Concealed Gun Permits Increase Across Michigan

LANSING (WWJ/AP) - The number of people packing heat in Michigan is skyrocketing.

According to a new report, the number of concealed weapons permits in Michigan has doubled over the past five years and now stands at 270,000. While the totals are on the rise, the pace at which such permits have been embraced varies by region.

WWJ Newsradio 950 spoke with current Oakland County Commissioner and former longtime Police Chief Bill Dwyer who is concerned by the stats.

"I don't see, in all my years in law enforcement, that all of a sudden people are starting to arm themselves. Violent crime has actually decreased in the last couple of years throughout this country, including Michigan ... So, I'm not sure what the reason for this is," he said.

"There's got to be a reason for that. It didn't just happen. So, I'm not sure if somebody's lax, as far on the CCW boards, or what's happening.  But I think there needs to be some work on this and someone has to come forward with why we have the increase as we do," said Dwyer.

In one Upper Peninsula county, nearly one in 10 adults 21 and older has a permit, according to an analysis published Tuesday by Booth Newspapers. The figure is fewer than three out of 100 in several West Michigan counties.

Wherever they live, however, the number of permit holders is rising, and the reason for most is the same: protection.

"God created men, but Sam Colt made them equal," said Mike Visser, a certified firearms instructor in Kent County who has trained hundreds seeking a concealed pistol license.

Ten years ago this week, Michigan became a "shall-issue" state, making it easier for residents to obtain concealed licenses if they are at least 21 and meet certain requirements.

The first year, 53,000 permits were approved, according to State Police records.

Today, the number has quintupled.

Five of the state's top 10 counties in terms of licenses per capita are in the Upper Peninsula, and all are in northern Michigan.

Five of the bottom 10 - Kent, Ottawa, Kalamazoo, Muskegon and Berrien counties - are in west and southwest Michigan.

In Kent County, the lowest, only 18 in 1,000 adults has a concealed pistol license, half the state average.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.