CHICAGO (CBS/AP) – Illinois State Police officials say the first concealed carry licenses are being mailed.
Officials say the first permits are being sent to new license holders on Friday. Illinois State Police say they’ve approved 5,000 applications so far.
State Police Col. Marc Maton says state police have denied 300 applications and received objections from local law enforcement agencies on 800 applicants.
Maton says 46,000 applications have been received so far.
Illinois gun owners began applying for the permits in January after the state became the last in the nation to allow people to carry concealed guns.
State officials believe as many as 400,000 people will apply for the concealed carry permits during the first year of the law.
Sponsoring Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, says there are safeguards built into the law to prevent the wrong people from getting the permits.
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