Concealed carry process going smoothly

May 26, 2004
Mt. Vernon News

MOUNT VERNON — “Very smoothly” is how Knox County Sheriff David Barber describes the process of applying for concealed carry permits since April 8, when the law went into effect.

“I’m in the middle of reviewing approximately 70 applications,” said Barber, adding about 25 concealed handgun licenses have been issued as of Tuesday.

Those interested in applying for a concealed carry permit can pick up an application at the Knox County Sheriff’s Office Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Barber said once the application is completed, individuals then make an appointment to be fingerprinted, have their background check begun and pay their fee.

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Fingerprinting is done on Thursdays, between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Capt. Dennis Foster and Deputy Michelle Rardin, who Barber said have done an “outstanding job,” handle the fingerprinting process. The background check includes checking court records and local arrest records, or the records of an adjoining county if the individual applying is from a county contiguous to Knox, then returned to Barber for final approval or denial.

Once the application has been approved it is returned to Foster, who calls in the applicant and actually issues the concealed carry license, which is similar to a driver’s license.

Barber said the KCSO is very strict on keeping to the proscribed appointment schedule.

“The people who have applied have been very understanding and accommodating to our schedule,” he said, adding the applicants understand sheriff’s personnel have other duties to attend to as well. “People have been on time. We make it real clear if you have an appointment is for 1 p.m. for fingerprinting and you can’t make it, you may not get it done, or you may have to wait.

“We’ve been surprisingly pleased with the application process,” he added.

Barber said he’s had a few residents from Knox go to adjacent counties to apply for a permit, and about four or five residents of adjoining counties apply with his department.

Barber said “that can slow the process down a little bit,” because he then is in written communication with the county involved.

While Barber said he has heard of no violations of the law as yet, he plans on sending a letter to various law enforcement departments — such as Mount Vernon, Fredericktown, Danville and the Ohio State Highway Patrol — requesting that should they receive any complaints of violations that the documentation be forwarded to him.

“I am the only one who can revoke a license,” he explained, adding that if he receives documentation involving a sheriff of an adjoining county he will send that information to that sheriff. If he receives documentation of a violation, he will revoke the license immediately; individuals will not get a second or third chance.

“It’s too big of a responsibility to say ‘well, don’t do it again,’” said Barber. “And that’s part of their training — knowing the rules.”

Barber said carrying a concealed handgun is a privilege, not a right, as long as they follow the rules.

“Once you receive a license you have the responsibility to follow the rules with the understanding there are consequences,” he said.

Brian Emler of Apple Valley also places emphasis on proper training and following the rules. As a firearms training NRA certified instructor, Emler takes his responsibility seriously.

“When I sign off [on a training certificate], I have to believe they are competent,” he said.

Emler offers firearms training classes weekly; options include day, evening, weekend and private classes. Under the law, students are required to complete 12 hours of instruction: Ten hours of classroom work on safety, cleaning and general gun knowledge, and two hours on the firing range.

According to Emler, however, the law does not require a certain number of questions be answered correctly, and does not address the accuracy of the shots fired on the training range. His standards are a little more strict.

“I require a 90 percent or better on the written test, and four out of five shots in a tight pattern,” said Emler. “The student signs both [the test and the target], and I keep them in my files.”

Emler said he keeps the documentation and requires the students’ signature in case something happens in the future and its needed to verify the training an individual had.

Emler applied for his license in Knox County the second day the law was valid, and recently received his license. He, too, was appreciative of the application process.

“Denny Foster and the guys really are nice to work with,” he said. “It has been a quick process at the sheriff’s office.”

While he does not see a problem with people carrying concealed handguns into a store providing they have the proper permit, he acknowledges the store owner’s right to decide whether or not to allow concealed carry. It will, however, affect his shopping habits.

A proponent of the law, Emler said there are still issues which need to be worked out. One of those is the definition of “plain sight.” Emler said according to the Attorney General’s booklet which instructors are required to hand out, it states that when driving the handgun must be in “plain sight.” However, Emler said the Ohio Supreme Court has not yet determined what “plain sight” is.

In addition, while the handgun must be in plain sight while driving, if one enters a store it must be concealed. Somewhere between leaving the vehicle and the entering the store, therefore, the gun must be concealed, which could conceivably lead to an awkward situation.

Another issue is reciprocity between states. Emler said while several states have reciprocity agreements, the laws in the states may vary. However, the individual still has to abide by the laws of the particular state in which he or she is in.

“I am sure we will make changes in the law in the next year,” he said.