Despite Drop in Permits, Mahnomen County Sheriff Says Still Plenty of Interest in Permits to Carry

Mahnomen, MN — The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s 2022 Permit to Carry report was released recently and for the first time since 2019 showed a significant drop in the number of issued permits to carry. While 65,000 permits were issued last year, 2020 and 2021 averaged around 100,000 permits. Mahnomen County Sheriff Josh Guenther, who is also a permit to carry instructor, believes the interest hasn’t dropped off, but rather the numbers are leveling off after the extraordinary demand the last two years, which he credits to political reasons.

The report also indicated that roughly 99% of permit to carry holders in Minnesota have remained law abiding, and of those 1% who committed a crime, only 3% used a firearm in furtherance of the crime.

Sheriff Guenther goes on to note that a strong majority of crimes they see that involve a firearm are done by those not legally allowed to possess one.

When offering his permit to carry course, Guenther is able to provide some excellent firsthand insight into the rules and regulations when it comes to firearms and self-defense.

And the people who take Guenther’s training aren’t the hardcore, safe-filled-with-firearms individuals you might expect. He notes its mostly individuals, many of which are women, who want the option to protect themselves.

Sheriff Guenther adds that he’s enthused by the sustained interest in firearms and his conceal carry course. He encourages citizens to know the rules surrounding firearms and how to safely handle them.

Follow JD Firearms Training LLC on Facebook for more information on Sheriff Guenther’s Concealed Class, which he typically offers on a monthly basis.