Dear Editor,
I thought you may find this interesting. I am currently involved in renewing my concealed weapons permit (CWP). My current CWP expires tomorrow, 5/22/2013. I did an online renewal on 4/11/2013, and have not yet received my replacement. Today (5/21/2013) I contacted SLED by phone to find out the status of my replacement. Their response was, “all applications are currently taking the full 90 day period for processing.”
In response, I inquired to find out if my current permit would be considered valid through the processing period. Their response was, “you must discontinue carrying your weapon upon the expiration of your current CWP, and wait on the replacement to arrive via mail.”
Based on my estimation, this means that I will not receive my replacement until at least early July.
Here is the thing, using the online renewal; you cannot renew your CWP until you are within 90 days of the expiration. There is also no mention on the website that the timeframe is currently the full 90 day period by default. This essentially means that even if you renew your permit on the first day possible, and they process “as scheduled” on day 90, you are legally prohibited from carrying until it arrives in the mail. Not to turn this into a Post Office bashing campaign, but we all know that this is not the fastest delivery service known.
This is intentional infringement upon my Second Amendment Rights, and the rights granted to me by our states CWP legislation.
Sincerely,
Erskine Jacks
Spartanburg, S.C.
SIC SEZ
Erskine – Thanks so much for sharing your story with us. Our guess is thousands of South Carolinians are dealing with similar issues. It’s sad our state’s incompetent government is depriving you of your constitutional right – all based on a restriction which shouldn’t even exist in the first place. Of course it’s not surprising, either. Anyway, this is why FITS has consistently urged civil disobedience of all anti-Second Amendment “gun control” laws. Oh well … good luck getting this situation resolved, man.
In the meantime …
***
Wanna sound off? Send your transmission via email or use our tip wire …
68 comments
Sometimes it’s easier to beg for forgiveness rather than ask for permission if have to defend yourself in the mean time…..
Damn straight!
been said before (many times)—-it’s better to be tried by twelve than buried by six….
*********************
Sometimes it’s easier to beg for forgiveness rather than ask for permission if have to defend yourself in the mean time…..
Damn straight!
been said before (many times)—-it’s better to be tried by twelve than buried by six….
*********************
I too am having to wait for my CWP. I am currently past the 90 days, however, and I am being told people are waiting more than 120 days for their permits right now.
From what I’ve seen, new CWPs have a longer wait than renewals. I had to wait longer than 90 days, but this was a few years back. I guess things haven’t changed since then.
I too am having to wait for my CWP. I am currently past the 90 days, however, and I am being told people are waiting more than 120 days for their permits right now.
From what I’ve seen, new CWPs have a longer wait than renewals. I had to wait longer than 90 days, but this was a few years back. I guess things haven’t changed since then.
I can assure you that the people processing the CWP applications are busting their tails to get the permits out. They are working nightshifts and using volunteer help but the requests are arriving in tremendous numbers and the staff is shorthanded and the working space is inadequate to add help even if the funds were available.
We shouldn’t even need a CWP anyway.
I am the writer of the original post. I understand that SLED is swamped, however that is absolutely no excuse for them to be “late by default”. If you go to the online renewal site, you will notice that you cannot renew online prior to 90 days from the date of expiration on your card. If SLED takes the “full 90 days allowable by the law”, as they openly admit that they do, and then mail your CWP by USPS, you are guaranteed to have at least 1 day of loss of carry rights. At a minimum, the site should be opened up to allow renewals to allow for a 30 day window of time to renew a permit in advance of the “90 day cutoff “.
I went to the SLED site 6 months ago or so, and attempted to renew my permit at that point. Because I was greeted with a note that said that it was not possible to renew my permit prior to 90 days from it’s expiration, I left the site, and set my reminder for 45 days prior to expiration. In doing additional searching today, I found that there is only 1 place that warns of the extended turn-around time for permit renewals. This is on the “paper” version of the renewal form, which is available for download on the SLED site. While this form is plenty easy to find, it is perfectly reasonable to assume that anyone who is going to do an online renewal is going to completely ignore the paper version of the application, as it does not apply to their situation.
I have never seen any one in south Carolina busting their butts, this is the slowest state in the union
I can assure you that the people processing the CWP applications are busting their tails to get the permits out. They are working nightshifts and using volunteer help but the requests are arriving in tremendous numbers and the staff is shorthanded and the working space is inadequate to add help even if the funds were available.
We shouldn’t even need a CWP anyway.
