State streamlines concealed weapons application

TAMPA - So many people in Florida want concealed weapons permits, the state trying is trying to eliminate the backlog of concealed permit applications.

Florida's surge in concealed weapons permits, typically called "concealed carry permits," started late last year.

The state's licensing division saw 96,000 applications in 2008, only to see that many already in the first half of 2009.

What used to take a few weeks to receive for the applicant started taking around three months.

Now, the state is allowing people to apply in person to one of the division's eight regional offices.The applications, even fingerprints, are all digital.

The end result is that applications get issued in a few weeks.