A total of 4,665 Flathead County residents currently have active concealed-weapon permits, and many more are applying, according to Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry. Enough so that the sheriff’s office is adding hours for taking permit applications.

Prior to the Dec. 14 school shooting in Newtown, Conn., the office averaged 20 applications a week. That number increased to 80 in the week following the school shooting and stayed high since. Curry reported 77 permit applications were submitted this week.

“It goes up and down,” Curry said. “We get more in the summer and less in the winter, but it hasn’t fluctuated like this before.”

Applications have been accepted on Wednesdays from noon to 4 p.m., but to address long lines, the sheriff’s office is now accepting applications on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Curry said he didn’t think many applicants plan to carry a concealed weapon. People with a concealed-weapon permit don’t need to go through a background check when purchasing firearms and ammunition. People are also growing increasingly concerned about stricter federal gun control measures. He also noted that applicants must prove they have training in firearms or firearms safety.

“Does that make them more responsible? That’s a good question. But we don’t really have a lot of irresponsible gun owners here,” Curry said.

Concealed-weapon permits in Montana also apply to a “dirk, dagger, pistol, revolver, slingshot, sword cane, billy, knuckles made of any hard substance, knife having a blade four inches long or longer, razor (not including a safety razor), or other deadly weapon.”

For more information, visit online at http://flatheadcountysheriff.com and clicking on “Programs and Services” and selecting “CWP Application.”