I am the writer of the original post. I understand that SLED is swamped, however that is absolutely no excuse for them to be “late by default”. If you go to the online renewal site, you will notice that you cannot renew online prior to 90 days from the date of expiration on your card. If SLED takes the “full 90 days allowable by the law”, as they openly admit that they do, and then mail your CWP by USPS, you are guaranteed to have at least 1 day of loss of carry rights. At a minimum, the site should be opened up to allow renewals to allow for a 30 day window of time to renew a permit in advance of the “90 day cutoff “.
I went to the SLED site 6 months ago or so, and attempted to renew my permit at that point. Because I was greeted with a note that said that it was not possible to renew my permit prior to 90 days from it’s expiration, I left the site, and set my reminder for 45 days prior to expiration. In doing additional searching today, I found that there is only 1 place that warns of the extended turn-around time for permit renewals. This is on the “paper” version of the renewal form, which is available for download on the SLED site. While this form is plenty easy to find, it is perfectly reasonable to assume that anyone who is going to do an online renewal is going to completely ignore the paper version of the application, as it does not apply to their situation.
I have never seen any one in south Carolina busting their butts, this is the slowest state in the union
It’s a Catch 22, you get popped carrying without the permit and you can’t get a CWP and might even loose your guns. Call your state representative and senator. Urge them to intervene and/or pass Constitutional carry.
It’s a Catch 22, you get popped carrying without the permit and you can’t get a CWP and might even loose your guns. Call your state representative and senator. Urge them to intervene and/or pass Constitutional carry.
Let’s just hope the UN blue helmets do not arrive before you folks get your CWP so you can protect yourselves.
Let’s just hope the UN blue helmets do not arrive before you folks get your CWP so you can protect yourselves.
Former Chief Robert Stuart and Chief Mark Keel are both anti gun. They do not believe that citizens have the right to carry.
This is the mindset of the leadership, not the individual agents.
Most officers know 911 response time can run 20 min to an hour, or longer. In that time you can be Jody Ariased…stabbed 17 times, have your throat cut and shot in the head!
The Police will show up about 20-30 minutes later and declair a crime scene, process the evidence and maybe catch the perp.
Have a safe day!
Dontcha luv small government.
Yes, the solution is a cop on every block, not self reliance.
This NOT a matter of small government. They are NOT spending hours processing these applications. They rubber stamp them, spend $20 on the process, and pocket the extra.
This a government agency poorly run.
Former Chief Robert Stuart and Chief Mark Keel are both anti gun. They do not believe that citizens have the right to carry.
This is the mindset of the leadership, not the individual agents.
Most officers know 911 response time can run 20 min to an hour, or longer. In that time you can be Jody Ariased…stabbed 17 times, have your throat cut and shot in the head!
The Police will show up about 20-30 minutes later and declair a crime scene, process the evidence and maybe catch the perp.
Have a safe day!
Dontcha luv small government.
Yes, the solution is a cop on every block, not self reliance.
This NOT a matter of small government. They are NOT spending hours processing these applications. They rubber stamp them, spend $20 on the process, and pocket the extra.
This a government agency poorly run.
If Obama were running this state (thank God, he ain’t)…I’d be concerned…but you’re a lot more likely to get a blanket, retroactive renewal from our state legislators…than have to worry…
While FITS Bashes about all true Republicans, his squealing is really just sky-is-falling rhetoric that is based in liberalism…
You’ll be OK. I’ve learned that the elected officials will rule on the side of Conservatism mostly…They know who put them where they are…
No need to be a victim of FITS liberal fear-mongering. He’s just trying to put Sheheen in office…
PS: based on FITS comments regarding gun-law freedom, how long before the Obama Gestapo is on his door-step, demanding entry..I’d LMAO when that happens…
I finally got my new card last week, after submitting my renewal online and paying the $50 fee back in the first week of February. I had to wait two weeks after expiration to receive the new card.
I finally got my new card last week, after submitting my renewal online and paying the $50 fee back in the first week of February. I had to wait two weeks after expiration to receive the new card.
CWP is bullshit and all who have one know it, or should. You might as well send off to a bubblegum maker for a permit cause the training is bubblegum. Get serious about training and learning firearms, and then I’ll give a damn about your wait for renewal.
CWP is bullshit and all who have one know it, or should. You might as well send off to a bubblegum maker for a permit cause the training is bubblegum. Get serious about training and learning firearms, and then I’ll give a damn about your wait for renewal.
