A massive increase in the number of concealed-carry permits in the state of Ohio at-large is being
mirrored here in Wood County.
Statistics released last week by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office showed more than 145,000 licenses
were issued – either new or renewals – in 2013. That is the most in a year since CCW permits were issued
in 2004. In 2012, 76,810 licenses were issued – meaning that the 2013 numbers came close to doubling the
previous year’s statistics.
The phenomenon is similar here in Wood County.
Deputy Isaiah Loar of the Wood County Sheriff’s Office said Monday that in 2012, approximately 1,200 new
and renewed CCW permits were issued. Permits must be renewed every five years.
In 2013, however, that number skyrocketed to 2,395.
"So we essentially doubled last year," he said. "Pretty darn close."
In a story last year, Loar reported he already had a six-week waiting period for CCW-seekers just to see
him. He generally interviews 25 to 30 applicants a day for CCWs.
Loar noted a number of possible reasons for the increase, including the fact that some people are only
just discovering that they can apply for a concealed-carry permit.
Additionally, the much-publicized and closely-grouped late 2012 shootings at an Oregon mall, a Colorado
movie theater, and the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, made people think about
"looking to protect themselves," he said.
Loar said that the largest single reason that county residents seek out a CCW permit is home safety. CCW
requirements necessitate the completion of a 12-hour course, which includes 10 classroom hours on
handgun safety and two hours of practical training including live firing, and that fact has attracted
some people who want to be educated in the proper use of their firearm before they have it in their
house. He also said some want the training as an additional legal backing if they should ever get into
an issue in which they use their gun.
Additionally, he said that some applicants – usually one or two a week – say they want the permit out of
concern that future gun control measures may take away that ability.
"People are trying to get it before they can’t," he said.
However "for the most part (applicants) want to protect themselves and their families, is what they
say," said Loar.