It has been more than 18 months since Missouri joined the majority of states now offering law-abiding citizens the opportunity of legally defending themselves through a concealed carry weapons (CCW) permit. For those who have considered applying for one, here’s a summary of what you’ll need to know:

The first step in obtaining a concealed carry weapons permit/endorsement is to ensure that you’re qualified. Yes, not just anyone can waltz in and obtain a permit.

In Missouri, applicants must be at least 23 years old and have been a resident of the state for at least six months.

Of course, you’ll need to have a clean criminal record, can not have been dishonorably discharged from military service and then there’s the stipulation that the applicant be mentally competent.

The only other stipulation that might put a CCW permit out of reach is if an applicant has engaged in a pattern of behavior, documented in public records, that causes the local sheriff to have a reasonable belief that he/she may not be the best candidate for a weapons permit.

This is obviously a brief paraphrased summary of the requirements, and those interested in applying for a CCW permit should research it further to ensure they are in compliance.

For those law-abiding adults who pass this litmus test, let’s continue.

Prior to applying for a CCW permit, an applicant must attend a training course from a certified instructor. The course is a minimum of eight hours and includes instruction on safety, handling firearms, marksmanship, care of the weapon, legal points and “use of force” as required by Missouri law.

Course participants also get a chance to fire at least 50 rounds from any caliber handgun at a target placed 7 yards away. Prior to being certified, each participant must pass a live fire “test,” placing 15 of 20 rounds into the target from a distance of 7 yards.

Once you’ve passed the course, you’re ready to apply at your local sheriff’s office. Applicants need to show proof they have met all the requirements and pay a fee of up to $100 to cover processing.

Successful applicants will be granted a CCW permit and endorsement, and in addition to being able to carry a concealed weapon in Missouri, they will enjoy reciprocity with 35 states throughout the country.

Even though other states might allow you to carry within their borders on your Missouri endorsement, you still need to do it according to their laws. It is up to you to research the laws concerning CCW for the states in which you will be carrying. Ignorance is no excuse.

Anyone carrying a concealed weapon who is crossing state lines and unsure of current reciprocity agreements should stop, unload their gun and lock it up in a secure location. Federal law allows a person to carry a gun in any state if it is unloaded and in a locked container.

Remember, having a CCW permit in the state of Missouri does not grant you the ability to carry everywhere. There is a specific list of areas where concealed weapons are prohibited, and these are covered in the CCW training course.

Many Missourians are taking advantage of the peace of mind a CCW permit offers. Dean Par of DGS Fine Firearms offers CCW training courses two to three times per month.

“Participation in CCW Classes has increased very strongly,” Par said. “Before, we’d be lucky to have five to 10 people in a class. Now we’re regularly getting 25 to 30.”

Has the increase in CCW permits had any affect on violent crime rates? According to FBI statistics, states implementing CCW laws like Missouri’s have seen an eight-percent drop in murder rates, a seven-percent drop in aggravated assaults, a five-percent drop in rapes and overall a 4.9-percent drop in all combined violent crimes.

Furthermore, a Department of Justice survey found that 40 percent of felons said they chose not to commit at least some crimes for fear their victims were armed, and 34 percent admitted to being scared off by armed victims.

What’s even more reassuring is that most protective uses of firearms don’t ever involve discharging a firearm. In fact, only 1 percent of such cases ever result in the criminal being wounded and only about 0.1 percent of incidents result in criminals being killed.

Is carrying a concealed weapon right for everyone? Probably not, but for those who choose to legally defend themselves, a concealed weapon may make all the difference in the world.

For further information on carrying a concealed weapon in Missouri, log onto www.moccw.org or www.missouricarry.com.