PA CCW / LTC license: carry original or copy in wallet?

[BigDawg]

I have a PA CCW license.

As we know it is just a piece of paper.

I laminated the original to keep in my car and made a high quality shrunken photocopy which I laminated for my wallet.

If my wallet card was scrutinized by the authorities, the original is not far away. I do not want to ruin the original by carrying it around.


I would like to know your thoughts on this idea.

[Pa. Patriot]

Well, you are likely to get lots of "ideas" on the subject But as far as the law is concerned you are perfectly fine carrying a copy.

Most counties issue a plastic card w/photo and it is legal state issued ID. But absent any reason to use it as ID (like you already have a DL) I would recommend carrying the copy.

[dc dalton]

Wow, what county still does paper LTCF?

Even my old one (issued back in 1987) was a laminated card ... the new one I have has a photo and is laminated ....

So what backwater county still does paper ones?

[MadMax777]

I got mine last year and it was a nice, laminated card they printed out right at the court house. I can't imagine why they'd issue paper licenses anymore.

[BigDawg]

I got mine last year and it was a nice, laminated card they printed out right at the court house. I can't imagine why they'd issue paper licenses anymore.

I forgot to mention that mine is a non-res LTCF. I am from Massachusetts.

[skyjerk]

Wow, what county still does paper LTCF?

Even my old one (issued back in 1987) was a laminated card ... the new one I have has a photo and is laminated ....

So what backwater county still does paper ones?

Chester County still offers the old paper one for $25.00 and the nice PVC card
for $45.00

Just got mine last week and opted for the paper version.

The paper license does have your photo on it, as well as a raised seal.

I was told that you are not allowed to laminate this because you wouldn't be able to verify the raised seal.

I made a high quality photo copy for my wallet and keep the original in my safe.

I was tempted to get the nice plastic card, but 20 bucks is 20 bucks. I went cheap and have no regrets :-)

[skyjerk]

I forgot to mention that mine is a non-res LTCF. I am from Massachusetts.

They have some pretty obnoxious firearm laws up there in Massachusetts dont they?
I'm from there originally (Gloucester), but left a long time ago. Still have brothers up there.

My brother Dean doesnt feel like buying a gun because apparently its WAY too much hassle.

[RoyJackson]

York County LCTF's are paper, but laminated.
I carry the original...no particular reason, but I've been carrying the originals for 20 years and see no reason to change.

[ranger7]

I have a resident LTCF from Lancaster County. It's a nice wallet size card with a photo printed on it. It looks laminated but all the variable text and the photo are printed on the surface of the card. I had much of the text wear off the card in a couple of years. I was concerned that it was becoming illegible. I asked the clerk about it in the Sheriff's office and he said I could replace the card for $5. Since my card data/photo wasn't already stored on their computer, I had to have my picture taken again. (In the future they will be able to print a duplicate without re-taking my picture.)

I took my new card to a copy shop and had a high quality color copy made of both sides (although the printing on the back is just black on white). I trimmed the copies to the size of the new "original," put the copies back to back and had it laminated. It looks 99% like the original. I've used it at the court house when checking my pistol and the deputies didn't question it at all. I now have a more durable copy to carry in addition to the original stored at home.

I've also read reports of Philadelphia police illegally seizing people's lawful LTCF card, probably because they seek to discourage concealed carry in the city. I do on rare occasions go into Philly and I carry every single time. If my LTCF is seized illegally, I can, with almost no hassle, replace it with another copy or the original on my own, without answering anyone's questions on why it was taken.

[mythaeus]

Get a new wallet, preferably one that doesn't destroy your ID cards. Unless you're planning on showing off your LTCF to everyone you meet, I don't expect pulling it out of your wallet more than once a year, if that. Carry the original, keep the copy in the car. I don't know why you would want to produce a copy in the age of Photoshop.

Al