COLUMBIA --- New concealed-weapon permit applications in South Carolina increased nearly 55 percent through the end of August, compared with the same period last year.

New requests totaled 11,777, a sizable jump from the eight-month period last year, when 7,618 applications were made to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

To Gerald Stoudemire, the reason is clear.

The president of Gun Owners of South Carolina says many people are concerned Barack Obama will erode Second Amendment rights if he wins the presidency.

"This is the information we are hearing from our customers and students," said Mr. Stoudemire, who owns a gun shop. "They all are commenting about Sen. Obama's negative voting record on gun ownership and self-defense." Jay Parmley, the executive director of the South Carolina Democratic Party, dismisses the gun issue as "election-year hype."

"There is nothing that Barack Obama has said or done that would make anyone believe he would attempt to restrict the right of an individual to own a gun, particularly for hunting, particularly for sporting purposes," he said.

He said that if sales are higher, it's because people have been frightened into buying weapons.

"I suspect it's a ploy to get (gun) sales up," he said. "Let's scare people and say if Barack Obama wins, your right to carry a gun will be taken away from you.

SLED spokeswoman Jennifer Timmons said it is possible the increase in applications is because of a change this year that relaxed permit qualifications pertaining to traffic infractions.