The Obama Factor? Utah's concealed weapon applications break records

[Templar]

The Obama Factor? Utah's concealed weapon applications break records
Packing » Tens of thousands licensed to carry
By Sheena Mcfarland

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated: 01/10/2009 11:51:42 AM MST


Gun owners are flooding the state with applications for concealed weapons permits, with almost 45,000 applications filed in 2008, easily a record number, quadrupling the figure from just four years ago.

With the surge, about one in every 25 Utahns over age 21 could be carrying a licensed concealed weapon, according to a Tribune analysis of numbers from the Bureau of Criminal Identification.

In December, alone, BCI received 6,000 permit requests -- the highest number ever, capping a year with six record-breaking months.

In all, some 71,000 Utahns have a license to pack a concealed weapon. It is estimated that another 71,000 out-of-state residents have a Utah permit.

Experts say the sharp increase in the numbers can be attributed to several factors: national politics, the economic downturn and well-publicized shootings.

Clark Aposhian, chairman of the Utah Shooting Sports Council, says gun owners, worried about the gun control stances of President-elect Barack Obama, scurried to get a permit. Applications poured in during the Democratic primary and saw a huge spike after the Nov. 4 election.

"Sen. Barack Obama comes from a state that has, if not the most, then the second-most restrictive gun laws in the nation," Aposhian said.

The prospect of a faltering economy leading to increased crime also has people applying for permits, he said.

"People would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it," he said.

Lt. Doug Anderson, Bureau of Criminal Identification manager, points to fear generated by mass shootings.

"There has been some increase in violent crime, and when public shootings like at Trolley Square and Virginia Tech happened, permit applications began to spike up," he said. "But another reason why people are wanting to get the Utah permit is its wide-ranging reciprocity."

Thirty-three other states honor Utah's concealed weapons permit and more out-of-state instructors are certified to teach the courses needed to get a Utah permit, Anderson said.

The increase worries Steve Gunn, a member of the board of directors of the Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah.

"People who carry guns or who even own guns should understand that a gun is far more likely to be misused than be for the protection of the individual," Gunn said in a recent interview. "People ought not to be buying or carrying guns."

That sentiment doesn't seem to be shared by many Utahns, though. Gun sales have seen a sharp increase over the past two years, with 14,541 more guns sold in 2008 than 2007. There also have been more requests than ever for permits to purchase special weapons, Anderson said, such as machine guns, short-barreled shotguns and rifles or silencers.

To buy those specialty items, applicants must pass a background check to prove they have no criminal record and get approval from local law enforcement, Aposhian said.

"These gun owners are worried they will be the first ones targeted by any new gun laws," he said. "They may not be able to buy them anymore, or, in the worst-case scenario, taken away. I don't think that's likely, but I can't put it out of the realm of possibility."

smcfarland@sltrib.com

[HK4U]

Originally Posted by Templar

The Obama Factor? Utah's concealed weapon applications break records
Packing » Tens of thousands licensed to carry
By Sheena Mcfarland

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated: 01/10/2009 11:51:42 AM MST


Gun owners are flooding the state with applications for concealed weapons permits, with almost 45,000 applications filed in 2008, easily a record number, quadrupling the figure from just four years ago.

With the surge, about one in every 25 Utahns over age 21 could be carrying a licensed concealed weapon, according to a Tribune analysis of numbers from the Bureau of Criminal Identification.

In December, alone, BCI received 6,000 permit requests -- the highest number ever, capping a year with six record-breaking months.

In all, some 71,000 Utahns have a license to pack a concealed weapon. It is estimated that another 71,000 out-of-state residents have a Utah permit.

Experts say the sharp increase in the numbers can be attributed to several factors: national politics, the economic downturn and well-publicized shootings.

Clark Aposhian, chairman of the Utah Shooting Sports Council, says gun owners, worried about the gun control stances of President-elect Barack Obama, scurried to get a permit. Applications poured in during the Democratic primary and saw a huge spike after the Nov. 4 election.

"Sen. Barack Obama comes from a state that has, if not the most, then the second-most restrictive gun laws in the nation," Aposhian said.

The prospect of a faltering economy leading to increased crime also has people applying for permits, he said.

"People would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it," he said.

Lt. Doug Anderson, Bureau of Criminal Identification manager, points to fear generated by mass shootings.

"There has been some increase in violent crime, and when public shootings like at Trolley Square and Virginia Tech happened, permit applications began to spike up," he said. "But another reason why people are wanting to get the Utah permit is its wide-ranging reciprocity."

