Just got my permit last month. Big hurdle here in CA is showing a good cause for carrying. Usually you have to be a merchant, CPA, lawyer, or friend of the Sheriff. I got by with claiming (truly) that I stayed in my RV at high crime areas. Many locals, called “shall issue” states, have no such requirement.
Here’s a handy and informative link to a map showing states of “shall issue,” “may issue,” and the four states and territories with no CCW at all:
On this map, you can click on your own state to see what other states will honor your permit. I’m in process of applying for a Utah permit to expand my CA options; 1/4 the cost, lasts 5 years instead of 2 years, and I can do it all by mail as long as I use a local instructor to get me certified who is certified by Utah.
BTW, my permit lists the specific gun I’m allowed to carry, but you can get a permit before you buy, and then add a gun later for a modest charge.
Good luck.
Congrats on your permit. However, I absolutely can’t stand the discriminatory CCW system here in CA. If a state is going to issue CCW permits, issuance must be based on an objective set of criteria, not at the whim of some local official. Hopefully post-Heller the CA system can eventually be reformed.