Interest in conceal carry permits has increased since the Parkland school shooting in February, according to statistics released by the National Carry Academy.
The report noted a 203.5 percent jump in the number of people taking concealed carry courses through the academy since Nikolas Cruz opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, killing 17 people.
The last time the academy saw such a dramatic increase was following the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which saw 20 first-graders and six staffers killed, the academy said.
According to the NCA, the states with the most people who have acquired concealed carry training include Texas, Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina.
"People are concerned about their personal protection, and they want to be able to protect themselves," CEO and co-founder Chris Schutrop said in a statement. "Typically, whenever we see a spike in interest, it's usually due to media attention on recent shootings, and a concern over the gun control legislation, should laws change."
These statistics come at a time when the topic of gun control has come to the forefront.
Student survivors have been lobbying for stricter gun control measures, and in Florida, Gov. Rick Scott recently signed a $400 million school safety bill that raises the minimum age to buy rifles from 18 to 21 and creates a waiting period on sales of the weapons, the New York Post noted.
The legislation also enables teachers and school staffers to carry handguns upon completion of law enforcement training.
There are currently eight states in the U.S. that either allow concealed carry of firearms at K–12 schools or have laws prohibiting it, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
A further 12 states allow public colleges or universities to allow concealed carry of guns in some or all areas of campus, or by some individuals anywhere on campus.
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