Scott County sheriff says concealed carry changes going well

BENTON, Mo. -- Changes to the concealed-carry permitting process are working out well, according to a local sheriff.

As of Aug. 28, identification cards for Missouri's permit to carry a concealed firearm are no longer issued through the Missouri Department of Revenue but are produced by the county sheriff's department, according to Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter.

Walter said since the change went into effect, his office has issued 57 carry concealed identification cards. That number includes new concealed-carry permits and renewals, he said.

"It's been working pretty well for us," Walter said. "We've had positive feedback from the folks that have done it so far -- pretty much everyone who has come to our window has been positive about the changes."

Before the change, the sheriff's department would fill a shall-issue form after a successful background check on the applicant. The applicant then would take that form to a local license bureau, which would produce a new license or a state ID card indicating a valid concealed-carry permit.

"We are printing these out now. Now we pretty much do everything here," Walter said. "The only thing they have to wait on is the background check from the FBI."

The new concealed-carry card does not have a picture on it, according to Walter.

"To be valid, it has to have another form of ID with it, like your driver's license or another government issued ID," he explained.

Another change is the CCW endorsement is good for five years, instead of three years for permits issued before Aug. 28.

Walter said the state has funded the purchase of ID machines that will go to sheriff's departments.

"We're hoping to have most of those in place by the first of the year. They will go to the areas that are busier -- metropolitan areas -- first," he said.

Walter said having the ID machine will streamline the process.

"Right now, it's two steps for us," he said. "We print it out on paper with all the information, and then we laminate it."

Data for the concealed-carry permits will be kept by the Missouri Sheriff's Association.

"That information will be in a central server with the Missouri Sheriff's Association taking care of it -- no other agency will have access to that information," Walter said.

To access that information, the association will have to be presented with subpoena, he explained.

The charge for a concealed carry permit is $100, of which $30.50 goes to state for fingerprints, according to Walter. A replacement card will cost $10.

"If you move to another county, you go to that sheriff's office," Walter said. "They will issue you another card after you prove residency in that county."

Walter said there also is a change that will make his job easier as far as concealed-carry course instructors.

"Now all concealed-carry course instructors are approved locally by their sheriff and then their course certificate is good anywhere in the state," he explained. "So that's a big help to us, rather than having to approve every instructor from around the state I got a certificate from."