New concealed weapons licenses in Ohio on the rise

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio is on track this year to see a record-breaking number of newly issued concealed-weapons licenses.

County sheriffs issued 63,481 new permits in the first half of 2013, according to figures released today by the state attorney general’s office. The six-month figure tops almost every yearly total for new licenses issued in Ohio since the program began in 2004.

The highest yearly total of licenses issued in Ohio, including new and renewed licenses, was 76,000 in 2012. More than 64,600 of those were new licenses.

Attorney General Mike DeWine said he could only speculate as to the reasons for the jump. But he noted that more people are becoming familiar with the law, which could have provided a small boost. DeWine said he believed the spike in numbers was driven by demand.

“It is not a question of the sheriffs being more efficient or anything else,” he said in an interview with The Associated Press. “It is more people want to get their concealed carry permit and more people are getting their concealed carry permit.”