Things have changed majorly with the Patriot Act. Sheriffs (unless they know you personally, in which case some things slide a bit) have to do a background check, whether it's a new permit or a lapsed on. They can take 30 days and I hear they frequently do. BTW, I'd suggest the extra $10 per year for the laminated version with the photo on it. That can come in very handy, if you're checked in a reciprocity state...
I went Monday to get mine renewed. Couldn't mail it in because they now require a new application. Morgan County lets you get it for five years so I paid $100 to get it valid through 2019. It used to be yearly renewal. I guess all counties are similar?
Madison is the same. I'm surprised that Baldwin is so much higher, for a basically rural county. Must be a local act for revenue...
Simpler here, but usually more than two weeks in Madison County. If you know the sheriff, the background check goes a little faster. I've never understood why, when you go to buy a weapon, the federal background check is done in about ten minutes and it can take the sheriff's office up to 30 days (their maximum legal limit)...
I think it's strictly up to the individual sheriff's office as to how much in the way of resources he (or she, for Morgan County) wants to devote to it. One week after I applied, my app was not even logged on their web site, so I called in. The sole intake clerk explained that she had had 200 apps the week I applied and hadn't had time to log them in yet. That's when I decided to do an end run and use and little "PI." I got it later that day...
Alabama has the "stand your ground" law, but, like most states, no one knows exactly what it means yet. Cases like the one in FL haven't helped. There has always been a saying in the law that "hard cases make bad law." Without getting too technical, at common law, one was always required to retreat as far as possible before using deadly force. If you're in your home, you were considered to have already retreated as far as possible. Some states broadened it to the "close," the territory immediately surrounding the home. In public, you were on your own to prove the retreat. I think the fear a lot of prosecutors have had is the temptation towards vigilantism...
In Georgia , the 'Castle Doctrine' was expanded to include your vehicle or place of business. One thing, and everyone that carries a weapon should understand this, that once you pull a trigger your life will change forever
In addition to coveting a Springfield XD, I have my eye on a 1911. No particular model, but I do see one in my future.
