More Ohioans Than Ever Are Licensed to Carry

That's the second highest total since the permit system began seven years ago. Another 13,544 Ohioans renewed permits in 2010.

In 2009, a record 56,691 new permits were issued in The Buckeye State.

Leading the state with the greatest number of new permits issued during 2010 was in Franklin County (Columbus) with 3,134, followed by Lake County (Cleveland) with 2,590.

Under Ohio law, the report is an annual requirement of the state's Attorney General and is presented to both chambers of the General Assembly.

Since April 2004, when Ohio's concealed handgun law was implemented, there have been 246,760 regular licenses issued statewide.

"Since 2004, nearly one-quarter million Ohioans have received a concealed carry license," DeWine said. "My office remains committed to working with county sheriffs in helping eligible Ohioans exercise their rights under Ohio's concealed carry law."

The AG also reported that statewide there were 720 licenses suspended, 206 revoked and 655 denied last year.

Ohio concealed carry permit applicants must be mentally competent, at least 21 years old, a legal U.S. resident, an Ohio resident for 45 days, and a resident of the county in which they are applying for at least 30 days

Successful applicants must complete a minimum of 10 hours of certified training with two hours of certified shooting experience and undergo a background check. A course typically costs between $75 and $150 with issuance costing $67 for an Ohio resident living in the state for at least five years and $92 for fewer than five years. Renewals, which must be made every five years, also cost $67.

In addition to its success and popularity among Buckeye State residents, the concealed carry permit system is one of Ohio's most efficient state-run programs.

"This also is one of the few programs the state mandates that actually pays for itself," Lake County Sheriff Daniel A. Dunlap told the Willoughby News-Herald outdoors writer Jeffrey Frischkorn last week.

Presently, Ohio has concealed-carry reciprocity with 20 other states. They include neighboring Michigan, West Virginia and Kentucky as well as the Western states of Wyoming, Washington and Alaska.