LIMA — It has been almost two years since Ohio became the 23rd state to enact a permitless carry law (PCL), codifying the right for Ohio citizens to carry a concealed firearm without qualifying for and obtaining a concealed carry permit. In that time since that law was enacted on June 13, 2022, the question remained as to what the long-term consequences of this policy change would be when it comes to firearm incidents and gun crime. However, a new study looking at these trends immediately before and after the new law maintains that this policy’s effect has been minimal in these areas.
According to a study published in January by the Ohio Attorney General Office’s Center for Justice Research, crime incidents involving a firearm decreased from June 2021 to June 2023 in six out of Ohio’s largest eight cities: Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo, Akron, Canton and Parma. Parma saw the greatest reduction in gun crime at 22 percent, followed by Toledo and Akron at 18 percent each. Dayton and Cincinnati were the two cities to show a slight increase in gun-related crime during that time, increases of six and five percent, respectively.