Kansans are applying for concealed carry firearms permits in record numbers.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Tuesday that in the fiscal year ending June 20, 12,408 permit applications were submitted to the Concealed Carry Licensing Unit in his office.

That’s a 24% increase over the 9,418 applications received in fiscal 2011.

 

 

Schmidt says the past two fiscal years rank first and second in number of permit applications received in the six-year history of the program.

During the most recent fiscal year, Schmidt’s office received an average of 49 permit applications each working day. These figures include only first-time applications and do not include applications for renewal of expiring permits.

“Our Concealed Carry Licensing Unit works diligently to keep up with the rapidly increasing demand for this service,” Schmidt said. “We’re dedicated to ensuring the law is carried out as the Legislature intended it.”

In total, more than 44,000 valid permits have been issued in Kansas. Through recognition agreements negotiated by the attorney general’s office, Kansas-issued permits are honored by 29 other states. Kansas honors permits issued by 23 other states.

The concealed carry licensing program was enacted by the Legislature in 2006 over the veto of then-Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. By law, the program is administered by Attorney General Schmidt’s office. More information about the concealed carry licensing program is available at www.ag.ks.gov.