Thanks to CCWInstructor with my new CCW

[JerichoGirl]

Diamond Jim, that is very impressive. I have friends in LA County that have never applied due to their feeling they would be automatically denied.

Without discussing your good cause statement could you tell us about your process? Number of interviews, what was requested of you, were you initially denied and appealed, etc. Would love to hear some of the details.

Congratulations and welcome to the forum.

[Lee F. Smith]

Welcome...ooh....ahhh....

[THE Gimper]

Originally Posted by BonoVox

I they said it can not be done!!!! Congratulations!!!!!!!!!

And that we are only able to help with OC permits. Pshah.

Congrats!

[Bombard]

Originally Posted by THE Gimper

And that we are only able to help with OC permits. Pshah.

Congrats!

And Pshakespeare!

Congrats, welcome, hope we'll have occasion to see you at the range!

[Trinity]

Good for you! Congrats! Welcome aboard & glad to have one more good guy walkin around LA county armed!

[Diamond Jim]

Originally Posted by JerichoGirl

Diamond Jim, that is very impressive. I have friends in LA County that have never applied due to their feeling they would be automatically denied.

Without discussing your good cause statement could you tell us about your process? Number of interviews, what was requested of you, were you initially denied and appealed, etc. Would love to hear some of the details.

Congratulations and welcome to the forum.

Thank you Jericho Girl for the congrats. I too heard all the rumors that living in LA County meant automatic rejection for a CCW unless you were some kind of movie star, a dues paying member of the Friends of the Homeland Security political contribution fund, etc. I am none of the above. I am unlucky enough to be in an industry that has a magnetic attraction for dirt bags from "Colombia" who make it their life "profession" hunting down, robbing, kidnapping and occassionally killing people in my profession (read between the lines of my handle).

CCWI found another student that was acquiring a CCW in my industry, IN MY CITY!, and told me that if the other student could get one, I may be able to also. CCWI knew some of my story for a GC and believed I may have a shot. (No pun intended, well...maybe.) So, I went into the city PD front desk, and asked for a CCW application. I got very lucky. The person behind the desk gave me one, no questions asked. Apparently, that was a mistake on his/her part (must protect the innocent here). I filled out the app, wrote the GC and had CCWI review it before I went back to the local PD. This time, I got a rather different reception. They were shocked that I had a app, and immediately I was asked to sit down....someone would be right with me!

In less than 2 minutes, I was wisked into an interview room, where upon the background investigator (retired captain) asked me how did I get this far with the app process? Who gave me the app? Apparently it is procedure for the PD to do a "preliminary" interview before they give you an app, in the hopes that you are not prepared for the GC question, and they can instantly deny you. However, now being prepared for the interview....and a really good GC (thanks again, Greg), the PD was behind the eight ball, and they had no choice but to start the process.

The first thing they want from you is a list of references.....3 of them. I gave them 6 (all pre-screened), informed them of my training (just about every course CCWI teaches, and many of them multiple times - remember, I've been taking classes for 3+ years), and gave them CCWI as a 7th reference - for technical/tactical/practical experience.

From what I understand, most people fail CCW's during the background investigation. The PD, while very cordial, really doesn't want people in this city walking around with CCW's. So, they did a background on me. They called everyone on my list, tried to find more people to call, and then called me for more info. They were playing Columbo, very nice, and always wanting more. They thought (incorrectly) that I must have a skeleton somewhere in my background. They were wrong. I have been vetted by the best, the Secret Service, FBI, DOD, DOJ before.
They then scheduled me for a "live scan". There is nothing "live" about the scan... I heard nothing from the PD....2 weeks later, I asked them if they had results. Yes, everything was OK. Now, they wanted me to go see the city shrink for a pysch evaluation.

I made the appointment with the shrink, and they informed me it would take approximately 2 hours. When I got there, they gave me THREE personality inventory exams, a CPI, an MMPI, and a fill in the blank test designed for LEO's. The testing took 4 hours, and then the interview with the shrink took another hour. And the best part, it was all on my nickle!

Two weeks later, I finally got a call from the background investigator. I passed all their tests and investigations, and the only thing left was for me to be vetted by the chief, which went very well. He asked a few questions, like was I going to wear all the time, .

A word of advice before going for a CCW. Be prepared for everything they ask for, be polite, have AMPLE and REGULAR training by CCWI, DON'T try to hide anything, DON'T lie, be yourself, and make sureyour GC is great and have CCWI is involved. He can be a wealth of info.

Hope this helps those who are w/o your CCW.

[X-ffdo]

Excellent!

[AMS MIKE]

Hats off to you Jim. Thanks for sharing your adventure

[FiringLion]

Thank you very much Diamond Jim!

[PirateQueen]

Originally Posted by Diamond Jim

Today is my first day on this sight. I was recommended here by CCWInstructor. For over 3 years I have been fortunate to have been taking instruction from the Master of Arms, in the hopes that one day I might be able to obtain a CCW for the protection of myself and loved ones. As I live in LA County and am not a movie star, I never had great hopes of obtaining a CCW. It is my understanding that there are only 1400 CCW holders in LA County. As of May 21, 2008, there are now 1401 CCW permit holders. I wish to publically thank CCWInstructor for all his expertise, knowledge and hundreds of hours of instruction he has provided me. He personally reviewed my Good Cause statement, and his advise was invaluable. My hat's off to him!

Congatulations.

[spc]

duplicate post

[KimberDude]

Congrats to you Jim!

[spc]

Great synopsis of your journey. It sounds as if you got lucky upon picking up the application, and then everything went well from there.

The application can be obtained in the internet so as review to see what you are in for is rather easy if you go that route.

You had the best for your training and GC review and I am sure that is the one thing that made a huge difference in your success.

Congrats on 'Mission Impossible' and making it look easy.

spc

PS,,, you need to PM calccw03 and get your icon next to your avitar.

[hbliam]

Originally Posted by Diamond Jim

So, they did a background on me. They called everyone on my list, tried to find more people to call, and then called me for more info. They were playing Columbo, very nice, and always wanting more. They thought (incorrectly) that I must have a skeleton somewhere in my background.

Congrats on the CCW. Informative post regarding your "journey".

One comment regarding your background. The tone of your post seems advesarial. Your background was just an brief PD background. Regular PD backgrounds require a 30 page questionaire and about 30 documents just to get started, not just a few names to call. As a resident of the City, don't you want them to be diligent when handing CCW's out? Just because they conducted a good background on you doesn't mean they were trying to fail you.

[THE Gimper]

Congratulations! It sounds like you handled everything perfectly. Way to go.