Posted at: 03/01/2013 11:33 AM
Updated at: 03/01/2013 4:33 PM
2012 Was Record Year for Handgun Permits in Minn.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota sheriffs have issued a record number of permits to people who want to carry handguns in public, with 31,657 permits granted in 2012.
That's a considerable spike from recent years. In 2011, there were just shy of 21,000 five-year permits issued.
An annual report by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension that tallies the permit data was released Friday. It includes a county-by-county breakdown of permit holders.
The number of valid permits in Minnesota now tops 125,000.
Last year, there were 33,816 requests for permits. Fewer than 300 were denied and roughly 1,800 applications were pending when the report was produced.
Locally, Olmsted County had 717 applications come in with 655 five year permits issued.
In Mower County, there were 192 applications with 189 five year permits issued.]
And in Freeborn, 151 applications cam in with 150 five year permits issued.
The full report is available for viewing on the BCA Website at:
https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca/bca-divisions/administrative/Documents/2012PermitToCarryReport.pdf.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press contributed to this article. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
