More and more Yakima residents are arming themselves and applying for concealed-weapons licenses.

The number of people who've applied for concealed-weapons permits has doubled in the first two months of 2016 compared with the same period a year ago.

Through February of 2015, the city processed 128 applications for concealed-pistol licenses, according to Yakima Police Department spokesman Mike Bastinelli.

But this year?

"So far in 2016 through February, the number is 268," Bastinelli says. "So it's more than doubled."

Gun transfers are also on the rise, he says. Through February of 2015 there were 361. Today that number stands at 479.

Bastinelli says Yakima isn't the only city where applications and transfers are on the rise. He says it's happening in cities throughout America as more people become concerned about personal safety.

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