HILLSDALE — According to information obtained from online records from the Michigan State Police, the number of Michiganders seeking concealed pistol licenses (CPL) in the state have tripled in 10 years.

According to a MSP annual report issued in October of 2015, between Oct. 1, 2014 and Sept. 30, 2015, 121,682 Michiganders applied for the license.

In the same time period between 2005 and 2006, only 40,238 Michiganders had applied.

Hillsdale County Clerk Marney Kast confirmed that the number of Hillsdale County residents seeking a CPL is also on the rise.

“We process three to four applications a day,” Kast said. “I don’t believe we saw these kind of numbers even just a few years ago.”

A monthly status report issued by the MSP on Oct. 3 indicated that 3,146 Hillsdale County residents had been approved for a CPL license in total.

In a similar report issued just two months prior on Aug. 1, that number was only 3,070.

The popular consensus in the rise of Michiganders seeking CPL licenses is a general concern for their safety in the ever-increasing threat of mass shootings.

Critics of Michigan concealed carry laws often cite a lack of law enforcement’s ability to thoroughly check an applicant’s behavioral health history.

In an analysis of Senate Bill 34 and 35, published in February of 2015, nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staffers Susan Stutzky and Paul Holland confirmed these fears of some Michiganders.

“Due to HIPAA compliance, health and mental health records are inaccessible,” the report stated. “Except for court-ordered involuntary treatment, for which MSP could access the records, MSP must rely on an applicant’s honesty in disclosing a mental illness.”

Between Oct. 1, 2014 and Sept. 30, 2015, 11 CPL applications were denied subject to a mental health order according to annual report on CPL information issued by the MSP.

In the same time period, 12 CPL licenses were suspended and 17 were revoked due to reasons listed as mental health with no further explanation.

In addition to the controversy surrounding the mental health loophole, others argue that current CPL law only mandates the holder have an eight hour block of instruction to obtain a CPL and no additional annual training.

It is up to the individual CPL holder to continuously train in proper handgun deployment and self-defense.