Concealed weapons permit harder to obtain

Obtaining a gun permit in Waterford isn’t what it used to be.

Bill Colbath discovered that this spring when he went to renew his concealed weapons permit at the office. He advises any of the 70 Waterford residents that currently hold permits to not wait until they expire. Selectmen abandoned the longtime practice and handed it over to Maine State Police Jan. 1.

Four years ago in April, Colbath easily obtained a permit when he moved to town. Now, because it is his first permit from Maine State Police, he had to fill out new paperwork including a birth certificate, copy of his old permit, discharge from the military or a National Rifle Association course certification, a 2- by 2-inch color photo of himself and $20 ($35 new), once he found the right office. He also learned that it doesn’t matter whether you’re renewing or applying for the first time, the process is the same.

“Obviously it’s more difficult than going up to see Brenda, filling out a paper and having Charlie Fillebrown sign it,” Colbath said, referring to the former selectman.

Initial information he obtained simply referred him to state police. After a few calls, Colbath learned the proper location is the Department of Public Safety, Maine State Police-Gaming & Weapons Section in Augusta — 624-7210. They sent out a package that day which contained the application for permit, authority to release information forms, copies of all concealed firearms permits issued by other states, or towns within this state, evidence of firearms training from the military or civilian safety course, birth certificate (or INS document) and a color passport photo (2”x 2”) with the application.

“It took 30 days from my submittingthe application to receiving the new permit,” said Colbath, who retired from the National Security Agency after 37 years.

Colbath, who serves as the town’s SAD 17 director, is not on the job anymore but occasionally carries a 38 special “which isn’t good for much of anything except shooting porcupines at close range.”

One of the more interesting aspects of his career involved briefing and debriefing submarine crews for the NSA that hired him “right out of the University of Maine “ in the Class of `62. On a whim, he and several Theta Chi fraternity brothers met with NSA recruiters and took a test they were giving. “Three of us were invited to go down to Washington.” After more tests, he was hired. He said he was among the group down-sized in the Clinton administration but was glad to retire in changing times.

“We used to have one 1,000 pound enemy and we ended up with 1,000 one-pound enemies,” he said.

(Source: Mutiny Brook Times)