Concealed-carry permits aren't the hot ticket some Missouri officials had predicted, with applications in the nine months since the law took effect running far below expectations. Locally, officials are reporting numbers of permits issued are a fraction of what they anticipated.
"We had expected around 250 to 300 applications. To date, we've only had 90," Fish said of Stoddard County permit applications. "I was a little surprised at the low numbers. We were geared up when the law was passed for big numbers. I had some extra help just to help with the application process, but it wasn't needed at all."
According to Fish and other local sheriffs, the primary reason conceal-carry permit numbers are so low is because when the law originally enacted, a provision was included allowing citizens age 21 or older to conceal guns within the passenger compartment of their vehicle without having to satisfy any of the requirements for carrying a concealed gun.
"People aren't wanting to go through the expense of roughly $200 for something they can do without a permit," Fish added.
Based on response to similar laws in Texas, Oklahoma and other states, the Missouri State Highway Patrol estimated the first year would produce 60,000 applications for permits to carry a concealed weapon.
Not all counties are issuing permits, and those that do keep their own records. The best indication of statewide application figures is the number of requests county sheriffs made to the patrol for background checks on people seeking the permits. That number was 13,748 since the law took effect in March to November.
In Butler County, some 280 permits have been issued. Sheriff Bill Heaton said before his department began taking applications in April, he expected close to 400 permits to be issued.
"The majority of people I've talked to said they wanted to carry one in their vehicle," Heaton said. "Most people aren't going to be running around, carrying a gun on their hips or shoulder. I've been in law enforcement for 27 years now, and you'll hardly ever see me carrying a gun. But I've got one close."
In Wayne County, Sheriff Larry Plunkett said about 70 permits have been issued, falling short of the 100 or so his department anticipated.
Likewise in Carter County, where Sheriff Greg Melton said about 50 to 55 permits have been issued, but he had expected about 100.
Both Plunkett and Melton also attribute their county's lower numbers to the law's provision allowing concealed weapons in a vehicle without requiring the conceal-carry permit.
"That was probably the most common sense thing I've seen come out of government yet," said Tim Heuiser, field support staff volunteer for the National Rifle Association. "A lot of the people I've talked to say that is all they wanted -- to carry a gun in their car, myself included. I'm not wanting to carry a gun on me. Guns aren't comfortable to carry and they aren't comfortable to wear. At least now, those who want to [carry a gun] can."
In Ripley County, Sheriff Adam Whittom has issued about 150 conceal-carry permits. He said he'd expected anywhere from 300 to 400 applicants.
"Being able to carry a gun in their car has satisfied a lot of the citizens I've spoke with," Whittom said.
Missouri's concealed-carry gun law passed last year but was delayed after it was challenged in court. It was upheld in February by the Missouri Supreme Court. Forty-six states now allow concealed weapons. Traditionally most permits are issued in the first year of availability.
However in Missouri, most agree the initial "rush" of applications ended within a few months. So much so that many counties have ceased holding the required training classes until there are enough people interested to actually hold a class.
The concealed-carry law makes stringent requirements for a certification class: Classroom, as well as live firing range training, are both required. No more than 40 people can participate in a class, and no more that five can be on a range's firing line per instructor.
The cost of a permit in Southeast Missouri is, for the most part, lower than in other regions of the state or nation. Each county sets its own fee.
In Butler County, for example, getting a permit costs around $200: $38 to Missouri Highway Patrol (for the background check), $50 to the Sheriff's Revolving Fund. The cost of training usually runs about $125 and up.
Charles Sisk, a 30-year firearms instruction veteran retired from the Highway Patrol, teaches certification classes to the public in Butler County. Though he was "swamped" with applicants following the law being passed, Sisk said the numbers have since dramatically dropped.
"There for a while, we were doing classes on Monday and Tuesday nights," he said. "Then we dropped off to just Monday night, then to one night a month. We have actually shut down our training operations till spring."
Sisk said he has a waiting list of people interested in taking the training course. To sign up for this spring's training, call 785-3870.
In Ripley County, training has ceased indefinitely until more people express interest in taking the certification course, according to Rad Talburt, a Missouri Water Patrolman who teaches the conceal-carry training there.
"I think those people that wanted to carry a gun everywhere have pretty much taken the course by now," Talburt said. "There will always be a few people that want to carry it with them everywhere. And there will always be gun enthusiasts turning 23, but the big rush is over."