Report: Some CCW permit applicants waiting months for appointments in Cuyahoga County

Ohio's "shall issue" concealed carry law states that sheriffs shall issue an applicant's concealed handgun license (CHL) within 45 days of their submission, barring any disqualifying reason.

But despite Cuyahoga County Sheriff Clifford Pinkney's mission statement commitment "to the efficient and effective delivery of safety services," WEWS (ABC Cleveland) is reporting his office's handling of CHL applicants is anything BUT efficient and effective.

From the article:

A Cuyahoga Co. spokesperson said the average wait time is 6 weeks.

But applicants like former Air Force veteran Keith Anderson tell News 5 they had to wait upwards of 2 months.

“We’re talking 8 to 9 weeks just to get in the door,” Anderson said.

The problem isn't one of volume. As WEWS notes, according to recent Ohio Attorney General records, Cuyahoga County does not receive a higher volume of applications than neighboring counties. In fact, in the first quarter of 2017, the county received significantly fewer. That's likely because, with Sheriff Pinkney's customer service being so horrible, residents are chosing to exercise their right to visit an adjacent county to get their license.

In bordering Lake County, the article states that earliest appointment time is currently within about 9 business days. In bordering Summit County, applicants don’t need appointments at all.

Clearly the problem in Cuyahoga County is one of management, not demand. So it should come as no surprise that a Cuyahoga County spokesperson said that despite the long wait for citizens even to be allowed the right to begin the 45-day application process, the office will not consider adjusting staffing levels at this time.

Cuyahoga County has a long history of being inefficient and ineffective when it comes to CHLs. In 2004, despite having been given the same amount of time as 87 other Ohio sheriffs, then-Cuyahoga County Sheriff Gerald McFaul's office announced that it would not begin accepting applications when the law first went into effect. McFaul was sued by Buckeye Firearms Association President Jim Irvine, a resident of the county, within two hours of having been refused an opportunity to apply for a license on April 8, 2004. The county finally settled the suit and began accepting applications on May 3, 2004.

They've been behind every since.

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Secretary, BFA PAC Vice Chairman, and a NRA-certified firearms instructor. He is the editor of BuckeyeFirearms.org, which received the Outdoor Writers of Ohio 2013 Supporting Member Award for Best Website.