one

Thanks again everyone for the responses

[allingeneral]

If you want to take an online course just to move forward with your CHP application, here's a good one.

http://www.concealed-carry.net/sanpob01

You can always follow up with a "Live fire" course later (and I would suggest doing that)

Good luck!

[ShadowByte]

Well I went ahead and did the online course and submitted my forms this past Tuesday. The online course was pretty good and I learned a few things. It was good to see that it covered a nice array of topics. I definitely would like to take some live fire courses in the future and with an instructor, it is always nice to have someone there who can answer on the spot questions that come up.