Got my concealed weapons permit. I'd heard it's like getting a driver's license – a right with minor to moderate administrative hoops to navigate.

My state was an open carry state. I don't know how the politicians swung the votes for this but they made it a concealed weapons state about a year ago. I guess that's what we get for voting republican- I'd heard it's like getting a driver's license – a right with minor to moderate administrative hoops to navigate.<br><br>This is what I had to do to get my permit to keep the laws of my state happy:<br><br>1. I had to fill out a form that had my name, address, SSN, birthday, etc. on it.<br>2. I had to sign the form, which would be my explicit consent to have my SSN checked to see if I'd ever been convicted of a felony.<br>3. I had to sign another form explicitly stating that I was not mentally unstable.<br>4. I had to fill out a form that explicitly states I am not addicted to booze, drugs, or tobacco.<br>5. I had to sign a form stating that I am a US citizen.<br>6. I had to sign a form stating that, to the best of my knowledge, I do not have any warrants or legal action pending against me.<br>7. I had to sign a form stating that I had all of the necessary legal documentation to prove my citizenship and identity.<br>8. I had to sign a form stating that I can communicate effectively in English.<br>9. I had to sign a form stating that I am not a felon with an outstanding warrant or pending prosecution.<br>10. I had to sign a form stating that I am not a fugitive- even if it was 30 years ago.<br>11. I had to sign a form stating that I have never served time in a mental institution.<br>12. I had to sign a form stating that I have never served time in a substance abuse clinic.<br>13. I had to sign a form stating that I am not under probation or parole- even if it was 30 years ago.<br>14. I had to sign a form stating that I am not under a court ordered restraining order- even if it was 30 years ago.<br>15. I had to sign a form stating that I am not under a court ordered protective order- even if it was 30 years ago.<br><br>I then had to pay a fee – a right for which I must pay a tax, just like I do for the privilege to drive a vehicle- I get to pay the state so I can carry a gun. It was a very high tax, too, on the order of $50-85. This fee allows me to carry a weapon over the course of 5-7 years before I have to renew it, which was, again, an administrative and financial burden.<br><br>Next, I had to sit down in a classroom for 2-3 hours and learn about the laws regarding guns. I learned all about how I'm required to carry identification when I have a gun, which was pretty funny because I've been carrying identification with me for years because, well, I'm a citizen and a human being deserves an identity and a way to prove it. The local/state police even gave me the identification for free! But I digress.<br><br>During the 2-3 hours, I had to get fingerprinted, which took about 15 minutes. I guess they wanted to make sure I wasn't an outlaw trying to obtain a concealed weapons permit.<br><br>Some states require 8 hours of training time in the classroom. Some states require people to show proficiency in a live-fire exercise. Mine did not. But the extra classroom time could be considered a right for which the state's citizens are willing to pay a moderate administrative burden.<br><br>I understand that the state wants to make sure those who carry guns are not, you know, felons. But murderers and rapists and robbers don't seem to care about the law. I'm still going to carry a weapon, and I'm still going to make sure I comply with the laws of my state.<br><br>Mandatory ID to vote? This sounds crazy.