JS> Dang, I live near the cities here in Minnesota and to purchase a
JS> handgun requires a permit which I get from the nearest police department.
JS> It takes about three days and is mailed to me. It seems that the city or
JS> state police are required to grant a permit unless they can show that
JS> someone should be denied. The permit is good for a year and is renewable.
JS> My 9mm I took home the next day while my 44 mag (About a year later) took
JS> about a week to get. There is no permit required here for long gunswhich
JS> I have a half dozen or so.
 
Here, an FBI background check is performed while you wait.  It takes only a
few minutes, and since I've NEVER been in trouble , I take my
purchase with me.  I wish my Colt .45 felt as good in my hand as my Glock
.45.
 
JS> A permit to carry here costs about $80 and requires the completion of
JS> a $100 gun safety course.
 
That's about the same here.  The course consists of a class conducted by
someone qualified to instruct in the safety of firearm use and the next day
we are taken to a shooting range, usually the sheriff's pistol and rifle
range.  One shot outside of the black area of the target and you have to
start all over, which includes paying another fee to the instructor.  I had
a brand new Colt .45 at the time, but since I hadn't fired it (and didn't
want to at the time), my instructor let me use his Glock 9mm.  I fell in
love with the way that gun felt in my hand.
 
Later on, I let my instructor fire my Colt .45 and he discovered the rear
sight was off slightly.  That would have, if I'd used it, disqualified me
during the shooting phase.  I have to correct that rear sight by tapping on
it to the right and then it'll shoot straight if I need to aim at
something. Usually a finger point is sufficient.  The Glock, in the
meantime, has become my weapon of choice, outside of a GAU-8. (-:
 
 
Regards,
 
Roger

... Idiot (id-ee-it) n.-> One who disagrees with me.
--- D'Bridge 2.95