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More Oklahomans are arming themselves

 
BY JAY F. MARKS | Published: April 21, 2009    Comment on this article Leave a comment


photo - Joe McCrary teaches concealed-carry permit classes at Bluewater Scuba in Oklahoma City. PHOTO BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN
Joe McCrary teaches concealed-carry permit classes at Bluewater Scuba in Oklahoma City. PHOTO BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN

A record number of Oklahomans are seeking permits to carry concealed handguns.

More than 21,000 people applied for concealed-carry permits in 2008, the most since the program began in 1996, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

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→State residents who are at least 21 years old and complete a firearm safety and training course are eligible for a permit to carry a concealed handgun, according to 1996’s Oklahoma Self-Defense Act.

→Convicted felons and anyone being treated for a mental illness cannot obtain a permit.

→Nearly 78,000 Oklahoma residents have a permit, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.



Editor's note: An incomplete headline has been corrected. We, as always, appreciate the diligent notice of our readers.

There have been twice as many applications so far this year as the same point last year, said Felicia Jackson, who manages the permit registry.

"This is kind of a nationwide phenomenon,” Jackson said.

Some firearm instructors attribute the increase to a rise in violent crimes or concerns about President Barack Obama’s policy plans, but OSBI officials refused to speculate.

"It’s probably anyone’s guess, quite frankly,” agency spokeswoman Jessica Brown said.

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Related Topics: Domestic Policy, Political Policy, Politics, Handguns, Gun Control, Government and Politics



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