Tue Feb 09 2010
By JARED ORZOLEK
Close to 1,000 area individuals have obtained permits to carry concealed firearms since Ohio's concealed carry law went into effect more than three years ago.
And while the vast majority of those obtaining a license to carry a firearm are male, area concealed carry instructors report increased interest in firearms training among women.
"We have a lot of ladies who take the class," said Roger Sisco, a shooting instructor who along with his wife, Linda, facilitates concealed carry classes in Defiance County.
"There are more women overall. In some classes I have only women, but most of the time it's about 40 percent women and 60 percent men."
Chad Cleland, shooting instructor at Cleland's Outdoor World in Swanton, said the last class he taught included 15 people, six of which were women.
"We also see a lot of older folks. The class is not just about how to pack a handgun, it's also about how to keep yourself safe and be aware of your surroundings," Cleland said.
Completion of a handgun class like those taught by Sisco and Cleland is one of the requirements for obtaining a permit to carry a concealed handgun.
County sheriff's offices are responsible for verifying that applicants are qualified before they are issued a concealed handgun license.
In Defiance County, 237 males and 32 females have obtained concealed carry permits since the law went into effect April 8, 2004.
In Henry County, 203 men and 25 women have obtained permits, well above the 125 men and 14 women with permits in Putnam County.
Fulton County has the largest total of area gun-totters with 411 men and 25 women.
Paulding County has 99 individuals licensed to carry a concealed firearm while Williams County has 296. The number of men and women who are licensed in each of these counties were not available.
The majority of the permits were issued in 2004, with the number of permit applications dropping after the first year the concealed carry law went into effect.
Statewide, more than 100,000 people hold concealed carry permits.
The concealed carry law mandates that individuals complete a 12-hour training course before obtaining a concealed carry license. The classes might be taught by an instructor certified by the National Rifle Association or the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission.
The course includes a classroom component and two hours of live-fire work, which is done at a distance of seven yards on a shooting range.
"The whole theme of the class is safety, safety, safety. You are taught to handle the gun in a safe manner and with a reasonable amount of combat accuracy," Sisco said.
Those who complete this training are able to name, explain and demonstrate the rules for safe handling of a handgun and proper storage practices for handguns and ammunition.
They also exhibit the knowledge, skills and attitude necessary to shoot a handgun in a safe manner.
Those who complete the training are also provided with a copy of the publication prepared by the state attorney general's office regarding firearm laws, dispute resolution and use of deadly force.
Sisco said he brings in a police officer to inform his students about self-defense laws and helps those who take the class learn which type of firearm fits their physical abilities.
Sisco said individuals who complete concealed carry classes choose to learn about firearms for a variety of reasons.
"We have a of people who are ladies who are not a match for a man," Sisco said. "Strength-wise, they are no match for a man."
Sisco said others who take the class may be elderly or have a physical disability which would inhibit their ability to defend themselves from an attacker.
Cleland said many people who take his classes do not intend to carry a concealed handgun with them at all times, but take the course to improve their self confidence and make them a less inviting target for a criminal.
"A lot of people take it for home protection," Cleland said.
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