Hawaii’s Department of the Attorney General said Wednesday that firearm permits dropped significantly last year.

According to a press release, 19,365 personal and private firearm permit applications were processed statewide during 2014, “marking the first decrease since 2006 and a 14.9 percent decline from the record high of 22,765 applications processed in 2013.”

Of the applications processed last year, 94.5 percent — or 18,296 — were approved. The permits cover a total of 48,324 firearms registered, “marking a major, 20.5 percent decrease from the record high total of 60,757 firearms registered in 2013.”

The AG’s office cautions that, “Despite the decrease in 2014, firearm registration activity increased dramatically over the course of the 14 years for which these data have been systematically compiled and reported. From 2000 through 2014, the number of statewide permit applications processed annually climbed 298.4 percent, the number of firearms registered rose 354.9 percent, and the number of firearms imported surged 356.6 percent.”

Firearm Registrations in Hawaii, 2014 provides a range of other statistics and analyses focused on firearm permits, licenses and denials in Hawaii.

A S&W 500 Magnum 2.

Flickr: Stephen Z