COLUMBUS, Ohio — Attorney General Dave Yost's office released the 2023 concealed carry report. 

What You Need To Know

  • In June 2022, Ohio passed a revised law to no longer require a permit or license to conceal carry

  • The report shows a sharp decline in issued licenses due to no longer needing a license to conceal carry 

  • Several Ohio cities saw a decline in crimes involving a firearm after the revised law was passed 

In June 2022, Ohio revised its gun laws to no longer require citizens to have a license or permit to conceal carry. Due to permits no longer being required to carry a firearm, the state saw a drastic decline in the number of concealed carry licenses issued last year. 

In 2023, 15,581 new licenses were issued. This is less than a fourth of the licenses issued in 2021 (94,298 licenses issued), which was the last full year permits were required. Franklin County issued the most new licenses and also renewed the most licenses. 

After the revised law went into effect, some Ohioans were concerned that crime rates would increase, but a recent study shows otherwise. The Attorney General’s office, in collaboration with Bowling Green State University, found that crime incidents involving a firearm dropped in several cities across the state. Rates fell the most in Parma (22%), followed by Akron, Columbus and Toledo, which all fell around 18%. You can find the full study here.

The revised concealed carry law did not eliminate or affect the state’s permitting system. In order to receive a permit from the county sheriff’s office, one must go through eight hours of education that includes lessons on handgun safety and two hours of hands-on training at a shooting range under the guidance of a certified instructor.