The Clackamas County, Or., Sheriff’s shooting range has had a hard time keeping ammunition in stock amid a boom in interest in gun training, reports The Oregonian. In Oregon, about one in 15 adults is now licensed to carry a concealed handgun, up from one in 22 adults in 2010. The surge has been particularly strong this year. The number of concealed handgun licenses issued in Oregon increased 22.7 percent during the first six months of 2013, according to Oregon State Police data.
The steep upswings in concealed handgun licenses follow December shootings at Clackamas Town Center, which left two shoppers dead and one wounded, as well as the c massacre in Newtown, Ct. The high-profile incidents at once touched off a nationwide drive for stricter gun control as well as a rush to buy guns before more restrictive laws might be passed. Although the initial surge is past, the Oregon numbers remain high, suggesting an enduring shift in attitudes and behavior. Reasons for obtaining a concealed handgun license run the gamut, but personal safety is at the top of the list.