Ohio sees 'significant decrease' in gun crime since concealed carry without a permit was passed

Ohio has seen a decrease in gun crime across several of its cities since it has allowed individuals to carry a concealed firearm without a permit.

Ohio became the 23rd state to allow individuals to carry a firearm without permit in 2022, which was hit with criticisms when the state realized it could not require individuals to "get fingerprinted, pay a fee," or "ask for permission from the local sheriff."

Michael Weinman, director of governmental affairs for the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police, told Governing in June 2022 that the move was potentially dangerous.

"It's still a bad bill. There's going to be people without any training, without any background check (carrying guns)."

However, Ohio's own office of the attorney general released statistics that claim gun crime has actually decreased in the state since the constitutional carry has been enforced.

The Center for Justice Research was assigned to study the relationship between the new rules and crime involving a firearm before and after permitless carry came into effect.

The study tracked crimes involving a firearm, gunshot incidents, and the impact of the new rules on law enforcement.

The study found in its trend analysis that there had been a "significant decrease in crime incidents involving a firearm for Akron, Columbus, and Toledo, and across all 8 cities combined from June 2021- June 2023."

The other cities referenced were Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Parma, and Canton.

However, two of those cities (Cincinnati and Dayton) saw an increase in gun crime since permitless carry was enacted, despite a downward trend across the state.

According to SCNR, Parma, Ohio, saw the largest decrease in crimes involving firearms at 22%. The second-highest drop came in both Toledo and Akron at 18%, while Columbus saw a 12% decrease.

Cincinnati's firearm crime rate rose by 6% while Dayton's was +5%.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said in a statement he "genuinely did not know what the study would find."

“I thought it would be useful either way," he continued. "The key takeaway from this study is that we have to keep the pressure on the criminals who shoot people, rather than Ohioans who responsibly exercise their Second Amendment rights," Yost added.

In terms of injuries or death to police officers; June-December 2021 saw eight total officers injured or killed by a firearm in Ohio. From January 2022-June 2023, after permitless carry came into effect, an additional eight total officers were injured or killed by a firearm in 18 months.

Comparing the rates, that makes eight injured/killed officers in six months before the new rules, as opposed to an average of less than three officers killed or injured every six months since concealed carry without a permit was allowed.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!