Navigating government bureaucracy can be intimidating for the uninitiated.

So the Northampton County Sheriff's Department wants to help you.

Two sheriff's deputies will give a public presentation on Thursday, Oct. 27, on how to obtain a license to carry a concealed weapon.

It will be the sixth such presentation in the past year and the first in the Easton area.

"It gives us a venue to disseminate valuable information in a friendly, nonthreatening manner," said county Sheriff David Dalrymple.

The presentation will be at The Heritage Guild, a firing range and gun retailer at 70 Hilton St. in Williams Township.

More than 250 people have attended each of the previous presentations.

Dalrymple has prioritized community outreach since coming on as sheriff two years ago. Deputies appear at community festivals and deliver Meals on Wheels to acquaint themselves with the public.

For many people, their only interaction with a deputy is when one is serving a warrant or tracking down a fugitive.

"We want to be seen and have people be comfortable with us," Dalrymple said.

The presentation will be delivered by deputies Mark Surber and Jill Kirchgessner. Assistant District Attorney Michael Thompson will answer legal questions about gun ownership, such as liability in the event of a shooting during a home invasion.

Some people can't get the license. If you've ever been involuntarily committed to a mental facility, you can't. Nor can you if you've been convicted of a crime with a penalty of at least a year in prison. Nor can you if you've been dishonorably discharged from the military.

Find out more at the free presentation from 6 to 8 p.m.

BY THE NUMBERS

Number of active county licenses to carry a concealed weapon: more than 21,000

Licenses approved in 2015: 4,544

In 2014: 3,805

In 2013: 5,456

In 2012: 4,627

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.