Concealed weapons permits

In the year following President Barack Obama’s re-election and the Sandy Hook School shooting massacre, applications and approvals for concealed weapons permits increased by more than 50 percent in Michigan. The annual report by the Michigan State Police shows that from July 2012 to June 30, 2013, there were nearly 130,000 applications for concealed weapons permits and more than 118,000 were approved. Of those applicants, 3,040 had criminal violations. In 2011-12, there were over 82,300 applications for concealed weapons permits and more than 78,700 permits approved. The more than 57 percent increase was far smaller than the 118 percent increase in applications from the 2007-08 year to 2008-09. Obama was first elected in November 2008 and gun rights advocates began warning that his administration would take steps to control weapons. Since Obama was elected, the state has averaged 92,197 permit applications a year.  (MRN)