With the rash of recent violence in the metro, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department reports more people have applied for firearm purchase certificates.

"It doesn't have a lot of kickback power,” says John Dineen at Sol’s Jewelry and Loan. “For carry and conceal it's smaller so it can fit right inside your pocket."

Dineen's inventory of guns is drawing more and more interest. "You're seeing a lot of different cliental. There is first time gun owners coming and going, I would just like something for in the house right now for just peace of mind."

"You're seeing a lot more females coming in, just more interested in more the process. Kind of seeing if they're interested in getting something, what would be their best, go at it as far as getting a revolver, getting an automatic."

Permits to purchase firearms in Douglas County were up 1,500 from 2007 to 2008. "What we are seeing is as the violence has occurred or increased in the city of Omaha, it appears to increase gun registrations,” says Douglas County Sheriff Tim Dunning.

People are carrying them, too. A 62-year-old woman was spotted in the Douglas County Courthouse last week with a loaded .25-caliber handgun in her purse. She was ticketed for not having a concealed weapon permit.

Some are purchasing for fear of their safety. There is also the fear of the unknown.

"There's also a fear out there, since President Obama has been elected there's going to be additional tax on ammunition or additional tax on weaponry,” says Sheriff Dunning. “We do hear those comments to that effect.”

Dineen has heard similar reasoning in his store. "A lot of people coming in for your assault rifle, your semi-automatic military items, just because they don't know with (the) elections what might be banned, what might higher taxes be raised on."

Last Friday, the first day the sheriff’s office could issue applications, it issued 37 permits to purchase. More than 4,700 concealed weapon permits have been issued in Douglas County.

You need to pass a handgun training course approved by the Nebraska State Patrol.