This “delay” has been the case for the longest time, I had to wait the full period to get mine a while back. Before the delay was a bit understandable because there was a huge spike in gun and ammo purchases and people getting their CWPs due to fears of federal gun control laws that never came to fruition. Even with the recent stuff going on this shouldn’t be the case now. SLED simply needs to put more people on processing these things, or fire the slow people.
Didn’t Haley brag about being a CWP holder?
She did. Nothing she won’t say or do if there is a vote in it for her. She also says she loves the First Loser.
This “delay” has been the case for the longest time, I had to wait a bit longer than the “full period” to get mine a while back. Before the delay was a bit understandable because there was a huge spike in gun and ammo purchases and people getting their CWPs due to fears of federal gun control laws that never came to fruition. Even with the recent stuff going on this shouldn’t be the case now. SLED simply needs to put more people on processing these things, or fire the slow people.
Didn’t Haley brag about being a CWP holder?
She did. Nothing she won’t say or do if there is a vote in it for her. She also says she loves the First Loser.
Offering up for consideration, as a temporary stop-gap provision:
1) If a citizen is stopped by an officer (for whatever reason) and does not have a current CWP, but can show that he has applied for but not yet received his renewal, then let the officer give a citation but not confiscate the firearm.
2) When the renewal is received present it to the police department who can then dismiss the citation.
3) If a renewal is denied (which I guess is possible for a number of reasons) then the citation stands and the person can just take the consequences.
4) How much time should the citation remain outstanding – I don’t know, but every police jurisdiction in SC knows there is a delay in approving and mailing the renewals. They should give this consideration.
Hopefully, there will be some common sense and discretion shown by officers who happen to stop people who are carrying and whose CWP has expired because the renewal is taking too long. The Academy and administrations try and take discretion out of the equation, such as extending “professional courtesy” to brother officers. Hopefully, enough officers can think for themselves that this does not become an issue for good people who wish only to be able to protect themselves.
Offering up for consideration, as a temporary stop-gap provision:
1) If a citizen is stopped by an officer (for whatever reason) and does not have a current CWP, but can show that he has applied for but not yet received his renewal, then let the officer give a citation but not confiscate the firearm.
2) When the renewal is received present it to the police department who can then dismiss the citation.
3) If a renewal is denied (which I guess is possible for a number of reasons) then the citation stands and the person can just take the consequences.
4) How much time should the citation remain outstanding – I don’t know, but every police jurisdiction in SC knows there is a delay in approving and mailing the renewals. They should give this consideration.
Hopefully, there will be some common sense and discretion shown by officers who happen to stop people who are carrying and whose CWP has expired because the renewal is taking too long. The Academy and administrations try and take discretion out of the equation, such as extending “professional courtesy” to brother officers. Hopefully, enough officers can think for themselves that this does not become an issue for good people who wish only to be able to protect themselves.
The biggest hold up on the issue and reissue is because of Homeland Security taking forever to process their part of the application, not SLED.
The biggest hold up on the issue and reissue is because of Homeland Security taking forever to process their part of the application, not SLED.
The laws states that if no good reason is found, SLED shall issue the permit within 90 days. I don’t understand why the holdup. It takes less than a couple of minutes to run an NCIC criminal history. Not sure how long it takes to run prints through AFIS but it shouldn’t take too long. I know people whose applications were delayed because their prints weren’t clear enough for FBI standards. Part of the process involves sending a letter to your home county’s Sheriff advising them of your application and asking if there are any comments (good or bad) the Sheriff wishes to make. I understand that Herman Young of Fairfield County is one of the few to actually respond to each letter. If no response is received after a week or two, the process continues anyway. Sheriff Young’s actions, I am told, speed up the process for his citizens.
If SLED runs an NCIC check and cannot find any good reason within 90 days to not issue the permit, they SHOULD issue the damn permit. Why does SLED not have to obey the law?
The laws are for the little people.
You’re right about that!!!! Sorry, I keep forgetting that bit of truth.
Corruption,,,,,your discontent towards SLED is an obvious sign you have applied, I’m sure several times, and couldn’t get a job there. I say try again. But stop acting like you have a clue about what your speaking about.
The laws states that if no good reason is found, SLED shall issue the permit within 90 days. I don’t understand why the holdup. It takes less than a couple of minutes to run an NCIC criminal history. Not sure how long it takes to run prints through AFIS but it shouldn’t take too long. I know people whose applications were delayed because their prints weren’t clear enough for FBI standards. Part of the process involves sending a letter to your home county’s Sheriff advising them of your application and asking if there are any comments (good or bad) the Sheriff wishes to make. I understand that Herman Young of Fairfield County is one of the few to actually responds to each letter. If no response is received after a week or two, the process continues anyway. Sheriff Young’s actions, I am told, speeds up the process for his citizens.
