KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office will be launching a new fingerprint program for gun licenses on a temporary basis, according to Sheriff Richard Fuller.
During a virtual county meeting Tuesday night, some comments made by area residents were concerned with the inability to get fingerprinted for a gun license.
“The Kalamazoo Clerk’s office has been rejecting all new applications of CPL’s,” one resident said. “It’s a big concern of mine, I need to be able to protect myself, my family and my friends when I’m outside of my house. My application was rejected because of fingerprinting. This is not an issue in our surrounding counties, and it seems the Kalamazoo County Clerk’s office has arbitrarily suspended these.”
County Clerk Tim Snow spoke on the matter, saying that the police agencies responsible for doing so (Western and Kalamazoo Township) were not ready at this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One agency said they were going to wait at least another month before fingerprinting again, according to Snow.
“That’s when I contacted the Sheriff’s office last week,” Snow said. “Thanks to the Sheriff and Undersheriff, we will start doing fingerprinting at the Sheriff’s office starting next Monday by appointment. We are already taking appointments for CPL applications.”
Those looking to be fingerprinted will have to schedule an appointment by calling (269) 383-8745 Monday through Friday between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Appointments will be scheduled Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in 1⁄2 hour increments.
Requirements for the appointment include:
-
Resident must arrive alone. No one else other than those scheduled with an appointment will be allowed entry to the building.
-
Present valid Government ID with photograph.
-
Present the receipt and documentation from the Kalamazoo County Clerk’s Office verifying payment for your CPL.
- Wear a mask or authorized face covering when entering. Failure to bring/wear a mask will cause a cancellation of the appointment.
Wednesday, Sheriff Fuller spoke with WKZO about the new program.
“Over the last several months, due to COVID-19, a lot of offices that used to do fingerprinting have closed and not allow the public in,” Fuller said. “So what we’ve had is a backlog of Concealed Pistol Licenses waiting to be handed out. With Clerk Tim Snow and myself, we’ve developed a program to start doing those fingerprints at the Sheriff’s office.”
Citizens can begin their fingerprinting processes starting next Monday, July 13. The cost is $15 per person and residents must have a money order made to the order of: County of Kalamazoo or have exact change if paying in cash. No credit or debit card payments or personal checks will be accepted.
