More than 91,000 Illinois residents have their concealed carry permits. The Illinois State Police released the numbers from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014 on January 16, 2015.
From January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014, 91,651 permits were issued in Illinois while 2,359 were denied.
"I expect it to grow because these are individuals who have been waiting for it. What I'm expecting to see now is those individuals who need it," said Tim Barton, firearms instructor and owner of Citizens Tactical Unit in Geneseo, "I think those numbers will double, if not more."
In Rock Island County 747 permits were issued; 374 were issued in Henry County; 168 in Mercer County; 354 in Whiteside County; 418 in Knox County; and 71 in Henderson County.