Concealed carry licenses decrease in 2015

VW independent/submitted information

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine issued a report Tuesday indicating that more than 116,000 concealed carry licenses were issued or renewed in Ohio in 2015, according to data compiled by Ohio’s county sheriffs.

The following total concealed carry numbers were reported to the Attorney General’s Office from county sheriffs in Ohio for the calendar year of 2015:

• Number of new licenses issued: 71,589
• Number of licenses renewed: 44,551
• Total licenses issued: 116,140

Here in Van Wert County, Sheriff Thomas Riggenbach released countywide totals for concealed carry licenses. In the county, 148 new licenses were issued, while 86 licenses were renewed.

Sheriff Riggenbach said the 234 total licenses issued in 2015 were down from 286 in 2014 and 495 in 2013, the county’s largest year for concealed carry licenses, which the sheriff called a “massive year” where demand was fueled by the Newtown, Connecticut, school shooting.

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

A copy of the 2015 Concealed Carry Annual Report is available on the Ohio Attorney General’s website at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/ConcealedCarry.