| State you are moving from: | State you are moving to: |
|---|---|
| When does your current permit expire? | What are the permit requirements? |
| Will citizenship in a new state render your current permit invalid? | How long will it take for the state to issue a new permit? |
| Does your current state honor permits from your new home state? | Does your new home state honor non-resident permits from other states? |
| Are you required to alert your current state of any changes in your address? | What are your options while waiting for your permit to be issued? |
Summary:
Moving to a new state requires research and action to keep your concealed carry permit current. Study the laws in both the state you are leaving and the state you will be moving to. Check for reciprocity between the states and ask questions about how much time it will take to get a new permit. You might want to consider getting a non-resident permit from a state like Florida or Utah if such a permit is honored in the state you will be relocating to.
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[ Guest post by USCCA Member T. Henderson ]
Life Complicates Things
If you’re planning on transferring concealed carry permits to another state, you need to do some advance thinking and coordinating to preserve your ability to concealed carry your weapon.
I recently moved, but up until then I had been a Michigan resident since retiring from the U.S. Army in 1995. I had a ringside seat as Michigan went through spasms of hoplophobic. It finally ended with the passage of concealed carry legislation.
So, upon learning that I was naked, I put my daily carry weapon into the safe. I then immediately applied for an Idaho carry permit.
I got a Michigan carry permit in the spring of 2005. It was good for five years. I was out of the country for much of that time. But when I took some home leave during Christmas 2009, I was able to visit the Wayne County offices to submit the paperwork and pay the fees for the renewal. In February 2010, a couple of months or so before my original Michigan carry permit would have expired, I received my renewed permit which was good for four years, through February 2014.
When I came back to the U.S. late last summer, my wife and I started the process of moving from Michigan to Idaho. I say process, because this move has been much more a “process” than an event. We still have a house in Michigan, and three grandsons there, so we really have a foot in both puddles.
Nonetheless, this past spring, I declared myself an Idaho citizen. I also got myself an Idaho driver’s license along with an Idaho hunting and fishing license. My wife, who also has a Michigan carry permit, still has her Michigan driver’s license and is still a Michigan citizen. If she doesn’t become an Idaho citizen by the end of the year, I’m going to have some complicated tax paperwork next spring. But that’s not the issue I want to address here.
Related: Concealed Carry Reciprocity Map
Bad Assumption, Faulty Thinking
I was dismayed to learn that as soon as I got my Idaho driver’s license, my Michigan carry permit became invalid. Though I should have thought that through in advance, I didn’t. My only thought linking my move and my carry status was, “I’m good into 2014.” The burning issue in my mind was wetting a line and shooting some varmints. My assumption was that my Michigan carry permit was good for a few more years. I’d apply for an Idaho permit when it expired. Bad assumption, faulty thinking. Worse than faulty — it was stupid thinking.
Many thanks to one of our USCCA forum members, RayMich, for researching how my change of residence impacted my legal carry status. And thank you for keeping me out of trouble! RayMich also found that Michigan has no statutory requirement for permit holders to turn in their licenses when they move. The license is simply no longer valid, and no state will honor it if it’s not backed up with some proof of Michigan residency, such as a Michigan driver’s license.
I put my daily carry weapon into the safe and immediately applied for an Idaho carry permit. I found getting a carry permit in Idaho to be a very easy process. My retired military ID sufficed to meet the training requirement. All that was involved in applying was a brief visit to the county sheriff’s office where I paid the fee, got fingerprinted and filled out the form. It took 20 minutes to do it, including getting the fingerprints done. The folks at the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office were fast, friendly and efficient.
The Catch
Problem solved, right? Not exactly. Idaho law gives the sheriff a long time to process the application. After taking my application, the deputy said, “Call us around July 1 to see what the outcome is.” The result is that I received my Idaho carry permit in early July. For three months, from April through June, it was not legal for me to carry a concealed weapon. Major bummer!
If you’re moving, research the permit requirements at your new home.
I suppose that’s no big deal. I’m very grateful that nothing happened. I hope nothing happens in the future that would call for use of my carry weapon. But I would rather have not had this three-month gap in my personal-defense system. I think most folks who are reading this probably feel the same way about maintaining their carry permits uninterrupted.
Lesson Learned
If you’re transferring concealed carry permits to another state, research the permit requirements at your new home. Don’t rush out there and get a driver’s license that doesn’t match the state that issued your carry permit. Instead, check out alternative means of proving your residency. Get your new state carry permit application submitted and your new permit in hand before you do something that negates the legitimacy of your existing one. I hope my words of advice (and embarrassing experience) will spares you an interruption in your legal carry status.
