by Reginald Fields, The Plain Dealer
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The number of Ohioans who have licenses to legally carry concealed firearms has more than doubled in the past three years, according to figures from the Ohio Attorney General's Office.
With another 49,825 people obtaining the license in 2011, that pushed the figure from 2009 to 2011 to 153,853 newly issued licenses. That includes the one-year record of 56,691 in 2009.
At this point, more than 265,000 Ohioans now have permits making them eligible to carry their firearms hidden in their clothing or vehicles. And gun rights activists expect that number to continue to climb this year, likely eclipsing the 300,000 mark.
"Eventually you aren't going to know who you might come into contact with who legally is carrying a gun, and that's the point," said Jeff Garvas, of Ohioans for Concealed Carry. "Eventually people with bad intentions aren't going to realize who they are coming into contact with."
Garvas attributes the increase to more people being concerned about their personal safety. He pointed to the recent spate of gunshot killings in the Cleveland area as the type of incidents motivating people to carry their firearms outside their homes.
Garvas is a concealed carry instructor and teaches a required class to qualify for a license. He said people who took his class years ago but didn't follow through on getting the license are now coming back for a refresher so that they can get the permit.
But one gun rights opponent says gun supporters use scare tactics to drive more people to want to be armed.
"It's the same thing happening over and over again," said Toby Hoover, of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence. She added that she expects more of the same in 2012 because it is an election year.
"Everyone is increasing the rhetoric of 'don't vote for this person' or 'vote for that person' because they want to take your guns or they'll protect your guns," Hoover said.
Also a likely factor is the attention given to gun rights by the Republican-controlled Ohio legislature which every year of late has introduced and passed favorable laws for firearm owners.
Gov. John Kasich last summer signed the so-called guns-in-bars bill into law, making it legal for concealed carry of firearms into bars, restaurants, shopping malls, nightclubs and sports arenas. It is considered one of the country's broadest state gun laws. The law does allow individual establishments to post signs prohibiting firearms and also bars drinking alcohol while carrying.
The legislature is now considering a bill that would go even further by allowing concealed carry in places of worship, on private and public college campuses, daycare centers and some government buildings.
Another bill would remove rules requiring a license holder to inform an approaching police officer that he has a license and is armed and for the license holder to keep their hands in plain sight of the officer.
"It's the typical gun lobbying slippery slope we've seen across the country," Hoover said. "You say yes to something with reasonable restrictions and then they keep coming back and asking for more."