An increase in the number of applications for a license to carry a handgun is causing problems for the Indiana State Police.
Since the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, in mid-December, the number of Hoosiers applying for a gun license has skyrocketed. The average number of monthly applications went from about 5,200 to more than 23,000 in January.
The agency reports a return to more normal levels last month, but the high volume has slowed down the processing time to more than 60-days, which the law requires.
More staff has been added to erase the backlog and a review is underway to examine streamlining the process.
The Indiana State Police report the following numbers on gun licenses:
Applications for License to Carry a Handgun received, by month, from December 2012 to June of 2013:
• Dec 2012: 13,954
• Jan 2013: 23,079
• Feb 2013: 15,945
• Mar 2013: 12,204
• Apr 2013: 11,397
• May 2013: 8,848
• Jun 2013: *6,513
• Seven Month Total: 91,940
* June number not final, subject to change
Issued Licenses to Carry a Handgun from 2009 to 2012
• 2009: 98,639
• 2010: 79,027
• 2011: 61,595
• 2012: 60,906
At the beginning of July 2013 there were 493,205 active licenses to carry a handgun, of which 392,520 were issued to men and 100,685 were issued to women.