Patrick
MSI Executive Member
Yes, you read that right.
The Chief of the Maryland State Police Handgun Licensing Division and I have been in regular communication during the period of the post-Woollard stay. The MSI Board has been working this in the background as well. Sorry we could not talk about it until now.
Our collective goal was to open lines of communication that can be used to remedy issues, answer questions and better streamline the issuance of permits. This was all predicated on the stay being lifted. MSP has been professional and courteous. They have avoided the political and legal arguments, and have been focused on making the system work for all. As a law-enforcement organization it is not their job to play cheerleader. They are working to fulfill the law.
This message contains some useful information for you, direct from MSI and MSP. Please read it carefully.
- MSP has completed several hundred (365, actually) non-G&S application investigations. These are effectively "done" and ready for permit issuance in 14 days. Each must have on final background check done, just to be sure you did not kill someone since they last looked at you.
- To be clear, MSP says that absent an order from another court to stay their actions, they will issue those permits in accordance with the law, "immediately." They have no intent on sitting on these any longer. They cannot issue anything before the 14-day window expires (that would violate the law). So sit tight and hope we don't get another delay.
- Do not request a hearing unless your permit has been denied. MSP cannot process apps in the 90-day window right now, and if you ask or a hearing based on that fact, your application will be even further delayed. Every hearing requires significant work on the part of MSP, and the same people processing apps are the same people preparing the hearing.
- Pre-stay applications that were not returned are either done or in process. If your application was not returned, it is in work. I do not have a list of those who are complete. This is not only a violation of privacy-protected information, but it would cause my email to explode with status requests. Not gonna happen.
- Likewise, the MSP cannot take people at the door and hand these out in 30 minutes or less. Calling every 10 minutes will slow things down. MSI will not broker requests for routine status. We will watch the process, for sure.
- For the record, I am not in the initial pool of permits being issued.
For those who have not yet applied, or previously had their applications returned:
- MSP sent back a number of applications a few months back. They did this because after the stay was issued, they would have been required to deny them outright. So as a matter of service, they sent back the application and your check so that you were not burned out of $75. All those conspiracy theories (mine included) ignored the simple answer: they didn't feel right taking the money if they had no choice but to deny you. It was extra work on their part.
- MSP will accept non-G&S permits today. HOWEVER, if you apply in the next 13 days, you are taking some chance that you will lose your money if the 4th Circuit issues a stay. MSP is not going to hold or send back checks this time. That was a one-time deal. They are going to cash every single check the day it shows up. If you send a check today and the 4th issues a stay next week, your check is gone and your permit is denied. MSP/MSI advice is, "wait unless you don't mind losing the money."
- MSP asks that you leave the REASON line blank on your application, unless you have a G&S reason. If you do, please go the full G&S route.
As for futures:
- We are talking the details of a new streamlined application process. MSP is trying to bring on more people to process applications, and they are pushing hard to modernize their permit application and processing system. Of all the things that could be a problem, their laminating/card machine is old and failing. Go figure.
- Some of the G&S investigations may well be moot. This is a lot of work for them. We'll see where this goes.
- Training: another topic for another day, but there will be a push for it this coming session. MSI's official stance has always been to not require it, but the fact is we will have to work to make sure any standard is reasonable and attainable. I'd rather we be in the fold, than out of it.
Overall
On a personal note, we are moving forward. There is a chance that AG Gansler connects a "Hail Mary" pass in the next two weeks and we get another stay. I will leave such prognostications for others. But if a stay is handed down, we're back to waiting.
The good news is that MSP will issue permits in accordance with the law. They are interested in "professional, efficient service to all". Everything I have seen thus far suggests they mean it.
The Chief of the Maryland State Police Handgun Licensing Division and I have been in regular communication during the period of the post-Woollard stay. The MSI Board has been working this in the background as well. Sorry we could not talk about it until now.
Our collective goal was to open lines of communication that can be used to remedy issues, answer questions and better streamline the issuance of permits. This was all predicated on the stay being lifted. MSP has been professional and courteous. They have avoided the political and legal arguments, and have been focused on making the system work for all. As a law-enforcement organization it is not their job to play cheerleader. They are working to fulfill the law.
This message contains some useful information for you, direct from MSI and MSP. Please read it carefully.
- MSP has completed several hundred (365, actually) non-G&S application investigations. These are effectively "done" and ready for permit issuance in 14 days. Each must have on final background check done, just to be sure you did not kill someone since they last looked at you.
- To be clear, MSP says that absent an order from another court to stay their actions, they will issue those permits in accordance with the law, "immediately." They have no intent on sitting on these any longer. They cannot issue anything before the 14-day window expires (that would violate the law). So sit tight and hope we don't get another delay.
- Do not request a hearing unless your permit has been denied. MSP cannot process apps in the 90-day window right now, and if you ask or a hearing based on that fact, your application will be even further delayed. Every hearing requires significant work on the part of MSP, and the same people processing apps are the same people preparing the hearing.
- Pre-stay applications that were not returned are either done or in process. If your application was not returned, it is in work. I do not have a list of those who are complete. This is not only a violation of privacy-protected information, but it would cause my email to explode with status requests. Not gonna happen.
- Likewise, the MSP cannot take people at the door and hand these out in 30 minutes or less. Calling every 10 minutes will slow things down. MSI will not broker requests for routine status. We will watch the process, for sure.
- For the record, I am not in the initial pool of permits being issued.
For those who have not yet applied, or previously had their applications returned:
- MSP sent back a number of applications a few months back. They did this because after the stay was issued, they would have been required to deny them outright. So as a matter of service, they sent back the application and your check so that you were not burned out of $75. All those conspiracy theories (mine included) ignored the simple answer: they didn't feel right taking the money if they had no choice but to deny you. It was extra work on their part.
- MSP will accept non-G&S permits today. HOWEVER, if you apply in the next 13 days, you are taking some chance that you will lose your money if the 4th Circuit issues a stay. MSP is not going to hold or send back checks this time. That was a one-time deal. They are going to cash every single check the day it shows up. If you send a check today and the 4th issues a stay next week, your check is gone and your permit is denied. MSP/MSI advice is, "wait unless you don't mind losing the money."
- MSP asks that you leave the REASON line blank on your application, unless you have a G&S reason. If you do, please go the full G&S route.
As for futures:
- We are talking the details of a new streamlined application process. MSP is trying to bring on more people to process applications, and they are pushing hard to modernize their permit application and processing system. Of all the things that could be a problem, their laminating/card machine is old and failing. Go figure.
- Some of the G&S investigations may well be moot. This is a lot of work for them. We'll see where this goes.
- Training: another topic for another day, but there will be a push for it this coming session. MSI's official stance has always been to not require it, but the fact is we will have to work to make sure any standard is reasonable and attainable. I'd rather we be in the fold, than out of it.
Overall
On a personal note, we are moving forward. There is a chance that AG Gansler connects a "Hail Mary" pass in the next two weeks and we get another stay. I will leave such prognostications for others. But if a stay is handed down, we're back to waiting.
The good news is that MSP will issue permits in accordance with the law. They are interested in "professional, efficient service to all". Everything I have seen thus far suggests they mean it.
