Sheriff sees dramatic increase in CCW permits

  • By Nick Sabo
  • July 1, 2013
  • 742
                        
The Holmes County Sheriff’s office is on track to issue more than double the number of concealed carry permits than last year. As of June 20, the sheriff’s office has issued 865 concealed carry weapon (CCW) permits, 336 more than all of last year, when it issued 529 permits. The increase also means the sheriff’s office could end up spending more than $100,000 this year checking and approving concealed carry permits. The sheriff’s office budgeted $52,000 for CCW at the start of the year, but added $47,500 to the budget in May in the form of a supplemental appropriation. The sheriff’s office has spent $71,869.38 on CCW so far this year, according to Holmes County Auditor records. Chief Deputy Richard Haun said the increase in permits seems to be a “trickle down” effect, with many factors coming into play. Congress has been debating more restrictive gun control laws, and mass shootings such as the Sandy Hook school massacre, are prompting more people to get permits to carry a concealed weapon, Haun said. That the Holmes County Sheriff’s office sees so many applicants could be due to convenience. The sheriff’s office has regular hours for concealed carry, whereas most other neighboring counties require an appointment. A CCW license can be applied for in a person’s home county or a contiguous county. Under the law, anyone from Ashland, Coshocton, Knox, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties can register in Holmes County. Anyone applying for a CCW can do so on a walk-in basis at the Holmes County sheriff’s office. Sheriff’s deputy Sgt. Eric Troyer said, on average, 15 to 20 CCW applicants will show up daily. Most of them are from out of county, he said. “The majority of the people are from other counties,” Troyer said. “A lot of them say” they’ve come because it is more convenient, Troyer said. Haun said that Sheriff Tim Zimmerly keeps the open hours by choice. “The sheriff is required to do this work and wants to make it convenient as possible, and wants to show his support for this legislation,” Haun said. CCW applications are monitored by the Ohio Attorney General’s office. Each application costs $67. Of the $67, the state allows the county to retain a portion. The most recent legislation states that the county gets to keep $27, with $40 going to the state. When registering, the applicant brings in ID and proof that they have completed a CCW course. Fingerprints are taken and a background check completed to see if the applicant has any disqualifiers barring them from getting a permit. The fingerprints are sent off to the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation. A permit can take up to 45 days to process but do not usually take that long, Troyer said. Disqualifiers include prior domestic violence convictions and felony convictions. Four permits were denied by the Holmes County Sheriff’s office so far this year. CCW permits may be renewed every five years. As of June 20, 262 licenses have been renewed at the sheriff’s office this year. The sheriff’s office CCW hours are from 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Friday hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.


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