New concealed carry permit numbers fall in Lorain County

Fewer new concealed carry weapons permits were issued in Lorain County in 2022 than in 2021, state officials reported this month, citing a predicted decrease due to last year's introduction of permitless carry in the state. Sheriff Phil Stammitti's office issued 263 licenses and renewed 1,025, in Lorain County in 2022 — a total of 1,288. The year prior, he issued 439 new or temporary emergency licenses and 801 renewals. Attorney General Dave Yost's 2022 Concealed Carry Report, which was released March 1, also detailed the number of licenses suspended, revoked or denied. There were 18 licenses suspended, five revoked, two denied and three license processes suspended in Lorain County in 2022, according to the attorney general's office. No temporary emergency licenses were issued, renewed, suspended, revoked or denied in Lorain County in 2022. Changes to state law starting in June 2022 allowed qualifying Ohioans to carry a concealed handgun without a permit. The law preserved the permitting system put in place in 2004, which means CCW permit holders can continue to carry handguns when traveling in states that honor Ohio's CCW permits "and sometimes can skip the background check when buying a gun, depending on the retailer's policy," according to Yost. "Nevertheless, the change in state law resulted in a predictable and significant drop in the number of concealed-carry licenses that were issued and renewed by Ohio's 88 county sheriffs, who administer the program," he wrote.Statewide, county sheriffs issued a total of 89,782 permits in 2022. That included 27,031 new licenses and 62,751 renewals. Compared with the 94,298 new licenses in 2021, 2022's numbers decreased by about 71 percent. There also were 108,622 renewals in 2021, meaning that 2022's renewal numbers decreased by about 42 percent. Under state law, permit holders who wish to renew their licenses must do so every five years with county sheriffs, who also are responsible for suspending and revoking licenses. Ohio sheriffs denied licenses to 825 applicants who failed to meet mandated requirements and revoked 454 licenses for felony convictions and/or mental incompetence, as required by law, according to Yost's office. Full reports and other statistics can be found online at www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/concealedcarry. In Lorain County in 2021, there were 438 new licenses and one temporary emergency license issued, plus 801 licenses renewed for a total of 1,240. Sixteen licenses were suspended, six revoked and six denied. In Lorain County in 2020, there were 792 new licenses issued; 1,048 licenses renewed; 49 licenses suspended — seventh most among the 88 counties, according to the attorney general's office; seven licenses revoked; and eight licenses denied.