If SLED runs an NCIC check and cannot find any good reason within 90 days to not issue the permit, they SHOULD issue the damn permit. Why does SLED not have to obey the law?
The laws are for the little people.
You’re right about that!!!! Sorry, I keep forgetting that bit of truth.
Corruption,,,,,your discontent towards SLED is an obvious sign you have applied, I’m sure several times, and couldn’t get a job there. I say try again. But stop acting like you have a clue about what your speaking about.
SLED is blaming it the backlog on the fact that fingerprints in SC are taken with paper and ink and not electronic. There was a story on WIS a couple of weeks ago.
http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=235673
Fingerprints are not a requirement for a renewal. Looking at the boxes and boxes of unopened mail in the above reference news story, it appears that it is taking them the full length of time to get around to opening the applications, not to process them.
SLED is blaming it the backlog on the fact that fingerprints in SC are taken with paper and ink and not electronic. There was a story on WIS a couple of weeks ago.
http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=235673
Fingerprints are not a requirement for a renewal. Looking at the boxes and boxes of unopened mail in the above reference news story, it appears that it is taking them the full length of time to get around to opening the applications, not to process them.
My guess is that SLED is understaffed like other state agencies are.
So what do you want?
Fewer services and more delays?
More state employees to handle the demand?
My guess is that SLED is understaffed like other state agencies are.
So what do you want?
Fewer services and more delays?
More state employees to handle the demand?
Trey – let me know if you want to sue someone about this. Anyone.
– your lawyer cousin.
Trey – let me know if you want to sue someone about this. Anyone.
– your lawyer cousin.
Erskine, you are dealing with sate government, these idiots can’t get anything right and never use common sense. Worst yet it’s SLED, the most embarrassing law enforcement agency in our state. I hate that this has happened to you, don’t harass them too much they will find a way to arrest you, publicly humiliate you and take your CWP away.
Erskine, you are dealing with sate government, these idiots can’t get anything right and never use common sense. Worst yet it’s SLED, the most embarrassing law enforcement agency in our state. I hate that this has happened to you, don’t harass them too much they will find a way to arrest you, publicly humiliate you and take your CWP away.
The delays could be an attempt by SLED and politicians to squeeze money out of the CWP recipients. Pseudo-pro-gun Representative Mike Pitts from Greenwood has a bill in the works that would up the fee for a CWP or renewal 50% to $75. They claim it is necessary because SLED is spending more on processing the CWP’s than it is taking in via fees. Of course, one way to reduce the workload for SLED would be to extend the life of a CWP from the current four years, not even as long as a drivers’ license, to seven years, such as Florida has. This would cost the taxpayers nothing, but that isn’t what Pitts and SLED want.
Anything coming across Mike Pitts’ desk regarding “pro-gun” legislation should be eyed with extreme suspicion. Contrary to the image he has built for himself, he is NOT pro-gun. Like Jake Knotts, he may have been at one time, but is no longer.
The delays could be an attempt by SLED and politicians to squeeze money out of the CWP recipients. Pseudo-pro-gun Representative Mike Pitts from Greenwood has a bill in the works that would up the fee for a CWP or renewal 50% to $75. They claim it is necessary because SLED is spending more on processing the CWP’s than it is taking in via fees. Of course, one way to reduce the workload for SLED would be to extend the life of a CWP from the current four years, not even as long as a drivers’ license, to seven years, such as Florida has. This would cost the taxpayers nothing, but that isn’t what Pitts and SLED want.
Anything coming across Mike Pitts’ desk regarding “pro-gun” legislation should be eyed with extreme suspicion. Contrary to the image he has built for himself, he is NOT pro-gun. Like Jake Knotts, he may have been at one time, but is no longer.
ALL CWP permits (new and renewals) take 90 days. It sounds as though unfortunately, your original instructor did not share the renewal time frame information with you. It is ridiculous, but the reality is that you need to apply on the day that your renewal window opens – 90 days out. Every day that you wait to apply after your window opens adds an additional day that you will not have a valid permit.
I am NOT making excuses for SLED, but another hard reality is that the group who is charged with processing the apps has been whacked with budget and personnel cuts, while the number of applications/renewals has increased exponentially – and is now over 10,000 per month. They are relying on law enforcement volunteers (officers, deputies, constables) to help out to process the ever increasing mounds of apps.
Apply early, apply often…