GUILFORD COUNTY -- If past mass shootings are any indication, several recent tragedies may encourage residents to seek out firearm permits.
"Sandy Hook, for example, we had an uptick for about a month afterward for pistol permits and concealed carry permits,” said Sgt. Jimmy Kapp with the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office.
Kapp said mass acts of violence often make people want to feel safe and secure, leading many who have considered getting a permit to actually do it.
Tony Chambers, a Greensboro resident, is an example. He applied for a permit for the first time ever on Thursday, following shootings in San Bernardino, California, the previous day that left more than a dozen people dead.
"When I see the mass shootings, it's just one every day. I see folks kicking in people's doors,” he said. “I feel a sense of unsafeness, and I just want to be able to protect my family in case something like that happens."
Carl Abbe, owner of Calibers Indoor Gun Range in Greensboro, said his shop received more calls than normal Thursday morning. Many of the inquiries were about the range’s concealed carry course.
"I think the increase with the amount of people that want to take the class has to do with what happens in this country. They don't want to happen to them what happened in France,” he said, referring to terrorist attacks that took place in Paris last month.
Still, Sgt. Kapp said any increased interest in permits from the public would not bring closer scrutiny during the application screening process.
"We have the general statutes and the procedures set forth to process the applications, even when there's an uptick,” he said.