Related
For years, Maryland residents moving across the Mason-Dixon line have been blamed for disappearing farmland in York County.

Area sportsmen say Marylanders might be partly responsible for another phenomenon: York County's consistently high ranking statewide in the number of people licensed to carry a firearm.

The county is eighth in the state in terms of population, but in 2008 ranked fifth in Pennsylvania in the number of permits issued to carry a concealed weapon.

In 2007, York County issued the third highest number of permits in the state. And, since 2002, York County has never dipped lower than seventh in the number of permits issued.

The county also ranked third highest in the number of licensed firearms dealers in 2007 and

2008.

Though gun owners also cite crime and an interest in gun-related sports as factors, lots of people point to new residents moving north from Maryland as a reason behind those numbers.

They include Bill Jennings, a salesman for the Freedom Armory Shooting Range in Glen Rock.

He said it is "extremely difficult" to obtain a carry permit in Maryland.

"When they come up here, they want to get a permit," he said.

Catherine Lewis of West Manchester Township, a former Maryland resident, agreed gun laws are much stricter in Maryland. She and
her husband, who both have carry permits, were looking at guns at the Freedom Armory Shooting Range.

The law: A license to carry a firearm is not required to purchase a gun in Pennsylvania. But gun owners need a permit to carry a concealed gun outside their home. They also need a permit to transport a gun, loaded or with ammunition readily available, in their car. Without a license, a gun owner traveling to a shooting range, for instance, could take a gun and ammunition, but they would need to be in separate containers and not readily available.

One of the major differences between Pennsylvania and Maryland is that this is a "shall-issue" state, meaning once the

criteria for a permit is met, the license to carry a concealed weapon must be issued.

And Pennsylvania does not require gun owners to state reasons they are applying for a permit. In Maryland, "you must articulate your need," according to Elena Russo, spokeswoman for the Maryland State Police, which issues license to carry permits.

That means gun owners in Maryland can be denied a permit, even if they meet all other qualifications.

In York County, license to carry permits are issued by the York County Sheriff's Department.

Sheriff's Deputy Wayne Boyce said many of those applying for permits have newly issued driver's licenses, an indication that they might have moved here from out of state.

Boyce said he is not as familiar with Maryland firearms laws, but many people have complained about the difficulty of getting a permit in Maryland, saying "it was impossible down there."

'Gun culture': Mike Taylor, a member of a gun club, also said he's noticed former Marylanders new to the county asking about permit laws in Pennsylvania.

The Hallam resident says there seems to be more of an "accepting gun culture" in York County compared to other places he's lived, including Kentucky and Virginia.

He adds that because the area is more rural, there is more of an interest in hunting and marksmanship sports.

Martin Pokrivka, of New Salem, browsing the firearm section of Gander Mountain outdoor supplies store, said many of his friends have been around guns all their lives. He said permits to carry might be higher in York County because residents tend to be more conservative politically and therefore the culture "tends to be more pro-gun."

"I know a lot of people who work down (in Maryland) but would never move down there because of their gun laws," he added.

Crime factor: Aside from regional differences, gun owners cite an increase in crime as a possible reason for the large number of permits in the county.

Jennings said he's had several customers come in for the first time because they think there is more crime in the county. He cited the increase of drugs entering the county via Interstate 83 as a cause for concern to many gun owners in the county.

Lewis said that she is a gun owner to protect herself.

"Crime happens even in York County," she said.

Brett Birgensmith, of Strinestown, said he was walking home one night when he saw a burglar leaving his house. Birgensmith said many people become gun owners after being victimized in a crime. After his home was burglarized, he said wanted a gun for protection.

"I think around here, a lot has changed really fast," said Tom McCall, who lives in Lancaster County but works in Glen Rock. He said rising crime in York City and Harrisburg has left county residents to feel more vulnerable.

"People are worried about how those areas are going," he said.

Despite the threat of crime, Birgensmith, Lewis and McCall said they all grew up around hunting.

Lewis, who hunts deer, said guns have always been a part of her life.

"We've grown up using guns for all sorts of things," she said.

-- Reach Jessica Ander son at 505-5434 or janderson@yorkdispatch.com.