Douglas County Sees Highest Number of Gun Permits Since 1991 - FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; kptm.com |
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Maureen Wurtz
OMAHA (KPTM)- Mayor Jim Suttle joined hundreds of mayors across the country to sign a letter to urge the President and Congress to make gun laws stronger.
They want criminal background checks on all U.S. gun sales They also are wanting military style weapons and high capacity magazines off the streets.
A record number of people applied for a gun permit in Douglas County Tuesday. There were 115 people that applied. That is the highest number since 1991. Before the record was 38 per day.
A large number of women are among those who want to own a gun.
Chief Deputy Marty Bilek said as people filed in, there's one trend that he's noticing.
"Women, younger women, women with children are coming in because they need to feel safe."
Women like Jacquelyn Alexander.
"When it was just me, it was one thing, but now that I have a kid, and you see how many crazy people are out there. I think you feel a need to protect yourself."
"We've had home invasions before when he was overseas and stuff like that, and my youngest was only a couple months old," Sarah Rivas said.
These women want to take their safety into their own hands.
"Really hit home with me because my kids are around those ages," Rivas said.
"When people don't feel secure in our society, the inclination is to take matters in your own hands, provide for your own safety and your family," Bilek said.
To get a gun permit, you don't even need to be fingerprinted. All you need is your driver's license and five dollars.
"I feel like this was really easy for me to purchase," Alexander said.
"Sad and somewhat depressing that it has turned to this point where you feel like you have to have something on you to protect yourself."
To get a permit to purchase a gun you have to go to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. It's open 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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