PAINESVILLE, Ohio — Licenses for concealed carry, or CCW Licenses, are no longer required in Ohio, and numbers show fewer people are getting them. 

What You Need To Know

  • It's been about a year since Ohio became a constitutional carry state, meaning licenses to carry a firearm are no longer required

  • Two counties that usually issue the most licenses in the state are seeing a decline in new licenses being issued since the new law

  • License renewals are still being processed, and there are still benefits to getting a license to carry

State lawmakers made Ohio a constitutional carry state last June, meaning you don’t need a license to carry a handgun concealed. Background checks and firearm training are no longer needed to carry a gun.

But there are some benefits from being licensed. Sgt. Robert Harps oversees the CCW office for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. He said a benefit of getting one is that you’ll know if you’re legally allowed to carry a firearm in public, since there are still laws that prohibit you from carrying in public.  

“The smallest infraction obviously they can be charged with a felony for carrying concealed, because they don’t meet the state or federal requirements," Harps said.

Still, the numbers show that fewer people are getting licensed.

Lake County had the second most licenses issued in the state the year before the law took effect. Data from the Lake County Sheriff's office shows that Lake County issued 3,350 licenses from January to June 2022. In that same time frame for in 2023, they’ve issued 2,034 licenses.

Franklin County usually is first in the state in licenses issued by county. Data from Franklin County shows that their licensing numbers are down 65% since the new law took effect.

It's a different story for those renewing their licenses. 

"The renewals seem to be going about the same pace on average," Harps said.

Harps said a reason for still getting a license is because some owners may want to carry in another state. The Ohio Attorney General's office has a map that shows which states require a license to carry, and recognize Ohio’s license.

“It covers you if you’re in Lake County,” Harps said. “Forty-five minutes, you’ll be in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania does not recognize constitutional carry. They don’t have it. You’ll have to have a PA permit or an Ohio CCW license.”

Harps said a CCW license application can give a gun owner peace of mind since the parameters are the same for carrying with a CCW license, and for carrying without a license. 

Harps said at a traffic stop, deputies can check for a CCW license when they run your plate, which may change how they approach the stop. They can also ask if someone’s armed. You used to have to tell an officer if you’re armed. You don't have to now, unless you’re asked. 

You have to tell the truth if an officer asks if you’re armed. Lying about it is a misdemeanor.