Permit Cost - Why The Huge Difference?

[Thunder71]

Why does it only cost ~$20 for a drivers license (privilege) and as much as $100 for a permit to carry (right)? There seems to be a lot more effort in creating a drivers license than a permit to carry, guessing since it's a 'gun thing' they are trying to steer people away from it due to the cost involved.

Furthermore, I do not need to re-test as long as I keep my drivers license current (privilege), but am required to take a class (~$100) at least every 5 years to carry a gun (right).

[LarryFlew]

and such a HUGE break for renewal drops it from $100 to $75 after taking the renewal class.

[photogpat]

and such a HUGE break for renewal drops it from $100 to $75 after taking the renewal class.

Technically, by law, they're not allowed to charge more than actual costs - not to exceed $100 (or $75 for a renewal). Several counties charge less than that, and in some cases, far less.

The metro ones have yet to respond to requests for a detailed breakdown on how much it actually costs them to process a Carry Permit.

[Thunder71]

If there are counties who can do it for about $40, why not ask them how they are doing it and make that the standard across the state? Perhaps other counties aren't using their resources effectively and would appreciate some guidance as far as how to best process these requests.

[bensdad]

i should prolly start a new thread, but I've always been bothered by the costs of everything "gun". Not just the permit fee, but everything.

Think about it. A jug of bullseye is more or less a jug of carbon and hydrogen (prepared in a certain way). It should cost about as much as a pound of sugar, flour, etc. Look at the material and labor involved in making a handgun compared to a cordless drill. I bet the drill has ten times as many parts, with similar tolerances, and approximately as much in raw material. Yet I can get a drill for about 1/10 the cost (even comes with a bat. and charger)of a handgun. For the price of a cheap Rossi lever action, I could get a Stihl chainsaw (best in the business) and have $ left over for gas. Consider that the saw has WAY more parts, almost all moving, a working engine, carb, etc. etc. etc. The saw should cost three times more than the rifle.

[jgalt]

It is my understanding that part of the "costs" covered by the permit fee are attorney's fees for defending denials in court, and the payment of the court & attorney fees for those who appeal a denial & win.

In counties where more denials are appealed, the costs will be higher. I don't know if they are enough higher to warrant charging the max, but I suspect that this is a large part of the answer you are looking for...

[yukonjasper]

i should prolly start a new thread, but I've always been bothered by the costs of everything "gun". Not just the permit fee, but everything.

Think about it. A jug of bullseye is more or less a jug of carbon and hydrogen (prepared in a certain way). It should cost about as much as a pound of sugar, flour, etc. Look at the material and labor involved in making a handgun compared to a cordless drill. I bet the drill has ten times as many parts, with similar tolerances, and approximately as much in raw material. Yet I can get a drill for about 1/10 the cost (even comes with a bat. and charger)of a handgun. For the price of a cheap Rossi lever action, I could get a Stihl chainsaw (best in the business) and have $ left over for gas. Consider that the saw has WAY more parts, almost all moving, a working engine, carb, etc. etc. etc. The saw should cost three times more than the rifle.

Understand the logic and basically, from a materials standpoint you are technically correct, but you fail to include the demand side of the equation. The reason the handgun is more, is simply because someone is willing to pay more. There are also regulatory compliance, taxes and insurance that the manufacturers have to have that may be more than tool manufacturers, but probably not appreciably. If people stopped buying gun and gun related items at inflated prices, the inventory would go up and the prices would go down. Basic economics. No different than the current ammo situation. Stop buying up all the .22 ammo at ridiculous prices and the prices will stop being ridiculous.

[yukonjasper]

As for the OP - They do it because no one challenges the validity of the charges. As per PhotogPat's note, they technically can't arbitrarily charge what they want, but it appears they do. They can easily charge the max because they have to come up with the actual cost of administering to the permit, which is a number only they know since there is not much transparancy in the process and they don't really want to have the accountability that comes with some special interest group poking around. The answer is that they don't really have to worry about it because they can wear you out in the spinning world of bureacracy and processes etc. that they can fake better than you can unravel.

[bensdad]

Understand the logic and basically, from a materials standpoint you are technically correct, but you fail to include the demand side of the equation. The reason the handgun is more, is simply because someone is willing to pay more. There are also regulatory compliance, taxes and insurance that the manufacturers have to have that may be more than tool manufacturers, but probably not appreciably. If people stopped buying gun and gun related items at inflated prices, the inventory would go up and the prices would go down. Basic economics. No different than the current ammo situation. Stop buying up all the .22 ammo at ridiculous prices and the prices will stop being ridiculous.

Never said I didn't "understand" it Mr. condescending post. Said it bothered me.

[gunsmith]

It is my understanding that part of the "costs" covered by the permit fee are attorney's fees for defending denials in court, and the payment of the court & attorney fees for those who appeal a denial & win.

In counties where more denials are appealed, the costs will be higher. I don't know if they are enough higher to warrant charging the max, but I suspect that this is a large part of the answer you are looking for...

Andrew Rothman 'Schooled' Senator Latz on this very issue during the last legislative hearings.

Need to say at this point that Senator Latz is a Turd.

Latz wanted to CHANGE the MCPPA to NOT pay for attorney's fees for successfully appealed denials.

It was explained to Senator Turd that the PERMIT HOLDERS WERE PAYING THOSE LEGAL FEES WITHIN THEIR PERMIT FEES.

And that the intention was to spread the cost of defending a denial amongst the permit holders....THE STATE WAS NOT PAYING THESE PERMITEE LEGAL FEES.

Joe Olson was present at the hearing table and he was part of the original negotiations and this concept was agreed to by all parties to the negotiation. Latz simply had his head up his ass on this issue.

Body language experts have determined that not only is Latz a Dork but a Turd of the highest order as well:

[yukonjasper]

I do what I can to help others understand so that hey don't have to spend their energy being bothered. I conclude that part of being bothered is not understanding. If you understood why would you spend time being bothered by something you cant control like market economics. Someone missed their nap and is a little sensitive and cranky.

[2in2out]

i should prolly start a new thread, but I've always been bothered by the costs of everything "gun". Not just the permit fee, but everything.

Think about it. A jug of bullseye is more or less a jug of carbon and hydrogen (prepared in a certain way). It should cost about as much as a pound of sugar, flour, etc. Look at the material and labor involved in making a handgun compared to a cordless drill. I bet the drill has ten times as many parts, with similar tolerances, and approximately as much in raw material. Yet I can get a drill for about 1/10 the cost (even comes with a bat. and charger)of a handgun. For the price of a cheap Rossi lever action, I could get a Stihl chainsaw (best in the business) and have $ left over for gas. Consider that the saw has WAY more parts, almost all moving, a working engine, carb, etc. etc. etc. The saw should cost three times more than the rifle.

Yeah, we go through the same logic when buying nozzles, axes and tools for the fire department. It's unreal how much it all costs, and they look you straight in the eye, like they're giving you the best deal they possibly can. I think the cost of everything firearms-related is the same in that respect - not connected to the cost of materials but rather to how much they can get away with charging.

[yukonjasper]

I do what I can to help others understand so that hey don't have to spend their energy being bothered. I conclude that part of being bothered is not understanding. If you understood why would you spend time being bothered by something you cant control like market economics. Someone missed their nap and is a little sensitive and cranky.

[bensdad]

not connected to the cost of materials but rather to how much they can get away with charging.

Ah-Yup. I think the real culprit is LACK of demand. A small, but captive, market is the worst kind.

[MaryB]

What gets me is I can get a college degree totally online so I should at least be able to do the classroom portion of the CC class online and then pay a smaller fee for the shooting part.