Attitude Renewing CC Permit in Montco

[skiman723]

I was curious if my recent experience at the Montco Sheriff's office was unique. I originally got my permit as a Philadelphia resident 5 years ago, and I am a month away from the permit expiring. Since the Montco sheriff's website basically says to show up, fill out the form, and pay the money to renew, I headed down there to renew. When I arrived, there was no wait, and I told the person behind the desk that I was there to renew. He asked for my current permit and license and I provided it. When he saw that it was not issued by Montco, but Philadelphia, he said that I was a "new applicant". As a "new applicant" I would have to get my local police chief to sign a form and therefore couldn't renew that day. (It has been two working days and I still don't have the form back from my local police department.) As he started to explain the police check form, I interrupted him to be sure that I had to do this as I still have a non-expired permit issued in PA, and the website didn't mention this at all. His response in a loud and threatening tone was "Do you want a permit? Because if you don't, there's the door. Do you want a permit" "Yes" "I'm explaining how to get one, so stop interupting me and listen." I honestly thought if I questioned him again that he was going to throw me out. In my own stupidity, I didn't look for his name in all the excitement.
I've seriously considered writing a letter to the Sheriff to complain about the unnecessarily threatening treatment of his staff and the lack of clarity on the website, but wanted to see if I just met this guy on a bad day. Two things about this really made me angry. First, the whole attitude that I was given when I was trying to understand the procedure was unwarrented and the threatening tone was inappropriate. Second, if I've already gone through the vetting process in PA, why am I being forced to go through it again? I can honestly say that when I received my original permit in Philadelphia, the staff was efficient and professional. They even had the forms on their website to keep you from having to make unnecessary trips. In this case I had to drive to Norristown just to pick up the form and now I'll have to drive down again to get it processed.

[bnkrtstk]

When the wife and I moved from Philly to Lansdale we had to reapply. But we were told over the phone. We don't live in the borough so we had to go to Hatfield PD. We got home from dropping off the forms and there was a message on the machine stating they were ready. No attitude at the Sheriff's office, in fact they guys there joked with my kids.

[ziggy222]

sounds unique to me but i have always been in butler county.at least,i have'nt changed the address to any other counties since i've had it that is.i just show up,pay for the renew and leave with my new permit.no talking was involved accept to say renew please.they gave me a bunch of gun locks for free and were very pleasant.

[soberbyker]

Can't help you with Montco, but in nearby Delaware County the "new" and "renewal" are the same form/process with the exception that you check a different box, "new" or "renewal".

Seems each county has their own rules, nothing is truly uniform about the supposedly uniform process.

Bill
.

[Whiskey Delta]

Sad, but some 'public servants' tend to forget that they are there to SERVE THE PUBLIC.

Whether or not the information he was providing you was correct, he had no cause to correct you in that fashion.

I would have said "Yes, I am still interested in a permit, but I would like to speak with your supervisor first regarding your behavior".

It is not too late to complain. I would write a letter of complaint, simply stating that your not understanding the nuances of the law, especially those that weren't spelled out on their informational website, are not sufficient cause to be treated like a criminal by the counter help.

I would take said letter with me, and ask for the office supervisor and ask to speak with him privately.

I would tell him of your experiences and hand him the written document. Add that being treated like an idiot in front of other customers should warrant an apology in equally public place.

You will not get the satisfaction of knowing what happened, but you can bet that this guy will be spoken to. You should get a public apology too.

After you are done speaking with the manager, go out and finish your paperwork.

[HiredGoon]

Originally Posted by skiman723

I was curious if my recent experience at the Montco Sheriff's office was unique. I originally got my permit as a Philadelphia resident 5 years ago, and I am a month away from the permit expiring. Since the Montco sheriff's website basically says to show up, fill out the form, and pay the money to renew, I headed down there to renew. When I arrived, there was no wait, and I told the person behind the desk that I was there to renew. He asked for my current permit and license and I provided it. When he saw that it was not issued by Montco, but Philadelphia, he said that I was a "new applicant". As a "new applicant" I would have to get my local police chief to sign a form and therefore couldn't renew that day. (It has been two working days and I still don't have the form back from my local police department.) As he started to explain the police check form, I interrupted him to be sure that I had to do this as I still have a non-expired permit issued in PA, and the website didn't mention this at all. His response in a loud and threatening tone was "Do you want a permit? Because if you don't, there's the door. Do you want a permit" "Yes" "I'm explaining how to get one, so stop interupting me and listen." I honestly thought if I questioned him again that he was going to throw me out. In my own stupidity, I didn't look for his name in all the excitement.
I've seriously considered writing a letter to the Sheriff to complain about the unnecessarily threatening treatment of his staff and the lack of clarity on the website, but wanted to see if I just met this guy on a bad day. Two things about this really made me angry. First, the whole attitude that I was given when I was trying to understand the procedure was unwarrented and the threatening tone was inappropriate. Second, if I've already gone through the vetting process in PA, why am I being forced to go through it again? I can honestly say that when I received my original permit in Philadelphia, the staff was efficient and professional. They even had the forms on their website to keep you from having to make unnecessary trips. In this case I had to drive to Norristown just to pick up the form and now I'll have to drive down again to get it processed.

Was the guy behind the desk a deputy (in uniform) or a clerk?

Either way, a very unprofessional attitude. I think a talk with the sheriff, about his staff member, would be in order.

Police check card...again this comes up as it does every so often. That's really strange that Montco does this.

[skiman723]

Originally Posted by HiredGoon

Was the guy behind the desk a deputy (in uniform) or a clerk?

Either way, a very unprofessional attitude. I think a talk with the sheriff, about his staff member, would be in order.

Police check card...again this comes up as it does every so often. That's really strange that Montco does this.

It was a deputy or some other person in uniform.

Is the police check card legal? I thought that unless you'd be convicted of one of the offences listed on the form, they can't deny you a permit. So what is the police chief supposed to be checking? What if they refuse to sign it?

[biddy]

Originally Posted by soberbyker

Seems each county has their own rules, nothing is truly uniform about the supposedly uniform process.

Bill
.

here in bradford county, we don't have to have a form signed by the local pd
i just went to the sheriffs office filled out the form and paid my $25 and waited about ten days before i got my ltcf

[Robert Kayland]

Lehigh County doesn't ask for any police check card... just go to the sheriff's office and fill out the form and pay your money.

[MartinBrody]

I have a cousin in Archbald, PA (not sure what county that is) and we were talking about our LTCFs ... he said he went in, they yelled at him for some reason, then gave him the permit. Reminds me of getting my drivers license when the test was administered by the PSP.