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"We don't have a problem with (more) people carrying guns. We really don't. Most of them are good people."

Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly said he's been told people get their CCWs in his county -- permits can be issued from counties other than an applicant's home county -- because the process is fast and efficient. Clark County issued 393 permits through June compared to 385 in all of 2011.

Kelly said he is for firearms training, but that there are more guns in Clark County than people and that political fear isn't justified.

"The truth and the reality is the president has done nothing toward guns," Kelly said. "We're seeing weapons out on the streets like assault rifles, handguns with 15 rounds in a magazine ... .50 caliber pistols.

"Every person we come in contact with we have to assume they have a weapon. We have to."

Through the first two quarters of 2012, Montgomery, Greene, Preble and Miami counties have already issued between 67 percent and 79 percent of the total number of permits issued last year. Among local counties, only Warren County has seen a decrease.

"I think one of the big reasons is the passing of the restaurant carry bill last year," said Jim Irvine, chairman of the Buckeye Firearms Association. "That was one of the big reasons people didn't go get a license because they go out to business lunches ... and it was illegal to carry in the vast majority of those places. So, if I can't carry there, it kind of screws up the whole day, so there's no point in getting a license. Now that they can carry at lunch, they can now carry throughout their entire day and now it's worth getting a license. I heard that from a lot of people."

Irvine likened gun owners wanting more guns to those who like shoes: "It's not really a matter of need, it's a matter of want."

Irvine called Obama "by far the most hostile president ever" on Second Amendment issues, though others say Obama hasn't really addressed the topic while in office. "I think the election and the fear of him getting re-elected certainly is driving sales to some extent, too."

Hoover said the higher NICS and concealed carry permit numbers are "very bothersome and worrisome." She added that, "Even though we might have that (Second Amendment) law, the bigger right is for everybody in this country to be able to live without violence and we're not moving in that direction when we keep putting more weapons out there."

Campbell said he is most interested in helping new gun owners get trained but realizes many clients want another new, shiny gun.

"There's a lot of folks out there just terrified that the government's going to take their guns away," Campbell said. "And that really isn't going to happen. But, still, they'll rush right out there and get all the guns they can, all the ammo they can and they're afraid things are going to disappear. They just want to stock up."

Concealed carry handgun licensing

Regular licenses issued (non-renewals)

2011 (full) 2012 (1Q+2Q)

Montgomery County 1,826 1,437

Greene County 852 656

Miami County 448 301

Warren County 1,284 470

Butler County 1,416 751

Clark County 385 393

Champaign County 193 121

Preble County 426 321

Darke County 468 487

9-county area 7,298 4,937

Ohio statewide 49,828 35,022

Source: Ohio Attorney General's Office

Ohio NICS firearm background checks

The National Instant Criminal Background Check System shows the massive upswing in checks for Ohio.

2006: 325,132

2007: 326,114

2008: 350,014

2009: 395,580

2010: 393,250

2011: 468,974

2012 (Jan.-Aug.): 357,945

National NICS checks

2010: 14,409,616

2011: 16,454,951

2012 (Jan.-Aug.) 11,728,224

Source: FBI statistics

Note: These statistics represent the number of firearm background checks initiated through the NICS. They do not represent the number of firearms sold. Based on varying state laws and purchase scenarios, a one-to-one correlation cannot be made between a firearm background check and a firearm sale.