AG Schmidt: Record Number of Concealed Carry Applications Received In 2013

The number of Kansans who applied for concealed carry handgun permits last year exceeded the previous one-year record by 50 percent, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced today.

More than 24,000 Kansans applied for concealed carry handgun permits in 2013.

“Record numbers of Kansans are exercising their Second Amendment rights and taking advantage of the Kansas concealed carry law,” Schmidt said. “We’re working hard to provide them top-quality customer service in the permitting process.”

The 24,181 applications received by the Attorney General’s Concealed Carry Licensing Unit during the 2013 calendar year was more than had been received in any previous calendar year since the program began in 2006. The previous record for a calendar year was 15,707 applications received in 2012.

During the month of December, the Attorney General’s Office received 1,036 applications. There were 75,099 active permits as of January 2. The applications are being processed in an average of 30 days.

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.