Well Arizona CCW can be done by mail but Nevada recognizes it, no live fire there.
Again it all comes down to either money or politics; who comes up with the state standards....not the NRA. In Nevada I believe the people that make the laws take advice from a group of LE on what the standards should be.
Doc,
In my opinion it is about CONTROL and POWER by state LEO associations (ie: Sheriffs Associations). I say that as someone who had an Uncle (retired OK state police) and brother (PA LEO) and LEO experience while in the NAVY (28 years). I have traveled in (49) states and the conversations I've had with LEOs has led me to believe when you have POWER (possession of a weapon) there is a reluctance to allow others who you consider LESS than you to have that same power.
At the many ranges I have gone to across the U.S. while traveling in my motor coach after I retired, I have consistently watched serious non LEO weapon holders perform at or above the level of the active duty LEOs on the range.
So why then the requirements for classes in NV which has a reputation with Libertarian leanings? The police/sheriffs think that NO ONE can be as good as them. It is called the GOD complex. You experience the same smugness from doctors who think you couldn't possibly know what you are talking about when you suggest symptoms or forms of treatment for a medical condition you have.
The NV sheriffs have convinced the legislature that they are the moral authority on weapon "rationing" in the state. In my travels I have found that the further you get away from the Northeast US, Illinois and California and the remaining metropolitan areas the "smarter" and less GOD complex the LEOs are.
My hope is before I die(not planning on it in the near future) that I somehow play a small part in getting NV to become a "constitutional carry) state by sheer intimidation and fear through the ballot box as that is the only thing politicians fear.
As far as Arizona goes there are only (2) reasons to get a CCW from there. One is to get reciprocity from as many states as possible and for those situations where a CCW permit allows you to do certain things that a constitution carry in the state does not allow you to do. And in case you don't know Doc, you can CCW or OC in Arizona
without a permit in Arizona in most situations.
Doc, I just bought a home in Las Vegas 5/11 as my final retirement home. While at the Ft Huachuca Army Post RV park in 1/11-2/11, I went to Walmart to pick up some things. What I saw in Walmart nearly floored me. There was a 70ish year old guy with cowboy boots, cowboy hat, cowboy shirt and (2) Colt 45s in holsters with leather leg straps. I thought, did I make a wrong turn somewhere and end up in Tombstone. I never saw anything like that in PA where you can OC. After the initial shock I realized I liked that
Long/short, stopped at a Sierra Vista gun shop that day, got the low down on the 2010 constitutional carry law and signed up for a CCW class. So when you said you took a (3) hour CCW class, my tingle alarm went off. My instructor was Joshua Mayne of LightFighter CCW (former Army weapons instructor) of Sierra Vista and from him I gathered the Arizona CCW is (8) hours minimum. Also we did have to range qualify.
That being said, to all I have been a lurker for about (6) months and wanted to get the "flavor" of the site before I jumped in. Will start to OC once I get my CCW so I can switch back and forth for reasons I am not at liberty to discuss because my age (63) and wisdom has taught me the "enemy" watches and listens and would like to stop or limit some of our rights. Not paranoid, just careful.
I have learned a lot from you guys and hope to learn more.
NAVYBLUE