The Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray's office released the 2009 annual Concealed Hangun Law report today, and the numbers tell an interesting story.  Ohioans have been flocking to Ohio Sheriff's offices obtaining new concealed handgun licenses, bringing the 2009 total licenses issued to 56,691.  The number of licenses issued is the largest number ever issued and trumps the first (partial) year count of 45,497.

Ohio's total licensees as of the end of 2009 came in at 199,423 -- which means 28%, or more than a quater of those licensed in Ohio, just obtained their license within the last calendar year.

The numbers continue to impress:  86 of Ohio's 88 counties (less Marion and Jackson) saw a net increase in the number of licenses they issued between 2008 and 2009 calendar years.  Auglaize (396%), Putnam (352%), Darke (208%), Vinton (195%) and Fayette (152%) topped the list while at least fifteen other counties saw 100% increases or more in the number of licenses issued between 2008 and 2009.

Read the Ohioans For Concealed Carry County-By-County annual comparison (pdf)

Interest in being able to carry a firearm for self-defense is at a unprecedented level in the nearly seven years that it has been possible to obtain a license in Ohio.   The current state of the economy and unemployment have undoubtedly played a domino effect.   As violent crimes against the average person become more and more prevalent in today's sensational news media, the populace within Ohio has clearly become more cognizant of their surroundings.  As I wrote this story and initial news reports about these numbers have hit the media, two people have contacted me asking to take the state mandated training class.

Despite what the naysayers have said about concealed carry being a fringe element of society the numbers don't lie:  A substantial number of newly licensed Ohioans continue to seek out the training necessary to become licensed to carry a handgun for self-defense, and the numbers continue to impress.