Following the school shooting in Connecticut last Friday, area residents are rushing to arm themselves. Conceal carry permits applications are skyrocketing.
On Monday, the first business day after the school shooting in Connecticut, a to that point record number of licenses to carry a firearm were applied for in Lancaster County as people look for a way to protect themselves and their families.
“Because it’s a right I have and I can do what I can to protect myself and my family,” stated Mike Wynn, who applied for a carry permit.
Mike Wynn was at the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department to get his conceal carry permit. He’s been thinking about it for a while.
But after seeing what happened in Connecticut on Friday, he felt now was the right time.
“In light of everything, it kind of sped things along,” Wynn explained.
“It’s a knee-jerk reaction from the public,” stated Lancaster County Sheriff Mark Reese. We also hear comments that people come in, they want to get their permit quickly before they take our guns from us.”
Sheriff Mark Reese says Lancaster County usually sees about 25-30 applications for carry permits a day. But on Monday that number spiked to 84. However, on Wednesday the number soared to 91, the new record.
Tuesday it was 75 and Wednesday was about the same. But it’s not just in Lancaster County, from Berks, to Dauphin to Cumberland all the way to Westmoreland County, sheriff’s departments are seeing record numbers of people filing for conceal carrying permits.
“It’s time everyone stood up for themselves,” Wynn concluded. “As a country, I think, we’ve been pushed around too long. You have that right to defend yourself.”
A license to carry a firearm in PA is relatively simple to get. It costs $20. But a background check is done.
On Monday, the first business day after the school shooting in Connecticut, a to that point record number of licenses to carry a firearm were applied for in Lancaster County as people look for a way to protect themselves and their families.
“Because it’s a right I have and I can do what I can to protect myself and my family,” stated Mike Wynn, who applied for a carry permit.
Mike Wynn was at the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department to get his conceal carry permit. He’s been thinking about it for a while.
But after seeing what happened in Connecticut on Friday, he felt now was the right time.
“In light of everything, it kind of sped things along,” Wynn explained.
“It’s a knee-jerk reaction from the public,” stated Lancaster County Sheriff Mark Reese. We also hear comments that people come in, they want to get their permit quickly before they take our guns from us.”
Sheriff Mark Reese says Lancaster County usually sees about 25-30 applications for carry permits a day. But on Monday that number spiked to 84. However, on Wednesday the number soared to 91, the new record.
Tuesday it was 75 and Wednesday was about the same. But it’s not just in Lancaster County, from Berks, to Dauphin to Cumberland all the way to Westmoreland County, sheriff’s departments are seeing record numbers of people filing for conceal carrying permits.
“It’s time everyone stood up for themselves,” Wynn concluded. “As a country, I think, we’ve been pushed around too long. You have that right to defend yourself.”
A license to carry a firearm in PA is relatively simple to get. It costs $20. But a background check is done.