Less than a week after a state law allowing concealed carry went into place, more than 20,000 Wisconsin citizens have already applied for a permit from the state's Department of Justice.
The new statewide policy, which took effect Nov. 1, lets Wisconsinites apply by mail or in person for a permit to carry hidden weapons.
The department had received 20,381 concealed carry applications as of Friday afternoon, DOJ communications officer Dana Brueck said.
The DOJ’s downloadable online application also went live last week.
By noon Friday, the DOJ had approved 641 licenses, printed 538 and rejected 117 concealed carry applications, according to Brueck.
Being rejected means a problem such as incomplete applicant data, insufficient training documentation or missing pay, Brueck said.
“Rejected is different from denied,” Brueck clarified in an e-mail. “Applications that say rejected are just that—‘rejected,’ not denied.”
The agency anticipates around 200,000 applicants, the Wisconsin State Journal reported Friday.
