FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 14, 2005

CONTACT:

Carmella Sabaugh 586-469-7939

MACOMB COUNTY CLERK IMPROVES
CONCEALED WEAPON LICENSE PROCESS

Macomb County concealed weapon license applicants may now use Macomb County Clerk / Register of Deeds Carmella Sabaugh's new check-your-own-status Internet service. This is believed to be the first service of its kind in Michigan.

"Whatever your views on the Second Amendment, this benefits all by helping law-abiding people through the current regulatory maze involving the county clerk, sheriff, prosecutor and state police," said Sabaugh. “Applicants can now more easily follow the rules and my staff can spend less time on status calls and more time giving personal service.”

Sabaugh launched the service this month and reports a noticeable decrease in calls from CCW applicants. The law requires a person wishing to carry a concealed weapon to get a license. License applications are filed with the county clerk. Applicants are given a web site address, user name and password enabling them to check only their own application status. After passing a gun safety class, an applicant’s fingerprints and criminal background are checked by the county sheriff and state police. The Macomb County Concealed Weapon Licensing Board does a final review, including a brief personal interview, before a license is granted. The board members include a representative of Prosecutor Eric Smith, representative of Sheriff Mark Hackel and a representative of the Michigan State Police.

“I found the county clerk’s service to be very useful,” said Kenneth Melchior of Fraser who recently used the service. “It was really easy to access. It was very helpful to go in and track how my permit was progressing.”

“I found it to be very user friendly. I was able to follow the process of my application without calling directly to the clerk,” said James Vlaz of Washington Township. “It’s definitely an improvement in the overall application process. I received my renewal within only 22 days, which I thought was remarkable. I was so impressed that I shared it with a national organization.”

In 2004, 3,395 county residents applied for concealed weapon permits. 3,341 were granted by the Macomb County Concealed Weapon Licensing Board. So far in 2005 there have been 4,217 applications and 4,159 granted.

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