Bend of the River Conservation Club

Niles, Michigan

Concealed Carry Instruction

The next CCW class is on June 21st starting at 8:00 AM going to 5:00 PM. There is a fee for this portion of the class.

The law portion of the class is free. This class qualifies those of you who need a refresher for renewal. This portion is not yet scheduled and we will post the date ASAP.

May 2008 class photos

Did you know that not one person with a Concealed Handgun Permit was arrested in Berrien County during the last reporting period (2005-2006). Permit holders are one of the most law abiding groups identifiable. As of January 4, 2008 there are 157,437 permit holders in Michigan and the population is 10,000,000. The Michigan State Police website has detailed reports available regarding this group of very responsible citizens.

Concealed Pistol Application and Instructions

  1. Concealed pistol application kits are provided during normal business hours by the following:
  • County sheriffs
  • Local police agencies
  • County clerks
  1. Concealed pistol application kits are free of charge to individuals who wish to apply for a license to carry a concealed pistol.

  2. Concealed pistol application kit includes the following:
  • Written procedure to obtain a concealed pistol permit
  • Application form
  • Written procedure to appeal and the appeal process form if denied a concealed pistol permit
  • Reference numbers for current pistol safety training entities
  1. Processing Application

  • Applicant files their application with the county clerk in the county in which the individual resides. This must include: (1) a copy of the certificate of completion of the pistol safety training course, and (2) a passport quality photograph.
  • Applicant pays a fee of $105 to the county clerk at time of filing.
  • Applicant receives a receipt for payment.
  • Applicant provides receipt and has fingerprints taken by sheriff department or a local law enforcement agency.  However, the local agency may charge an additional $15 for the taking of the fingerprints.  Some sheriff departments participate with a vendor to provide applicant finger printing.  There is no additional charge for this service.
  • Sheriff department or local police agency forwards fingerprints to the Michigan State Police for processing.
  • Once county gun board receives the fingerprint comparison report, they will issue or deny the license within 45 days.


Concealed Pistol Permit Renewal Information

  1. A license to carry a concealed pistol is valid until the applicant's date of birth that falls not less than four years or more than five years after the license is issued.

  2. An application is considered a renewal if the applicant has received a concealed pistol license under compliance of the training requirements set forth in the Act after July 1, 2001.

  3. A CCW license is renewed in the same manner as the original license (see Application Information).  The cost for a renewal license is $105.

  4. Beginning January 1, 2007, an applicant who is applying for a renewal of a license is not required to have fingerprints taken again if the applicant's fingerprints have been submitted to and maintained by the Department of State Police for on-going comparison with the automated fingerprint comparison system.  The Department of State Police began storing applicant fingerprints on January 1, 2006.  Therefore, an applicant is not exempt from this requirement unless the last time fingerprints were submitted was after January 1, 2006.

  5. For an individual licensed after July 1, 2001, and subsequently applying for a renewal:
  • Pistol safety training course is not required
  • Applicant shall present a statement signed by the applicant certifying that he/she has:
  • Completed at least three (3) hours of review of the pistol safety training course and has at least 1 hour of firing range time in the 6 months immediately preceding the renewal application.