PA Bill Number: HB2311
Title: Establishing the School Mental Health Screening Grant and Development Program.
Description: Establishing the School Mental Health Screening Grant and Development Program. ...
Last Action: Laid on the table
Last Action Date: Sep 23, 2024
Gun permit rush in PA :: 12/31/2015
Ebensburg, Cambria County, Pa. All across our state county courthouses have been packed -- some are standing room only -- with people who are looking to apply for a license to carry a concealed weapon.
"Everybody on the first floor, they're all on the benches outside our office and they're waiting for permits," Cambria County Sheriff Bob Kolar said.
As the end of the year approaches, more and more people across the state have been applying for gun permits.
"They're not getting the permits for hunting," Kolar said. "They're getting the permits for - I'd say 95 percent are for - self defense."
"Definitely more of a self defense asset for both of us actually," Wendy Becker said as she waited to have her application approved.
Many county sheriff offices are seeing double the average number of applicants.
Sheriff Kolar said it's an interesting phenomenon that he and other sheriffs we spoke with can't explain. Kolar did say, however, he thinks it has something to do with people feeling less and less safe.
"You know, 50 years ago permits very seldom did you see anybody," Kolar said. "Today, in today's world, you see more and more violence, more and more shootings, more and more stabbings."
Dwayne and Wendy Becker were just two of hundreds of applicants the Cambria County Sheriff's Office has seen in the last few weeks. The said self defense is a priority.
"It is society," Wendy said. "Personally, I'm not too concerned but you never know about the next person in line."
Dwayne is also a hunter and wants to make sure he is properly permitted to carry.
"It's one of those ones if you go hunting, got your gun in your car, better have a permit if you get pulled over because a lot of people don't know that," he said.
More than 4,000 people have applied for a license in Cambria County this year. Sheriff Kolar said he's not too worried about an increase of gun carriers in his county, but he does want people to be smart about carrying a weapon.
"The main concern about that is if they get a permit I think they should attend classes, go to some type of class, so they know how to respect and how to use the weapon that they bought," he said.
http://www.wearecentralpa.com/news/local-news/gun-permit-rush-in-pa
