Even when the prospects of permitless carry grew, the number of persons seeking licenses to carry a concealed firearm in 2021 was still the forth largest number since 2012.
However, now that Governor Mike DeWine has signed a bill into law allowing Ohioans age 21 and older to carry concealed a handgun – and if they are legally permitted to possess such a weapon - without first obtaining a license or undergoing training, the number of such documents being issued is expected to drop by more than one-half.
For now, and based on data provided by Ohio’s 88 county sheriffs who perform the required CCW paperwork, the number of permit renewals was 50-percent higher than the 2020 total. Also, this figure was “a record high for the program,” says Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost who is responsible for annually reporting to the legislature and the governor about the program.
Likewise, however, in 2021 the number of regular license denials rose by 50-percent as well, the second consecutive year a record in this category was seen, Yost says in his report.
Ohio began its concealed carry permit program in 2004. Based on data compiled by the “Cincinnati Enquirer” and reported by the “Columbus Dispatch,” the state has over the years issued a total of 673,000 concealed carry permits, or one for every 17 Ohioans.
Breaking things down a bit, for 2021, the state’s sheriffs issued 94,298 new licenses. This figure represents a drop from the 96,892 such permits issued in 2020, and is a considerable fall-off from the 117,953 such permits issued in 2016.
As for the number of renewals – required every five years – that figure was 108,622 for 2021. As such, the number is a huge jump from the 72,340 such re-ups seen in 2020 and also larger than the 98,927 renewals issued in 2018.
Looking at denials, in 2021 the state’s 88 sheriffs conducted background checks and rejected 2,668 applications. In 2020 that figure was 1,777.
Meanwhile, revocations fell from 429 in 2020 to 420 in 2020. In 2018 that figure was 1,879. Note that there are several reasons associated to revocation, some of which have nothing to do with criminal behavior. Among them are death, moving out of state, or when a person voluntarily gives up his or her permit.
Suspensions rose slightly from 1,618 in 2020 to 1,880 in 2021. Here, suspensions may be the result of some arrest or the person becomes the subject of a protection order. If such conditions occur but are later dismissed, the CCW may be returned.
Some other statistic shows that the Top Five counties for new CCW permits issued in 2021 (with their respective 2020 figures in parentheses) were: Franklin – 6,060 (7,525); Lake – 6,047 (4,839): Greene (4,144 (4,742); Ashland – 3,524 (3,552); and Portage – 3,441 (1,406).
And for renewals, the Top Five counties (with their respective 2020 figures in parentheses) were: Butler – 4,780 (2,566); Franklin – 4,742 (4,367); Lake – 4,614 (3,083); Clermont – 3,836 (2,111); Portage – 3,373 (1,200).
It is important to note that even with passage of the so-called Constitutional Carry, Ohioans who wish carry outside the state will be subject to those visiting states’ concealed carry laws. And any number of them do require licensing.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischk@Ameritech.net
JFrischk4@gmail.com
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