WRONG: Findlay paper asserts demand for CHLs low in area

The Findlay Courier published a story stating that residents from Hancock and surrounding counties “haven't exactly rushed to arm themselves” under Ohio's concealed handgun license la, and claiming that “in other counties around the state, the gun permits are more popular.”

But an analysis of the data from the 8 counties mentioned by the Findlay Courier proves otherwise.

Click on the “Read More…” link below for more.

From the story:

A total of 279 licenses were issued to local residents by the Hancock County Sheriff's Office in 2004, with most of them (191) approved within the first 90 days after the law went into effect April 8. Another 55 permits were issued here between July and September and only 33 were granted in the last quarter of the year.

"Actually, I'm a little surprised there weren't more requests for them," Hancock County Sheriff Mike Heldman said Wednesday. "We expected there to be an initial push and then a slowdown, but it's really leveled off here and pretty much around the state."

Sheriff's offices in surrounding counties, with the exception of Wood and Allen counties, granted even fewer licenses than Hancock County. Wood County issued 596 licenses and Allen County issued 449, but Seneca County approved just 179, Henry County 129, Wyandot County 111, Hardin County 80 and Putnam County 66.

45,562 licenses were issued to 0.398% of our population. This amounts to nearly 1 percent of eligible Ohioans.

A statewide statistical analysis completed by OFCC shows that counties where appointments schemes or day-limits are enforced deter applicants. That is certainly the case in the 8 counties addressed in this story.

Sheriffs in Hancock, Hardin, Putnam, Seneca and Wood counties either limit the days they will take
applications, or enforce an appointment scheme on applicants. The per-capita rate of licenses issued in
these counties is 0.323%.

Sheriffs in Allen, Henry, and Wyandot counties, on the other hand, take license applications 5 days per week, no appointments required. The per-capita rate of licenses issued in these counties is 0.447%.

So while the rates in the restrictive sets of counties is fairly representative of the rest of the state, Sheriffs in
counties where licenses are taken 5 days per week with no appointments are better serving their constituents.

Again, from the story:

Heldman said Wednesday he was not aware of any problems so far involving license holders. Sheriffs are required under the law to suspend a license if the licensee has been arrested or charged with certain crimes, or if the licensee is the subject of a protection order.

"We didn't anticipate problems with license holders," he said. "The people who go to the trouble of getting a license generally are going to be law-abiding people or else they won't even qualify."

Heldman said he expects the number of concealed carry license holders to grow in coming years, but only gradually.

"There may be some people waiting for changes in the law before they apply and probably some out there who believe there are too many restrictions to bother with getting one," he said.

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Evaluation: First 270 days with Ohio's Concealed Handgun License Law