Conceal & carry: One month later

Three cheers for a journalist who actually publishes the truth about crime rates and concealed carry reform!

May 11, 2004
The Marion Star

by Jillian Daley

The concealed carry law most likely won't mean the return of twitchy-fingered gunslingers yelling "draw!" at high noon.

In fact, crime could get wounded with the adoption of the concealed-carry law in the old Midwest. Ohio legislators passed the law in January and it was effective April 8.

According to FBI Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime rates are highest overall in states that don't have laws or have limited laws that permit carrying concealed firearms for self-defense.

Rodney Cooper, owner of Rods, Guns and More on Harding Highway East, was issued the first Marion County concealed-carry weapon license on April 30, 22 days after he applied. There is a 45-day limit on concealed carry license processing.

Cooper said FBI records indicate that crime decreased for states that adopted a concealed-carry law.

"That's the big reason for having it in the first place: The crime rate drops," he said.

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The law has detailed restrictions on who can receive a license. Restrictions to apply include that a person can have no current or past felony or drug offenses. Also, a person cannot have been found mentally ill by the courts. There are also restrictions concerning juvenile records.

Executive director Robert Cornwell of the Buckeye State Sheriffs' Association said he estimates that about 3,000 Ohioans have been licensed so far.

About 163 people have applied to the Marion County Sheriff's Office for a Carry Concealed Weapon License.

The Sheriff's Office had awarded more than 43 licenses as of Monday, two have already been denied and one was withdrawn by the applicant, said Capt. Al Hayden. Six people have been notified their license is available to be picked up.

"The law itself I don't think will create a criminal-friendly atmosphere," Butterworth said.

Mayor Jack Kellogg agreed.

"It's almost too early to judge what will really happen," he said.