Marion (IN) Chronicle Tribune: ''Number of permits to carry gun rises''

County on pace to hit six-year high

If the number of permits issued in the second half of this year keeps pace with the first half, the Grant County, IN will hit a six-year high for permits issued.

"I'm not sure why, all of the sudden, there's a jump. Maybe people need some security because of the economy and the way things are in the world today," said Marion Police detective Sgt. Stephen Dorsey. "The economy's bad, things are down, we've had a number of robberies that have been publicized and maybe people need some sense of security."

That's why Randy Southerland said he bought a handgun.

"I had seven people in two and a half months coming at my back doors at 2 and 3 in the morning. I have a fenced yard, and they have no business in my yard," said Southerland, who lives in Central Marion. The area also has seen an increase in crime this year.

"The crime statistics aren't going down anytime soon, especially with the economy. It's going to go up. And with what has taken place this year. ... that concerns a lot of people," said Grant County Sheriff's Capt. Darrell Himelick.

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There were five killings in Grant County in the first four and half months of the year. The average has been one or two a year. The year has also seen a number of armed robberies, including a string of eight at convenience stores in a two-week timespan in February.

Jeff McDonald, owner of McDonald's Guns, 1757 S. 600E, has seen an increase in the number of handgun sales this year, especially since the string of robberies in February.

"Many people want to purchase handguns after-the-fact, after being robbed or victimized," McDonald said. "We got crime going up the first part of this year, so gun permits are going to go up, people don't want to be a victim."

Aaron Knight works at Riverside Sporting Goods, 1811 N. Washington St., and said he has seen a lot of single mothers buying guns.

Commentary:
Indiana does not require it's citizens to have ANY training prior to obtaining a concealed carry license. Indiana allows citizens to carry forearms in vehicles, with a permit, and with occupants of any age. And the state continues to have no problems. What are the Ohio Senate leadership, OSHP bureaucracy, and Bob Taft so afraid of?

The politically-inspired actions of a few in our state are ensuring that more Ohioans are killed, raped and assaulted than would be if our concealed carry laws were reformed, as they have been across the nation.

Click here to read the entire story from the Marion (IN) Chronicle Tribune.