San Luis Obispo County Specifics

[Mad Geek]

bpmitche, based on the fact that you state you live in Atascadero, why would you need to apply to Paso Robles in the first place? I know Templeton is between the two so how is it that Paso Robles PD would be your issuing authority?

Doesn't Atascadero have it's own city PD? If you live within their jurisdiction, in Atascadero city limits, you'd apply with them. If they state they don't issue you just go straight to the SLO Sheriff Department to apply.

Sorry, I'm a little confused, unless your current address is that big state run hospital in Atascadero. (Sorry, trying to add a little humor.)

[Quietpi]

+1 to Mad Geek. AFAIK you can't "shop" jurisdictions. If you don't live in a city, or work there, or have some other really compelling tie to the city, then that city has no say. If you live in the county, by all means start with the sheriff.

Sheriffs are elected, and therefore are generally much more interested in responding to their constituents, the voters ( I think only one county in California - Orange? - hires their sheriff). City Chiefs of Police are hired by city governments, mostly, and city governments are typically run by a much higher percentage of anti - gun types. Ultimately, a police chief's constituency is not the public, but the city council.

[Quietpi]

BTW, bpmitche, the prices you quoted are awfully high, at least by standards up here. Find out if you have to take the classes from an approved source, then shop around. The same goes for the livescan. That sounds much too high.

Re: the insurance -- I have to carry it anyway for my business. $1 mil. runs me about $800 per year. But shop around for that, too. You should be able to beat that, in part because mine covers a heck of a lot more exposure than just being armed. It might even be available as a rider on your homeowner's or renter's insurance.

[maldos]

Orange county Sheriffs are elected. This was a special case.

[Quietpi]

Good.

[bpmitche]

I'll try to answer some questions, as I see that I have been unclear:

To all who answered re: the issuing authority question, I thank you. I knew I had to apply to the city first, but CCWInstructors post, and the time of day at which I read it, seemed to suggest that I could skip that and apply directly to the county, which seemed counterintuitive.

I currently live in Atascadero, which asks only that you come by their office and pick up a form letter with your application to say that you followed channels.

I will, however, be moving very soon - and one of the two places I'm looking is Paso Robles, and it seems more and more likely with each passing day that's where I'll end up. So my questions have a high level of relevance, on account of the move.

Fees: those are the fees and their reasons quoted to me by Gail, the Paso PD person. I haven't compared those numbers, as I'm still in the early phases of my research.

Again, thanks to all who answered.

[CCWInstructor]

Originally Posted by bpmitche

To all who answered re: the issuing authority question, I thank you. I knew I had to apply to the city first, but CCWInstructors post, and the time of day at which I read it, seemed to suggest that I could skip that and apply directly to the county, which seemed counterintuitive.

Per Penal Code, you can apply at the city you live in or the county you live in also.