34,000 concealed-carry permits issued last year

By Marc Kovac

Trumbull had more applications than Mahoning or Columbiana counties.

COLUMBUS — County sheriffs issued nearly 34,000 concealed-carry permits last year, a jump of 53 percent from 2007.

But last year’s results were down about 26 percent compared with 2004, the inaugural year for the handgun permits, according to a report released by Attorney General Richard Cordray on Monday.

State law requires the attorney general to prepare the annual report, listing the number of permits issued, renewed, suspended, revoked and denied. Since the concealed-handgun law took effect five years ago, about 140,000 permits have been issued.

In 2008, 33,864 licenses were issued statewide, and 31,319 were renewed.

A total of 525 permits were suspended last year (up from 502 in 2007), 157 were revoked (down from 171) and 465 were denied (up from 434).

In Columbiana County, 378 permits were issued and 436 were renewed.

In Mahoning County, 474 permits were issued and 499 were renewed. Fifteen licenses were suspended, two were revoked and seven applications were denied.

In Trumbull County, 987 licenses were issued and 1,022 were renewed. Nineteen licenses were suspended, two were revoked, and two applications were denied.

County sheriffs can suspend licenses when holders are arrested or charged with certain offenses or when holders are the subject of court-issued protection orders. Licenses are revoked for a number of reasons, including when holders are convicted of certain crimes, are deemed mentally ill or drug or alcohol dependent, die during the licensing period, move out of state or decide not to hold their licenses any longer.

The full report can be accessed online at www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov.