First off you can request the reason for denial that is what I would do. I was charged with felony menacing and it was dismissed by the prossecution and never went to trial. I have a CCW permit I even obtained my permit back before it was shall issue and they gave me one. If you were never convicted under the new law they can not deny you based on that.

The first step is to find out on what grounds they denied you it could be a mistake. You also have the right to make the sheriffs dept. appear before a judge to explain the reason for the denial.

I will give you an example of what could have happend. My felony charge was reported to CBI. Guess what when the charges were dismissed that NEVER got reported. I waited over six months and nothing. I could not buy a gun because they would deny me when they did the background check. I had to go to the court house pull the court records take them to CBI to show them the charges were dismissed. It took them about a month to update the system and clear me to purchase a gun. Shortley after that I applied for my CCW permit. This could be what has happend with you it is very common for them to report what charges were filed against you yet they seem to get amnesia when reporting the outcome of the charges filled against you IF AND ONLY IF THEY ARE DISMISSED OR YOUR FOUND TO BE INNOCENT! If they would have found you guilty once again they would have made sure to report that. Funny how that works.