My wife and I just got back from our every-other-year trip to Seattle (and boy are my arms tired), and while the trip itself was great it was also rather weird. Not anything that my family or friends did, so Mom I know you’re reading this and you can relax, but rather it was weird for me, as it was the first time traveling in quite some time where I wasn’t carrying.
You see, Washington State in its infinite wisdom has decided that my Indiana carry permit, which I received after passing a state, local, and federal background check isn’t good enough for their exacting standards. Yes, Washington is an open carry state, and in most of the places I would be going that wouldn’t be a problem…but there are plenty of places that I visit with my wife and friends where open carry is forbidden (such as private property that prohibits weapons). I’m also aware that WA issues out of state permits, and I really should take the time on my next visit to go through that process, but for now it remains that I quite simply don’t carry when I’m visiting my family.
And that my friends is what’s weird. I carry a gun every day, unless I know for a fact that I’m going somewhere I can’t carry. For me, sliding my Jetfire into a pocket or strapping on a 9mm is as normal as putting on my pants, or carrying my wallet or a pocketknife. It’s just something I do, and when I can’t do it, my whole day feels off. I know that may sound odd to non-gunnies out there, but it’s quite simply the truth. You get used to doing something for so long, it becomes a habit and part of your comfort zone. I’m proud of this – I received my Indiana carry permit 3 or 4 years ago, and it’s taken that long for me to feel like carrying a gun was an important part of my daily routine. Probably the most influential factor in that was acquiring a pocket gun that allows me to carry when I’m wearing the Business Casual uniform of my people.
The moral of the story is quite simple: carry your f***ing guns, people. Carry them until not carrying them seems more odd to you than strapping on a pistol every day.
Update: After reading some comments below, I decided to look up the relevant statute in WA law regarding reciprocity. It seems that WA would honor my IN permit…but for one teeny little factor.
The other state does not issue concealed pistol licenses to persons under twenty-one years of age.
That’s the relevant part of Washington law, and because Indiana’s permit process has a minimum age of 18, it’s not eligible for reciprocity with Washington. Figures.
I feel naked when my gun isn’t on my side….
I even feel weird when I’ve got it in the shoulder holster I use for cold farm work…..
I think my pants, belt, and side have worn a spot out for the gun and holster
You see, Washington State in its infinite wisdom has decided that my Indiana carry permit, which I received after passing a state, local, and federal background check isn’t good enough for their exacting standards.
Actually, Washington state law is that the state will recognize permits only from states which reciprocate and recognize Washington carry permits.
Indiana will not recognize Washington permits, because Washington has no training requirement. So the problem isn’t that Washington authorities think Indiana requirements are lax — it’s that Indiana thinks Washington requirements are too lax. And Washington has decided to be stinky about other states’ refusal to recognize our permits.
Since there’s no blood running in the streets as the result of our good shall-issue training law with no training requirement, Washington state gun owners are not willing to allow bureaucrats to add an unnecessary and expensive additional hoop to our own carry permit requirement. That’s just not in the cards, so it’s unlikely that Indiana or most other training-required states will be recognizing Washington permits any time soon.
Getting even our limited reciprocity passed was a huge and difficult battle, and I don’t see that turning into true recognition anytime soon.
So there it sits. 🙁
“Indiana will not recognize Washington permits, because Washington has no training requirement.”
Incorrect. Indiana has universal recognition of all carry licenses from all states and all foreign countries. If you have a carry license from such exotic lands as Switzerland, Ivory Coast, or exotic and wierd Texas, you are legal in Indiana.
Not to harsh your mellow, man, but we even recognize Washington State.
Training requirement? What the heck is a training requirement? Indiana has never heard of such a thing. You have to be 18, a non-felon, non-domestic batterer, and no prior resisting law enforcement within 5 years.
“Indiana will not recognize Washington permits, because Washington has no training requirement..”
Where does this come from–a gun store? Gun skul? Errornet? No, something like this has to come from the police, right?
See Indiana Code 35-47-2-21(b). Indiana recognizes everyone, in the entire frickin’ world, even Washington State, even . . . Kentucky.
You can carry in Indiana from anywhere as long as you are not a resident and have a license from somewhere else but you must carry by the terms of your license. E.g. Washington State requires sandals, a “save the earth” bumper sticker on your backpack, and a lack of a razor so you must carry like you are in Washington State.
“Indiana or most other training-required states ”
I don’t you who told you this (got to be a cop), but there is no training requirement in Indiana. Perhaps you have us confused with Florida, Tejas, Tennessee or Ohio?
Yeah, SB is correct. We do not have a training requirement here in Indiana – it’s exactly as stated; 18, non-felon, background check, etc.
Next time you visit, drop in to the local Sheriff’s office and fill out the packet. They’ll mail you the permit after 30 days.
And it only takes about 20 minutes for the paperwork and fingerprints.
Grief! I should have looked it up rather than talking off the top of my head.
*embarrassed apologies for the error — and grateful thanks for the correction.*