2013 Attorney General Summary on Concealed Carry: Record 89% Increase in Ohio Concealed Handgun Licenses
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine (R) has released the Concealed Handgun License (CHL) statistics for the fourth quarter of 2013 and the annual report. It was a record-setting year, ending with over 400,000 Ohioans licensed to carry concealed handguns. New records were set for the initial licenses issued and most licenses renewed in a year.
Demand for CHLs finished the year strong. It was the second-busiest fourth quarter for new licenses issued, only slightly behind last year’s record numbers. Renewals were up almost 350% over the same period the prior year, making the period the busiest fourth quarter ever for total licenses issued. Ohio sheriffs issued 14,681 regular CHLs, 12,005 renewals, and nine Temporary Emergency Licenses (TELs), for 26,695 total licenses issued during the quarter.
For the year, Ohio issued 96,967 initial CHLs, renewed 48,230 CHL’s and issued 53 TEL’s for a total of 145,250 total licenses issued. That is a 89% increase, or 68,382 more licenses than 2012, which was previously the busiest year on record. It is clear that 10 years after concealed carry was signed into law in Ohio, it is more popular than ever.
It is always difficult to assign specific reasons for behavior, but there is no denying that we have seen strong demand for CHLs since Governor John Kasich (R) signed SB 17 (Restaurant & Car Carry Rules Fix) and HB 54 (Restoration of Rights) legislation into law. It has been over a year since Kasich signed HB 495 (Concealed Carry Modernization), legislation which made the program function even better. As we have seen many times in Ohio, when the law is improved, the demand for training and licenses increases. This should serve as guidance for any legislature considering votes on the many firearms bills before them this election year.
Last year saw an all-out assault on our right to keep and bear arms. Secretary of State John Kerry signed a hostile U.N. treaty aimed at destroying our Second Amendment rights. President Obama has signed executive orders and the Democratic controlled Senate did everything they could to ram gun control through in the wake of the Sandy Hook Killings in Newtown, Connecticut. That pressure also spurs demand for people to buy guns, attend training, and become licensed to carry.
The year ended with an all-time record of approximately 402,000 Ohio residents licensed to carry concealed firearms. (See chart) It took Ohio 14 quarters to top the 100,000 mark. It took another 12 quarters to top the 200,000 mark. It only took 8 more quarters to top the 300,000 mark. Even though a record 65,000 CHL’s expired last year, Ohio topped the 400,000 mark in only 5 quarters.
Over 12,000 of the approximately 16,100 licenses expiring during the quarter were renewed for a renewal rate of approximately 74 percent. Over 72% of all licenses issued have been renewed. Many sheriffs have added extra manpower to handle the increase in demand, but some are falling way behind in their ability to schedule and issue licenses. Anyone needing to renew should contact their sheriff (or those in adjoining counties) early in case they are asked to wait for months to get an appointment. If you find that a sheriff is not making at least 15 hours per week available to apply for your license, contact Buckeye Firearms Association and we will work with local authorities to make sure your sheriff is in compliance with the law. Judging by the strong numbers, most Ohio sheriffs are doing a great job processing CHLs.
There were nine Temporary Emergency Licenses (TELs) to carry a concealed handgun issued in the quarter, the same number as in the third quarter. TELs are only valid for 90 days and cannot be renewed. TELs are issued to persons who need to carry a firearm for protection, but don't have time to obtain the required training. Applicants must apply with their sheriff, pay a fee and pass a background check. The 90 days allows them time to obtain training and apply for a regular license. After issuance, a person must wait four years before they qualify for another TEL.
Even with the record number of CHLs, there were only 71 licenses revoked during the quarter, below the average of the past several years and only one more that the prior quarter. Less than one half of one percent of all CHLs have ever been revoked for any reason, including death or moving out of state. The establishment media love to make a big deal about the exceptional cases where a CHL breaks the law, but say almost nothing about the more than 99% of law-abiding license holders, many of whom have used their gun to protect life. About one in four revocations were because the training to obtain the license was deficient. Prospective CHL students are reminded that the application contains an affidavit where the student swears that he/she has received the appropriate training. Signing a false affidavit can subject persons to felony prosecutions and a permanent loss of firearms rights.
