Since January 1, 2024, California law has added more requirements for CCW permits. Eight hour renewal classes and sixteen hour initial classes are now required. Part of the course content is now mandated by the new laws. CCW instructors are now required to be certified by the state, not just the local issuing agency. Let’s go over these changes and why some of them are quite beneficial to those Californians who pack.
The longer hours has resulted in higher course fees. The hours and $$$ has resulted in some people not renewing their permits. My only comment on that is those who do not obtain or renew their permits may one day regret it when they really need that handgun and don’t have it with them, or regret it when they are convicted of carrying without the permit and no longer are allowed to own guns.
The state certification of CCW instructors has resulted in many of them either ceasing instruction or upgrading their training certifications to meet the new standards. I never did like instructors with an NRA Basic Handgun certification teaching people to carry and use handguns. They were under-qualified. That part of the new law has resulted in more competent instruction by many who provide this service.
Course content is now required to include one hour of “mental health” training, usually a video. The actual content of that hour is not specified in the law. I actually enjoy providing interesting and thought-provoking videos for that hour. Students tell me they enjoyed the video and learned things from it. So that requirement is not as burdensome as one might think.
A written test is now required. The content is not specified in the law. My tests reinforce the basic safety concepts of owning and using guns. So far I have a 100% pass rate so I must be doing something right!
For the second eight hours of the initial permit course, I chose to include part of the content of my Intermediate Handgun course. I instruct students to reload and clear malfunctions using dummy rounds. These are practical skills that many who pack have never learned, or did not learn correctly or adequately. Again, students tell me they appreciated learning those two skills. I also include instruction on using flashlights with handguns as I always have in the initial classes, a skill that students can use at home or on the streets. Any beginning or basic student can benefit from these skills.
All in all, the new state requirements are not as bad as some would say they are. I am not stating that I endorse the state being allowed to inhibit our Second Amendment rights with these requirements. I am stating that for the time being it is the law of the land, so we should have a positive attitude and make it a good learning experience.