Kansas issues record number of permits for concealed guns in March

A record number of Kansas applied for permits to carry concealed guns in March, exceeding records set during the past two months, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said Wednesday.

The office received 4,072 applications by the end of March, beating the previous single-month record of 3,573 set in February, Schmidt said in a news release. January’s applications – 3,167 received – were nearly double the previous one-month record of 1,651, set in March 2012, Schmidt’s office has said.

Since Jan. 1, the office has received 10,812 applications. As of Wednesday, 53,272 Kansans had an active concealed-carry license, Schmidt said.

Kansas legislators passed the Personal and Family Protection Act in 2006. The first permits were issued in January 2007.

Under Kansas law, concealed-carry licensees must be 21 or older, undergo a background check, have no felonies, complete eight hours of weapons training and be approved by the county sheriff’s office.

This story was originally published April 3, 2013 at 9:48 PM with the headline "Kansas issues record number of permits for concealed guns in March."