During the fourth quarter last year over 12 people per hour, or 400 per work-day, received a new or renewed CHL from an Ohio sheriff. The popular program is a good facilitator of communication between sheriffs and citizens. Take time to get to know your sheriff/deputy while obtaining/renewing your CHL. Law enforcement is generally very supportive of citizens' rights to carry firearms for self-defense.
We have several newly-elected sheriffs. We encourage you to talk with your sheriff about their support for our continued efforts to update Ohio's concealed carry laws to make them friendlier to citizens. Explain which current gun bills you support and get their thoughts on the bills. We welcome your feedback. Law enforcement and armed citizens are on the same side opposing criminals. We seem to be returning to a time when we can work together for the rights of the "good guys.
License-holders, like gun owners in general, are not extremists as the anti-gun rights crowd claims. They are honorable citizens who want the means of protection from real dangers. They understand that police cannot, and are not obligated to protect individual citizens from rape or murder any more than they can prevent someone from running a red light. Responsible people wear a seat belt to protect themselves in a car accident. They also carry a gun to protect themselves from a criminal attack.
With over 402,000 Ohio citizens licensed to carry handguns, anytime you are in a group of 22 adults, odds are there is at least one licensee present. If you are with an older or more affluent group, the odds are even greater. Any school with 22 employees probably has one person with a CHL who could be authorized to carry a firearm in that school for the protection of the children. In short, there are few public locations you can travel in Ohio where there will not be a license-holder nearby. Unfortunately, because of the many places license-holders are still prohibited from carrying their guns, the license does not necessarily translate into having someone ready and armed to stop an attack. HB 231 could make huge improvements in that section of the law.
In the first year of Ohio's concealed carry law, the anti-self-defense people bragged about the "small" demand for the new CHLs. They claimed that only a few fringe gun nuts wanted to carry "hidden" guns. It is clear that those who seek to deny others the right of self-defense are themselves the radical minority.
Every time legislation is passed improving the law, anti-self-defense pundits predict mayhem and problems that will result without tight restrictions on gun owners. Last session it was HB 495. This session they are focused on HB 203 and "stand your ground" laws. They have been wrong every time, but some newspapers and anti-gun politicians keep repeating their nonsense.
Other media outlets have produced several good articles in recent months. A record number of Ohioans are carrying guns in more places, yet we have not seen any dramatic increase in violent crime. Meanwhile, reports indicate that new gun sales continue to be strong. This is yet another indication that more guns in the hands of good citizens do not cause any increase in crime, and is likely to deter criminals. It is time to fully “de-Taft” our CHL laws and bring Ohio in line with the majority of states. While no large group of people is perfect, the CHL-holder has proven to be considerably more law-abiding than the population at large.
It always takes time for the feelings of society to have a real change and adopt new safety ideas. It was once normal for kids to ride in cars without seat belts or even car seats. Today such behavior can be considered criminally reckless. We rode bikes with no helmets. CPR was left to "the professionals."
Thousands of lives are saved annually because our society realized how quickly a life could be lost and how a few simple changes make the difference between life and death. With the surging numbers of gun owners and concealed carry licenses, the day seems to be a little closer at hand when carrying a gun for safety will be seen as being as sensible as wearing seat belts.
April 8 will mark ten years since Ohio's concealed carry law took effect. It is clear that the law is working well and is popular with responsible, law-abiding adults who care about safety.
Jim Irvine is the Buckeye Firearms Association President, and recipient of the NRA-ILA's 2011 "Jay M. Littlefield Volunteer of the Year Award" and the CCRKBA's 2012 "Gun Rights Defender of the Year Award."
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