http://www.limaohio.com/articles/carry-38789-concealed-law.html
LIMA - When two men knocked on Charesa Smith's door at 5 a.m. wanting to use her phone last winter, she feared the worst.
She knew about a rash of home invasion robberies happening around the county.
Smith and her husband never let them inside, where they have three young children. They called the Sheriff's Office, and the men left.
"It broke the safe barrier I had around myself and my house. I felt as if I was violated. They never did anything, but it felt like it could have gotten nasty," she said.
That incident was enough to spur Smith and her husband to obtain their concealed carry licenses. She now feels safer, she says, especially since she spends a lot of time out alone with her children, who range in age from 10 months to 7 years old, running to the store and appointments.
"It was a safety issue," she said. "I don't think the world is as safe of a place as it used to be, and I wanted something to protect my children."
More people packing
More and more Ohioans are carrying concealed weapons, with an enormous increase this year alone. Most officials attribute that increase to the fear that Barack Obama's administration in the White House will take away guns, coupled with the struggling economy and an increase in crime.
Through March, Ohio reported 159,000 residents with concealed carry licenses, which represents about 1 percent of the population. Of that number, 16,323 were new licenses issued in the first three months of the year, a number that continues to climb at a high rate.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives estimates 25 percent of the U.S. population owns a gun of some type, and half the households in the country have at least one gun inside.
Many local counties report doubling or tripling the number of applicants for the first six months of the year compared to all of 2008. In Auglaize County, 92 licenses were issued last year, compared to 295 so far this year. Allen County issued 323 licenses last year, compared to 449 so far this year.
Insight Firearms Training Development instructor Steve Farmer, of Lima, said there's been an explosion in the number of people taking his class. In previous years, he averaged 15 in his monthly class. During the first five months of the year, he's had classes as big as 40 people and had to hold two each month to keep up with demand.
Bob Davis, a 64-year-old owner of a small business in Lima, said his job takes him to all areas of town, including those with high crime rates, where he does not feel safe.
"I just can't tell someone we can't do your work because you live in a high-crime area," he said.
Patrick Kennedy, a former police officer who now works as a psychiatric attendant for the state prison system, said he feels safer carrying a gun. That's especially true since he deals with criminals every day, some of whom threaten to hurt him should they be released.
"I just want to have a choice to carry it to protect myself and my family," he said.
Best citizens
Farmer said he sees people in class from all walks of life, from doctors and lawyers to factory workers, teachers and preachers.
Farmer, a former police chief who is also a police firearms trainer, said people with concealed carry licenses are among the most law-abiding. He said he rarely came across people with their concealed carry licenses during traffic stops, saying it's because they follow the law to begin with.
Allen County Sheriff Crish said people with their concealed carry licenses typically are the most law-abiding citizens. Otherwise, they would not have been issued a license.
"We're not worried about those individuals," he said.
Benefits of CCW
U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, fought to bring concealed carry to Ohio as a state legislator more than five years ago. He said the law levels the playing field and gives good people the chance to protect themselves, deterring crime.
No law is going to stop a bad guy from carrying a gun, but without a law they had more targets to go after with less worry, Jordan said.
"Now they have to stop and think," he said.
Carrying a gun makes Davis feel as if he has a chance, especially when he hears about robberies where someone shoots the victim for no reason, he said.
"I just don't want to be in that position," he said.
Davis also tries to avoid being in a bad situation. He said he would much rather take preventative measures than to risk harm or be put in a position to use his weapon. He's never had to pull out his gun since he began carrying last year.
"I hope I never have to pull it for any reason, and I wouldn't look forward to shooting anyone," he said.
Another aspect of obtaining a license Smith said doesn't catch the headlines comes through the training. She wanted to have a gun before taking her concealed carry class under Farmer but was reluctant to get a gun without knowing how to safely store and handle it with three children at home.
Farmer worked closely with her to explain options such as gun storage safes and ways to teach children guns are dangerous, she said.
The police view
When the concealed carry concept was first proposed, those against it said it would lead to shootouts or a return to the days of the Wild West.
That has not happened. Police and sheriffs in the region have not recorded a single case.
"Experience has proven it has not created any problems," Lima Police Department Maj. Kevin Martin said.
Auglaize County Sheriff Al Solomon said he remembers the few who were opposed saying there also would be vigilantism.
"That hasn't been the issue," he said.
Solomon, who supports the law, said he hasn't even had a case of a concealed carry license holder legally shooting someone in self-defense.
Van Wert County Sheriff Stan Owens supports the law, saying there is proof it deters crime. He said carjackings across the country have declined since concealed carry laws hit the books.
"It adds a deterrent. The criminal may be faced with lethal force should he try to rob or harm someone," Owens said.
