The number of Ohioans getting permits to carry concealed handguns reached its highest level in 2008 since the first year the state's concealed-carry law took effect.

The state issued 33,864 concealed-carry licenses last year, according to a report yesterday from Attorney General Richard Cordray's office. That's the highest number since 2004, the first year that Ohioans who meet certain criteria were eligible to carry concealed handguns in a variety of public settings.

The state has issued more than 140,000 permits since the law went into effect in 2004, Cordray's office said.

The number of licenses suspended, denied or revoked has remained mostly steady over the past few years and represents a fraction of applications.

-- James Nash jnash@dispatch.com