I agree with you and, I am sure that almost everyone on this forum will be maintaining their LTCs for a few reason including for the reciprocity with other states as well as the waived background checks for gun buys.Beiruty wrote: ↑Fri May 07, 2021 10:29 am Some gun owner/shooter (dem) was questioning why Qualification Shooting is gone too.
The guy was pushing me hard to admit that unlicensed carry is not a wise idea.
I countered make the course free, shooting qualification included and very short time to issue the license and I am all for keeping LTC.
On the other hand, I will keep renewing my LTC.
Since they've reduced the cost to apply/renew the LTC it's much more available to the public.
I don't see how they can make the training/qualification free except to have state employees as instructors, but I would expect the application fee to increase in order to pay for the state training program. Bad idea in my opinion.
But I could see a state sanctioned online gun safety/basic handgun overview course (similar to "defensive driving") which could be free or nearly free to the public. It's something that's been discussed at length already on the forum, but they could basically "adopt" a course from the NRA. It could satisfy the classroom portion of the LTC training, then you'd only need an instructor to administer the Qualification.
They should continue to lower the barriers to obtaining an LTC, especially with the passing of Constitutional Carry. The state would be wise to emphasize the incentives of obtaining the LTC. Make it easier and even more affordable to get the LTC. Their is value in having the LTC vs. carrying under the legal authority of the Constitutional Carry Legislation. Plus with an LTC you are a member of a community of licensed handgun carriers. And the state gets more people the basic safety and legal overviews that more people need to know as well as the finger prints, background checks etc that they want. It's a win-win