Florida expected to hit 1,000,000 conceal-carry permits

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Gun owners at the St. Lucie Shooting Center say President Obama's re-election worries them.

"I want to have protection for myself for the future, and I know that guns are going to be hard to get," said Jeanne Rochester, a Port St. Lucie resident who just began her first training classes for her conceal-carry permit.

Shooting Center owner Ed Hensen said his shop has sold 5,000 total guns this year, but over the past four months, each month has seen approximately a 30% increase in sales.

"People panicked, and rightfully so," said Hensen. "They're concerned about their second amendment."

President Obama largely stayed quiet about gun control during his campaign, but in one debate, he did say reducing violence must include looking at whether an assault weapons ban might be re-introduced. There seems to be little political appetite right now for doing so, but many gun owners worry all the same.

Wednesday, Florida's Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam made a landmark announcement: "Florida will have one million active conceal weapons licenses next week.”

The one million mark for active concealed weapons licenses is a record exceeding that of any other state, but not everyone is comfortable with the news. 

Gun violence is in the headlines again after two innocent people died when a gunman opened fire in a Portland, Oregon mall.  

"I think they get into the wrong hands," said Brittney Eakins, a 21-year-old Port St. Lucie resident. "I mean, a lot of people do use guns for protection, I've seen it, and a lot of people use it for stupidity. I've seen that."

Gun rights advocates sharply disagree, contributing to a never-ending debate.

"If you have educated people, well-trained people with a firearm, it may eliminate some of these bad guys," said Hensen.