NEW MADRID - Residents of New Madrid County wanting to carry concealed weapons can begin making applications today.
New Madrid County Sheriff Terry Stevens announced Tuesday his department will accept applications for concealed firearms permits. Applications will be taken between 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. each Wednesday and Friday at the Sheriff's Department in New Madrid.
Individuals wishing to apply for a concealed gun permit must have a copy of a certificate of completion of firearm safety course and show proof of residency in New Madrid County. Also required is a money order made out to the Missouri State Highway Patrol for $38 which is the cost for the processing fee for the fingerprint criminal background check. State law requires applicants to be 23 years of age.
According to the sheriff, his department is not charging for their part of the application process.
The law requires the permit to be issued within 45 days of filing the application.
The county was one of the few in the area which was not currently taking applications for concealed gun permits. Stevens explained he had been waiting in hopes the Legislature would solve some of the problems the Missouri Sheriff's Association has found in the law. "I finally decided I couldn't wait for the legislature to fix this problem any longer because it looks like they won't be fixed anytime soon," said Stevens.
He estimated since the Legislature approved the law allowing Missourians to carry concealed firearms he has had about a dozen citizens contact him about the application process.
The Scott County Sheriff's Department began accepting applications in early April and the Pemiscot County Sheriff's Department began accepting applications on May 3. Currently Mississippi County does not accept applications for the right to carry concealed weapons.