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No matter what side of the aisle you find yourself on, it seems like there are an unlimited number of topics that can lead to spirited conversation.
That includes guns.
Which makes the annual concealed carry report issued by Ohio Attorney General David Yost interesting. The state underwent a big change in its laws in the past year, one which makes the numbers contained in the document issued on March 1 look different than they have in the past several years.
About that change: Since June 13, Ohioans who are qualified to do so have had the right to carry a concealed handgun without a permit. The state still has its permitting system in place, Yost explained, which offers several benefits to Ohioans who choose to go through the process, including the ability to carry your handgun in the 39 states that offer reciprocity and the possibility of skipping a background check when purchasing a gun.
Concealed-carry permits, Yost's report shows, can be applied for in a person's home county or a county sharing a border with their home county.
Still, the numbers are off significantly, the report shows. In fact, in 2022, there were 27,031 new licenses issued, a 71 percent decrease from the 94,298 that were issued in 2021.
Renewals were down as well: In 2022, the number totaled 62,751, a 42 percent decrease from the 108,622 that were recorded in 2021.
By comparison, the report shows there were 96,892 permits issued in 2020, 54,426 permits issued 2019 and 69,375 permits issued in 2018.
There also were 72,40 renewals in 2020, 77,959 renewals issued in 2019 and 98,927 renewals in 2018.
When it comes to suspended and revoked licenses, the 2022 numbers are more in line with the recent state averages. Last year, for example, there were 1,768 licenses suspended, just a slight decrease from the 1,880 suspensions seen in 2021, and a slight increase from the 1,618 recorded in 2020. In 2019, there were 1,956 licenses suspended and, in 2018, there were 1,738 licenses suspended.
The number of licenses that were revoked was up last year, to 454 from 420 in 2021. In 2020, that number was 4,929, in 2019 it was 939 and in 2018 it was 1879.
The number of licenses that were denied was off dramatically, coming at 825, a decrease from the 2,668 recorded in 2021, and lower than the 1,777 seen in 2020, the 1,310 seen in 2019 and the 1,436 seen in 2018.
In our region, Jefferson County saw 161 licenses issued and 464 renewed in 2022. There were nine licenses suspended and two licenses denied. In Harrison County, there were 116 licenses issued, 243 renewed and two suspended.
Carroll County had 48 licenses issued and 220 licenses renewed, with five suspended and one revoked, while in Belmont County, there were 250 licenses issued, 227 renewals and three suspensions. In Columbiana County, there were 247 licenses issued, 786 licenses renewed, 26 suspended, one revoked and one denied.
Ohio's permitting system remains in place, Yost explained. And that includes eight hours of training covering handgun operation and safe handling of guns and ammunition, as well as two hours of supervised instruction on a shooting range. Applicants also must be familiar with self-defense and concealed-carry laws, Yost said in the report's cover letter.
And, the report shows, the states Ohio does not have reciprocity with are California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Rhode Island.
And while there are many benefits to those who put in the time and effort to obtain a concealed-carry permit, as well as to the general public and those involved in law enforcement -- not the least of which is the ability to move freely with your gun among neighboring states as long as you have your permit -- the numbers show not everyone is willing to follow the procedures.
(Gallabrese, a resident of Steubenville, is executive editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times.)