Gun carry [licenses] in demand

June 6, 2004
Akron Beacon-Journal

Sheriff's departments say applications steady; 320 OK'd in Summit

In Summit County, the applications are still coming at the rate of 100 a week -- people who want the right to carry guns.

It's been that way since April 7, when Ohio became the 46th state to allow law abiding citizens to carry weapons.

The process takes about six weeks. More than 320 applications have won approval in Summit County, and another 270 in Stark.

And the applications keep coming.

"There's been a constant flow of applicants,'' said Christine Croce, administrative director and chief counsel for the Summit County Sheriff's Office.

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Originally, Summit County allowed applicants to walk in six days a week. Now, applicants can walk in from noon to 5:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Permits are being issued on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

"We found that we need time to issue the permits, but the number of applicants has been consistent no matter how many days we take applications,'' Croce said.

In Summit County there have been 970 applications, which are in various stages of processing. Ten applicants have been denied a permit.

One of those denied, Richard Weisman of Barberton, responded by suing Sheriff Drew Alexander on Friday.

The suit says Weisman was denied because a background check revealed a felony conviction.

"While there may have been a previous conviction, which had been sealed, that conviction is not such that it disqualifies him,'' the suit says.

One of those who won approval is Army veteran Brian Schuett, 26, of Cuyahoga Falls.

He said nothing's really changed since he received his permit to carry a gun.

"I don't know, I think some people thought after that first day of applications being accepted something big was going to happen. Like everything was going to come to an end.''

He said he got the permit because he enjoys going to the range to shoot. ``At least when I transport back and forth from the range, I'm doing it legally.''

He said the only problem area he sees is that a lot of law enforcement officials aren't quite trained and don't know how to handle the situation when they see someone carrying a gun.

"I carry the booklet that the Ohio Attorney General's office gave me when I went through the (firearms) training course, to let them know I am legally carrying a weapon,'' he said.

Training law enforcement

Alexander said additional training is important. For instance, the sheriff said, he has been working with his deputies on how to approach someone in a car who is licensed to carry a weapon.

In Stark County Sheriff Tim Swanson said 370 applicants have gone through the process, with 230 permits issued and three applicants denied.

"We take applicants by appointments only and have 150 appointments already set up,'' he said.

There hasn't been a heavy influx of people, he said, but applications have been steady.

He said the time-consuming part of the process is the background checks.

"It's a long drawn out process, especially getting information back to us,'' he said. "The law requires 45 days to issue a permit if they qualify. So far we've done that,'' he said.

Duane Kaley said he's seen a slight decrease in applicants in Portage County.

"The number of applicants has slowed down some, compared to the original surge,'' he said. "Who knows whether there will be a second surge, but they still keep coming.''

Portage takes applicants by appointment only.

"It seems to have worked out well. At least that's what our feedback from people has been. This way we don't have to worry about people having to wait around,'' Kaley said.

In Portage there have been 329 applicants and 142 permits issued.

"We have only denied three or four because of the background checks,'' he said.

Lt. David Baker of Medina County said the number of applicants has tapered off quite a bit.

"At first there was a mad rush, but now it's just a steady flow, and not as busy.''

He said there have been 600 applicants so far with 200 permits issued and two denials. Medina County applicants are accepted by appointment only.

The high number of applicants, he said, came about because Cuyahoga County wasn't initially accepting applications. People who want to carry guns are allowed to apply in neighboring counties, and Medina got some of the anxious Cuyahoga applicants.

Wayne County is averaging 15 to 20 applicants a week. The sheriff's department is open there on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8 a.m to 4:30 p.m. for applications.

Capt. Doug Hunter said the number of applicants has been steady for the most part.

"Some days the number drops. We have had 350 applicants and they have all been approved. So far we have not had to deny anyone,'' he said.

He said Wayne County has issued about 325 permits and the other 25 will be issued next week. He said many applicants came from Summit and Stark counties.

Under the new law, businesses are allowed to post signs telling patrons their weapons aren't welcome.

There's now a backlash to that.

Business backlash

Members of Ohioans For Concealed Carry Inc. have been passing out calling cards to those gun-banning businesses.

"We have noticed your sign, and are going to respect your wishes by shopping elsewhere,'' the card said.

"You just lost my business today and in the future. For your convenience you will be added to our 'Do Not Patronize' database.''

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