Ohio’s law to allow citizens to carry concealed handguns went into effect on April 8, 2004. The law allows citizens
with proper rearms safety training to apply with their county sheriff, or a sheriff of an adjacent county, for a
license to carry a concealed handgun.
Persons who apply for a license are required to undergo a criminal history background check to ensure that theyare not prohibited by law from carrying a concealed handgun. For persons who have lived in Ohio for ve yearsor more, the sheriff submits the applicant’s ngerprints electronically to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identicationand Investigation for an in-state criminal background check. Applicants who have lived in Ohio fewer than veyears are required to undergo a national check through the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Ohio law requirescounty sheriffs to provide statistical information about the licenses they issue to the Ohio Peace Ofcer TrainingCommission. The Commission, in turn, is required by Ohio Revised Code Chapter 109.731 to compile those statisticsand report them to the Governor and the leadership of the General Assembly each year.
Licenses Issued
In calendar year 2006 - the second full year Ohio’s
Concealed Handgun Law was in effect, Ohio sheriffs
issued 18,781 licenses, a decline of 16.5 percent from theprevious year and a drop of approximately 59 percentcompared to the number of licenses issued betweenApril and December 2004.For calendar year 2005 — the rst full year the law wasin effect — Ohio sheriffs issued 22,487 regular licensesto carry concealed handguns. The sheriffs issued 67temporary emergency licenses, which allow a personwho submits evidence of imminent danger to receivea non-renewable 90-day license to carry a concealedhandgun. That gure is 11 higher than the number issuedin 2004. As of December 31, 2006 86,832 Ohioans had beenissued regular or temporary licenses to carry a concealed
handgun.
Licenses Suspended
Under R.C. 2923.128 sheriffs must immediately suspenda concealed handgun license upon notication that thelicensee has been arrested or charged with certain offenses,or if the licensee is the subject of a protection order issuedby a court. In 2006 sheriffs suspended 352 regular licensesIt is important to note that some of these licenses may haveissued in previous years. In 2005, sheriffs suspended 219concealed handgun licenses. For 2006, sheriffs revoked orsuspended 2 temporary emergency licenses.
Sheriffs are not required to report the details surrounding asuspension.
E
xEcutivE
S
ummary
010,00020,00030,00040,00050,000200620052004
Concealed Handgun Licenses Issued
Source: Ohio Sheriffs’ Offices
45,49722,48718,781
050100150200250300350400200620052004
Concealed Handgun Licenses Suspended
Source: Ohio Sheriffs’ Offices
78219352
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