COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio's Attorney General says more people are requesting to carry a gun in the Buckeye State.

The year end report by Mike DeWine shows 2013 was a state record for the total number of concealed carry permits.

The 145,000 licenses include both new and renewed permits. The increased numbers also are reflected here in the valley.

Mahoning county's 1,032 new permits nearly doubled the total for 2012. Trumbull county also recorded an increase, as did Columbiana for a total of 6,790 permits for the three counties.

Mahoning county Sheriff Jerry Greene says his office has improved the efficiency of the licensing process which used to take more than a month.

"Once you;ve been approved for it, generally we have about a 24 hour or one day turnaround to get your license back" said Greene.

The fee for a concealed carry permit is 67 dollars. Law enforcement officials say the growing number of legal permits is not a great concern because of the education and training that goes along with the license.

"It's the bad guys, the ones that don't obey the laws, that aren't going to avail themselves of the permit process that would cause the problems" according to Boardman Police Chief Jack NIchols.

Sheriff Greene believes that in this day in age people are looking for more personal protection.

"I think sometimes people, law abiding citizens,  feel safer if they're carrying a weapon to be able to defend themselves" the Sheriff said.

At the same time, officers on patrol are aware that more legally licensed weapons are out there and the Sheriff says that does change the mind set of police officer training.