The Ohio Attorney General's office has issued its annual report on concealed handgun license issuance for 2004 (April – December). This is the report which is required by Ohio law.

---->Concealed Carry Licensure Statistics Annual Report – 2004 (.pdf)

OFCC's overall assessment:

Despite unnecessary restrictions, OhioCCW is a success!

OFCC has already documented several licensed citizens who have defended their lives when violently attacked. Most instances of armed self-defense never make headlines.

Ohio CHL-holders have proven to be much more law-abiding than even OFCC predicted they would be. Only 42 CHLs (0.09%), have been revoked in the first nine months. And just 78 CHLs (0.17%), were suspended for any reason, and often reinstated later.

Considering the challenges applicants have faced in the first 270 days (and which many still do face), the fact that 45,562 licenses were issued to Ohio residents (0.398% of the population, and nearly 1 percent of eligible [of age] applicants) sends a strong message that the choice for armed self-defense is in serious demand in our state.

The State of Minnesota passed a similarly restrictive shall-issue concealed carry law in 2003. In that first year, 9,100 new licenses were issued (0.17% of the population). The State of New Mexico began issuing licenses in 2004, and issued 2,201 licenses (0.11% of the population). Looking farther back in history, the State of Florida issued 33,150 licenses in 1988, the first year of that state's now vaunted (and copied) CCW law.

OhioCCW is proving to be one of the most successful programs in the state. What other consumer protection program, other than the "do not call" registry, has this kind of participation? Ohio is issuing approximately 175 concealed handgun licenses PER DAY.

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