466 concealed weapons applications filed in Isabella County over past year

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In 2007, firearms were the cause of 4,669 deaths among U.S citizens between the ages of 15 and 24.

To combat firearm hazards many states have developed gun ownership regulations. The Michigan statewide Concealed Weapons Permit application process is one of many ways Isabella County tries to keep citizens safe.

Carol Anderson, Isabella County vital records clerk, said there were 466 concealed weapons applications between September 2009 and September 2010; 259 were approved and 198 were renewed while 9 were rejected.

“I’ve really had a heavy year because everyone’s been in applying like crazy,” Anderson said. “July was huge, September was huge.”

There are 1165 current concealed weapons licenses in Isabella County, but that does not mean there are that many people in the county with concealed weapons, Anderson said.

“The permits are good for five years and they are a state-wide permit,” she said. “So you don’t update your address until you renew.”

According to the Mount Pleasant Police department website, there were only three shootings from June to August, including an attempted suicide and the June 13 shooting at The Cabin, 930 W. Broomfield St.

Mount Pleasant Police Department Public Information Officer Jeff Browne has not noticed a problem with firearms or concealed weapons in Mount Pleasant.

“The incidents we do have are pretty far and few between, which is great,” he said. “It’s one of the great things about this town.”

Possessing a firearm requires many qualifications.

To apply for a permit, a person must get a Concealed Weapons Permit application from the County Clerk’s office, the Isabella County Sheriff’s Department, or from other participating police agencies.

The application must be executed in the presence of the County Clerk or a designated representative of the Clerk.

Isabella County Clerk Joyce Swan said if a person moves within Michigan during the time period of the permit, they do not need to notify her office of the address change.

To reapply for a permit, they would have to do it in their new residing county.

“The County does have a file for each gun permit that is issued and we keep those files in the County Clerk’s Office, we do have track of all permits issued,” Swan said.

Anderson said all applicants must be at least 21, live in Isabella County, and have a valid Michigan Driver’s License or State ID, an original training certificate, two passport quality photos and pay a $105 processing fee.

The permit is only valid for 10 days. Within that time period the gun owner must take or mail their gun description to the local Sheriff’s Department or police agency.

An applicant cannot be convicted of a felony, be convicted of certain misdemeanors in the three to eight years immediately preceding the date of application, dishonorably discharged from the U.S Army and/or subject to a personal protection order.

For more information on Concealed Weapons permits or a full list of disqualifiers, visit www.michigan.gov/msp