Numbers show that the school shooting in Connecticut didn’t impact the number of pistol permits issued locally in Dece-mber, Sheriff Dennis Meeks said Thursday.

Meeks, who in his capacity as sheriff, is responsible for issuing permits to carry a pistol. There are many people who cannot obtain a pistol license. Most of these are prohibited because of certain state and federal laws, and include those convicted of committing or attempting to commit a crime of violence; those dishonorably discharged from the armed forces, found to be mentally incompetent or those convicted of domestic violence.

In 2012, there were 4,147 permits issued, Meeks said.

“That includes new permits and renewals,” he said. “In looking at the numbers, we issued 438 permits in December – that’s up by 48 from the same time last year.”

Meeks said in 2011, there were 3,700 permits issued.

“That number goes up and down, according to what the federal government is doing or what people think they may be doing,” Meeks said. “I don’t believe the school shooting in Connecticut impacted our numbers at all. I think (the increase is because) people are more concerned about the idea having their guns taken away.”

Comparatively, 3,974 permits were issued in 2009, Meeks said.

“Like I said, it goes up and down,” he said.