Ohio sees record number of carry licenses issued, renewed

By Chris Eger

New data shows there were 656,000 active Ohio CHLs in circulation earlier this year, an all-time high. (Photo: Kimber)
New figures from Ohio’s attorney general show that the Buckeye State issued more carry licenses in the second quarter of the year than ever before.
Attorney General Mike DeWine’s office said that 21,130 licenses to carry a concealed handgun were issued and another 29,243 renewed last quarter, for a total of 50,373 granted. When compared to the first quarter report which saw a combined total of 45,848 issued, the increase was more than 10 percent.
For an even greater disparity, figures from the second quarter of 2008 — 10 years ago — saw just 22,721 licenses issued or renewed.
Gun rights advocates in the state emphasized the new figures set records — marking the first time Ohio Sheriffs issued over 50,000 licenses in a single quarter, and further that the statistic of 656,000 active Ohio CHLs in circulation is another high, representing one out of 13 Ohioans.
“Concealed carry is mainstream, common sense and close to most people on a daily basis,” said Jim Irvine, Buckeye Firearms Association President. “It works so well that most people are blissfully unaware that people around them are carrying guns.”
Irvine

Source: Guns.com