Thirty-three other states honor Utah's concealed weapons permit and more out-of-state instructors are certified to teach the courses needed to get a Utah permit, Anderson said.

The increase worries Steve Gunn, a member of the board of directors of the Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah.

"People who carry guns or who even own guns should understand that a gun is far more likely to be misused than be for the protection of the individual," Gunn said in a recent interview. "People ought not to be buying or carrying guns."

That sentiment doesn't seem to be shared by many Utahns, though. Gun sales have seen a sharp increase over the past two years, with 14,541 more guns sold in 2008 than 2007. There also have been more requests than ever for permits to purchase special weapons, Anderson said, such as machine guns, short-barreled shotguns and rifles or silencers.

To buy those specialty items, applicants must pass a background check to prove they have no criminal record and get approval from local law enforcement, Aposhian said.

"These gun owners are worried they will be the first ones targeted by any new gun laws," he said. "They may not be able to buy them anymore, or, in the worst-case scenario, taken away. I don't think that's likely, but I can't put it out of the realm of possibility."

smcfarland@sltrib.com

Nothing like having a Marxist elected for President to wake people up.

[tattedupboy]

Originally Posted by HK4U

Nothing like having a Marxist elected for President to wake people up.

I'd be inclined to agree with you, but if people, particularly those in my corner of Indiana who helped get Obama elected, are wising up to this fact, why did it not translate into votes for McCain?

[HK4U]

What I should have said is wake up those that fear a loss of freedoms and a move ever closer to a socialistic state. Those that have not fully bought into the depend on Big Brother plan for everything that they need or believe they are entitled to.

[ricbak]

After Reading this post the first time, I was curous about the numbers here in Michigan. The Michigan State Police (MSP) are responsible to publish the CPL numbers by county. Each Yearly report is due in June. These are just numbers and no names are attached to these reports.
This info is published at :MSP - CCW Reports
For the Year 2k3-2k4 31k CPL's Issued
For 2k4-2k5 55k
For 2k5-2k6 37k
For 2k6-2k7 24k
Estimating the 2k7-8 numbers based in the first 7 months maybe 20k. I believe these declines are mostly financial, will the last one out of Michigan please turn off the lights. It will be interesting to watch these reports over the next year or so.

On the ligher side.. From the Salt Lake Tribune report:

...The increase worries Steve Gunn, a member of the board of directors of the Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah.

"People who carry guns or who even own guns should understand that a gun is far more likely to be misused than be for the protection of the individual," Gunn said in a recent interview. "People ought not to be buying or carrying guns."

I was wondering, Mr Gunn of the Gun Violence Center.....hmmmm

[HK4U]

"People who carry guns or who even own guns should understand that a gun is far more likely to be misused than be for the protection of the individual," Gunn said in a recent interview. "People ought not to be buying or carrying guns."

I wonder if idiots that say things like this often enough come to believe it?

[ricbak]

Originally Posted by HK4U;56531 [I

I wonder if idiots that say things like this often enough come to believe it?[/i]

I have not doubt, they believe it. Even when the data contradicts them, they find fault with the data and the band keeps playing.

I have basically shut my masonry business down and am primarily a ccw instructor now. Most of the people who come through my class are God fearing, Christian people who are afraid of 1) The Gubment 2) the marxist, non us native that is the cheif executive.3) the faltering economy. 4) the violence of crime. Crime used to be burglary, now it is home invasion. Used to be mugging, now it is abduction, etc.etc.
Most fundamental bible beleiving Literalists( of whom i am one) believe that things will "wax worse and worse" , and that the earth will be filled with violence. Seems like we are on track to fufill that one.

[gogriz91]

Originally Posted by tattedupboy

I'd be inclined to agree with you, but if people, particularly those in my corner of Indiana who helped get Obama elected, are wising up to this fact, why did it not translate into votes for McCain?

I was disappointed that neither abortion nor gun control were debated in the formal debates. Only at the town hall meeting was abortion discussed. It seemed the formal debates deliberately avoided 2 key issues Conservatives are strong on.

[tattedupboy]

Originally Posted by gogriz91

I was disappointed that neither abortion nor gun control were debated in the formal debates. Only at the town hall meeting was abortion discussed. It seemed the formal debates deliberately avoided 2 key issues Conservatives are strong on.

That's because at the time the debates were going on, the two most important issues to Americans (myself included) were the war and the economy. Don't get me wrong, abortion and gun rights are important to me, but in this election year, those two were just as, if not more important; 66 million Americans wouldn't have voted for Obama if gun control and gun control were the two most important issues.