NEWS

Number of new concealed gun licenses drops in Ohio

Patrick Brennan and Jessie Balmert

The number of new concealed carry handgun licenses issued in Ohio dropped for the first time in several years, according to a report issued Thursday by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.

Data provided by Ohio's county sheriffs showed 58,066 new licenses were issued in Ohio in 2014 compared with a record 96,972 in 2013. However, more people were renewing licenses — 52,146 licenses were reinstated last year compared with 48,370 in 2013.

Fifty-seven temporary licenses also were issued for a grand total of 110,212, according to the report from DeWine's office.

The attorney general's office does not track the total number of active concealed carry licenses, so it's not clear how many people can legally conceal guns statewide.

In Muskingum County, 487 new licenses were issued in 2014 — a drop from 834 issued in 2013, according to DeWine's report. New licenses issued in Morgan County dropped from 281 in 2013 to 199 last year. In Perry County, the number of new licenses issued was cut in half from 265 in 2013 to 127 in 2014.

The report also said 1,412 licenses were suspended statewide in 2014. Last year was the fifth consecutive year in which the quantity of suspensions increased.

Suspensions occur when a license holder has been arrested or charged with certain offenses or if the licensee is the subject of a protection order issued by a court, according to the annual report on concealed carry handgun licenses release by DeWine's office.

State laws require county sheriffs to report concealed handgun license statistics to the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission within the Ohio Attorney General's Office, the release said.