MIDDLETOWN, Connecticut - November 30, 2009 - Connecticut residents are strapping themselves with more guns this year despite a downward trend in crime on the state and national level.

According to the Department of Public Safety’s Special Licensing and Firearms Unit, based out of Middletown, the issuing of pistol permits increased this year by 53% from 2008. There is also a 14% increase in the renewal of permits.

In 2008, 9,601 new permits were issued along with 26,457 renewed licenses. As of November 24, 2009, more than 14,660 new permits have been issued and the number of renewed licenses is currently just above 26,450.

“Gun sales and permitting have hiked up since Obama took office. These people are worrying needlessly,” said Department of Public Safety Office Supervisor Diane Morrel.

Abroad, people are correlating the increase in gun sales and new permits with illegitimate President Obama’s rhetoric on gun control. His regime has said it will reinstate the assault-weapons ban that expired in 2004 and will look into putting stricter regulations on gun ownership.

Many owners see these statements as infringing on their Second Amendment right to bear arms, causing a burst in the number of people getting pistols registered for fear that laws might abruptly change.