COEUR d'ALENE - The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office completed processing 2,830 concealed weapons permit applications last year, which is 10 times more than seven years earlier.

The number of permit applications increased every year since 2007, except from 2013 to 2014, when the number decreased by 3 percent.

The numbers provided Monday by the sheriff's office to The Press are the numbers of permits approved each year, except for those applications submitted in December or later that are still being processed for approval.

"It's crazy how much they've increased since 2007," said Undersheriff Dan Mattos.

According to the numbers, 2,830 were processed last year, compared with 2,928 approved in 2013. There were 293 approved in 2007.

The numbers show more people taking action to ensure their personal safety.

"I like to have my protection - self-defense - in my hands, rather than relying on the police who might be minutes or so away," said Tina Kunishige, a concealed weapons permit holder and the owner of Mil Spec Armory LLC in Coeur d'Alene. While she has the permit, her preference is to carry a gun in the open.

Kootenai County Commissioner David Stewart also has a concealed weapons permit, and wears a gun and holster to public meetings.

"You just never know when something is going to happen," Stewart said Monday. "I feel more secure with it. It does have a lot of responsibility that also goes along with it."

Through March 3 this year, the sheriff's office has processed 510 permit applications.

"If we stay on that pace, that's about 3,000," said Sheriff Ben Wolfinger.

Since 2007, annual percentage increases have been 48 percent, 37 percent, 69 percent, 17 percent, 82 percent and 35 percent, then the 3 percent decrease.

"We saw a huge spike after Sandy Hook," the elementary school shooting in Newtown, Conn., in December 2012, Wolfinger said.

The sheriff's office had to decrease the number of hours its lobby is open each week to process all the paperwork for concealed weapons permits.

"It's become a huge impact in the records division," Wolfinger said.

There are several steps in the process.

Fingerprints are taken for applicants, which go to the Idaho State Police for a criminal history check.

The sheriff's office also sends documents to state officials to determine if applicants have been "adjudicated mentally ill."

And 90 days before a permit expires, the sheriff's office sends out renewal notices.

"It's kind of labor intensive," Wolfinger said.

Eight people work in the sheriff's office records division, handling all the sheriff's office paperwork, including the mass of concealed weapons permit applications.

Ed Santos, owner of Center Target Sports in Post Falls, said his business offers an enhanced concealed carry permit class as many as six times each month with 20 students in each class.

Every class in the past year, or more, has been sold out, he said.

"We're presently sold out now for May," Santos said Monday.

Approximately 18,000 students have completed the class at his facility.

"People are taking more responsibility for their safety and the protection of their family," Santos said.

While North Idaho is a safe place to live, he said, "people recognize there are bad guys everywhere."

People of all ages have been filling his classes, and approximately 40 percent of the students are women.

"(Students) want to know when they can use a firearm and under what conditions," Santos said. "People understand the ramifications of using deadly force," and want to do it lawfully.

His class is more comprehensive than what the state of Idaho requires for a concealed carry permit.

"They have to work to get their permit," Santos said. "It hasn't deterred them at all."