Concealed carry report shows record number of licenses issued in 2016

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today issued a report indicating that more than 158,000 concealed carry licenses were issued in Ohio in 2016, the largest number since licenses were first issued in 2004.

According to statistics reported to the Attorney General’s office, county sheriffs in Ohio issued 117,953 new licenses and 40,982 renewal licenses in 2016, or 158,982 total licenses, the largest in a single year since licenses were first issued in 2004. The previous record for new licenses issued and total licenses issued was in 2013, when 96,972 new licenses and 145,342 total licenses were issued. The record for renewal licenses was in 2014 when 52,146 licenses were renewed.

In Meigs County the number of licenses issued in 2016 was 155 regular licenses with no temporary emergency licenses. Last year, 79 licenses were renewed. One regular license was denied.

It would be interesting to see how Ohio compared to neighbouring states like Indiana and indeed all other US states. With websites like gunlawsuits.org, it is becoming easier to get your concealed carry license than ever (https://gunlawsuits.org/gun-laws/indiana/concealed-carry/) and so you would expect to see a similar increase to Ohio.

The Attorney General’s Office compiles an annual report as required by law about the number of licenses issued each year. Each sheriff must report concealed handgun license statistics quarterly to the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission within the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

To learn more about Ohio’s concealed carry laws or to view this year’s report and other statistics, please visit www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/ConcealedCarry.