Last year, 168,302 Ohioans got permits to carry concealed weapons — 98,927 renewals and 69,375 new licenses, according to a report issued Friday by the Ohio Attorney General's office. The number of new licenses decreased 10 percent but renewals increased 83 percent in 2018 over 2017, the report said.
Related: 'Stand your ground' bill likely to return to Ohio in 2019
Ohio has reciprocity agreements with 36 states, allowing permit holders to carry weapons in those states.
Applicants for CCW licenses in Ohio must be 21 or older, pass a criminal background check, not be addicted to any controlled substances, and complete an eight-hour training class offered by a certified instructor.
Since Ohio’s concealed carry law first took effect in 2004, lawmakers have expanded where permit holders are allowed to carry their hidden firearms to include bars and restaurants, day care centers and college campuses if trustees permit it. Lawmakers also reduced CCW permit training hours from 12 to eight.
Here is a look at new and renewed license numbers for counties in our area for 2018:
Butler: 6,430
Champaign: 817
Clark: 1,905
Greene: 3,379
Miami: 1,699
Montgomery: 7,169
Warren: 3,936
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