Attorney General announces Second Quarter 2014 CHL statistics; Record demand for CHLs continues
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine (R) has released the Concealed Handgun License (CHL) statistics for the second quarter of 2014. Even though over 22,000 licenses expired during the quarter, Ohio still increased the total number of licenses by almost 8,000.
There were 16,004 new Concealed Handgun Licenses (CHLs) issued during the quarter, about the same as the first quarter. There were an additional 15,058 CHLs renewed during the quarter, making it the 24th consecutive quarter with increasing licenses. There are now over 420,000 Ohioans licensed to carry concealed handguns.
Demand for CHLs remains strong. Adding the eight Temporary Emergency Licenses (TELs), there were a total of 31,070 licenses issued during the quarter. That is 95% higher than the average over the 10 year life of the program.
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 Democrat-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.
Governor Kasich signed multiple improvements to Ohio firearms laws last session. 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.
Professor Brian Anse Patrick of University of Toledo has made the point that concealed carry should no longer be viewed as something that only appeals to a tiny percentage of the population. Rather Patrick says the data indicate an “S” curve where the program is still accelerating in popularity. The numbers from Ohio and nationwide certainly seem to fit his model.
Over 15,000 of the approximately 22,700 licenses expiring during the quarter were renewed for a renewal rate of approximately 66 percent, slightly below the overall renewal rate of 72.1%.
There were eight Temporary Emergency Licenses (TELs) to carry a concealed handgun issued in the quarter, which is average. 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.
There were only 84 licenses revoked during the 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 second quarter, 14 people per hour, or 471 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 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 420,000 Ohio citizens licensed to carry handguns, anytime you are in a group of 21 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 21 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. Several bills are pending in the legislature that would make improvements to Ohio 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 "duty to retreat." 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 this year. 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 th 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.
Ohio’s concealed carry law has been in effect for over 10 years. 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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