07/19/2025
Parma Leads the way in Decreased Gun Crime in Ohio!
Ohio started allowing citizens to conceal carry without a permit - now a study shows that gun crime rates are decreasing
The Buckeye state started allowing citizens to carry concealed fi****ms without a permit on 2022 and now a study by the Center for Justice Research found that gun crime rates decreased in six of its eight largest cities (Parma, Akron, Toledo, Columbus, Cleveland, & Canton) in the year following the law’s enactment, with drops of up to 22%.
Ohio’s permitless concealed carry law, also known as “constitutional carry,” was signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine.
This made Ohio the 23rd state to allow citizens 21 and older to carry concealed handguns without a permit, provided they are not legally banned from having a gun.
The study analyzed gun crime rates in Ohio’s eight largest cities: Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron, Dayton, Parma, and Canton.
The research covered June 2021 to June 2023, providing a year before and after the law’s enactment to assess its impact.
The study found that gun crime rates decreased in six of the eight largest cities during the first year of permitless carry.
Parma: 22% decrease.
Akron: 18% decrease.
Toledo: 18% decrease.
Columbus: 12% decrease
Cleveland: 5–6% decrease.
Canton: 5% decrease.
In cities with gunshot-detection technology (Toledo and Columbus), verified crime incidents dropped by 23.2% and 20.6%, respectively.
Attorney General Dave Yost and gun rights advocates, such as the Buckeye Fi****ms Association, argue the data debunks predictions of a “Wild West” scenario, saying responsible gun ownership did not exacerbate crime.
Yost emphasized focusing on criminals rather than law-abiding citizens.
