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If it seems to you that there is an ever-growing list of issues that are attracting an awful lot of attention as we get closer to the November presidential election, it's probably because there are.
One that often can be the topic of greatest debate is the issue of guns and how they are regulated.
That process has changed dramatically in Ohio during the past two years.
Since June 13, 2022, the state has allowed residents to carry a concealed handgun without a permit. And while that has made a big difference in the number of concealed-carry licenses issued during 2023, there has not been an increase in gun crime across the state.
Those numbers are contained in a couple of reports Attorney General David Yost has issued during the first part of the year.
According to Yost, 15,581 new licenses were issued by sheriffs across the state in 2023, compared to 94,298 licenses issued in 2021, the last full year permits were required. Renewals increased to 75,001 in 2023 from 62,751 in 2022.
What didn't happen, though, was a big increase in gun-related crime.
In fact, according to a report released on Jan. 3 by the Center for Justice Research, when looking at data from June 2021 -- one year before the change happened -- and June 2023 -- one year after, gun-related crimes actually fell in Ohio's largest cities.
That includes a 22 percent decline in Parma; 18 percent declines in Akron and Toledo; and a 12 percent decline in Columbus. Recording increases were Dayton (6 percent) and Cincinnati (5 percent), according to the center, which is a partnership between Yost's office and Bowling Green State University.
Going through the permit process does have its benefits, Yost says. That includes eight hours of education that covers handgun safety and two hours on a shooting range under the guidance of certified instructors, he added. An additional benefit is that permit holders can carry their guns when traveling between states that practice reciprocity -- that's important for people who live in an area like ours, because that list of 39 states includes West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
No reciprocity exists between Ohio and California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Rhode Island.
In our region in 2023, 87 licenses were issued in Jefferson County and 569 licenses were renewed. Nine licenses were suspended and three licenses were denied.
Harrison County saw 100 licenses issued, 388 renewed, seven suspended and six denied.
In Carroll County, 40 licenses were issued, 300 were renewed, four were suspended and one was revoked. Belmont County saw 133 licenses issued, 483 renewed, four suspended, five revoked and seven denied. And, in Columbiana County, 234 licenses were issued, 1,017 were renewed, nine were suspended, three were revoked, one was denied and nine processes were suspended.
Across the state, more licenses -- 1,846 -- were suspended in 2023 than the number -- 1,768 --that were suspended in 2022.
Not surprisingly, Franklin County saw the most new licenses at 1,238, and had the most renewals at 4,320 in 2023.
Lake County suspended the most licenses at 176, Franklin County had the most licenses revoked at 93 and Lucas County denied the most applications at 50.
All of those numbers aside, Yost said in January when the gun-crime numbers were released that it is important to remember that there are people behind them.
"This is not to downplay the very real problem of crime in many neighborhoods in our cities -- you don't need a research team to see that gun violence destroys lives, families and opportunity," he said. "The key takeaway from this study is that we have to keep the pressure on the criminals who shoot people, rather than Ohioans who responsibly exercise their Second Amendment right."
So, whether you are among those who think the new rule issued by President Joe Biden on April 11 that aims to close the "gun show loophole" is just another way to work around Congress, will do little to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and is yet another attack on the Second Amendment, or on the side of those who say the expansion of background checks is nothing more than a common-sense move and will help to keep people safer, it's a good bet the discussion will not end anytime soon.
(Gallabrese, a resident of Steubenville, is executive editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times.)