“St. Cloud-area law enforcement officials say they are seeing more people applying for permits to buy or carry firearms since last week’s school shooting in Newtown, Conn.

“Sheriffs in Stearns and Sherburne counties report a greater-than-usual number of people applying for permits either to purchase a gun or carry a concealed handgun. But the numbers were higher than usual even before the deadly rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary, local officials say,” via St. Cloud Times.