Surge in Ohio CHLs Continues

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's office reported county sheriff's offices in the state issued nearly 12,000 concealed handgun permits during the final three months of 2011, making it the busiest fourth quarter in the program's eight-year history.

Further, the fourth quarter numbers reflected a 12-percent increase over the same period in 2010.

A total of 11,965 CHL permits were issued in the period, including 239 renewals. By law, Ohio CHL permits must be renewed every four years.

The AG's office also reported that 199 requests for permits were denied, or around 1.6 percent of the total issued.

As a result of the final quarter surge, at the end of 2011, approximately 265,083 Ohio residents were licensed to carry concealed handguns for peronal protection, a number that by all appearances will likely approach or exceed 300,000 by the end of 2012.

In crunching the numbers, more than five Ohioans an hour—or 184 per workday—received a new or renewed CHL from an Ohio sheriff from October 1 through December 31.

The Buckeye Firearms Association has also released some other interesting facts about the popularity of Ohio CHLs.

With more than 265,000 Ohio citizens licensed to carry handguns for personal protection, odds are there is at least one licensee present in a group of 32 people. The odds increase when considering older or more affluent residents of The Buckeye State.

Fewer than one half of one percent Ohio CHLs have ever been revoked, says the Ohio pro-gun group, and included among that small number are those discontinued because a license-holder has died or moved to another state.

A total of 22 states presently have concealed-carry reciprocity agreements with the Ohio Attorney General's office.