Frank Lewis

PDT Staff Writer

Ohio saw a large increase in the number of concealed carry permits issued in 2012, according to Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. In 2012, sheriff’s, who are responsible for issuing, denying, suspending or revoking CCW licenses, issued 76,810 licenses - 64,650 new licenses and renewed 12,160 more.

Scioto County had the highest number of licenses issued among surrounding counties - 605 new licenses and 132 renewals. Nine licenses were suspended, four revoked, and four denied. Lawrence County was second with 581 new licenses being issued, 104 renewed, 10 suspended, two revoked and two denied. Pike County issued 294 new and 13 renewals while revoking one and denying two. Adams County officials issued 146 new, 35 renewals and suspended two licenses. In Jackson County, 113 new licenses were issued, 11 renewed and one suspended.

The top five counties in the state were Franklin County, with a population of 1,178,799, which issued 4,712 new permits; Lake County, with a population of 229,885, which issued 3,175 new permits; Clermont, whose population is 199,139, which recorded 2,618 new license issues; Hamilton County, with a population of 800,362, and who issued 2,553 new permits, followed by Cuyahoga County, whose population is 1,270,294, which issued 2,052 new permits in 2012.

On a quarterly basis, the sheriff’s departments report the statistics to the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission, part of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. The commission then compiles those statistics annually for transmission to the public no later than the first day of March, in accordance with Ohio Revised Code Section 109.731(C).

Todd Miller, Chief Deputy of the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office, said he processed 149 new and renewed permits in January, and - “right now for the month of February, I’m sitting right at 160.”

“We had a group of school teachers come in,” Miller said. “A bunch of them got together and somebody put on a class somewhere,” Miller said.

Miller said those who take out the permits are a cross section of society, with people from all walks of life, coming applying.

Miller said another deputy who has been handling CCW’s, Captain Shawn Sparks, told him some people had said their reason for taking out a permit or renewing a permit was the current state of the economy and the fear that the government is going to take away their guns.

“I have had people say that to me too, the economy, because people are stealing so bad, and they want to protect their property, protect their home,” Miller said. “And Shawn said he has heard one or two talk about the gun ban and they are worried about that.”

A copy of the report is available on the Ohio Attorney General’s website. To learn more about Ohio’s concealed carry laws, you can visit www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/ConcealedCarry.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 252, or at flewis@civitasmedia.com.