You know that Senate Republicans are contemplating big changes in state gun laws, which include expanding the list of places where holders of concealed weapons permits could carry heat.

But apparently state lawmakers are also contemplating a major shift in who issues these permits. Someone, according to a draft bill floating through the Capitol, wants to take that power out of the hands of the dozens and dozens of probate judges across the state, and give it to Secretary of State Karen Handel.

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Gun enthusiasts have been critical of probate judges, who can sometimes take weeks or months to issue carry-concealed permits. Under this draft, the secretary of state would issue those five-year licenses, and would be required to make a decision within five working days.

Applicants would still have to be 21, with no felony record, and would have to submit to fingerprinting. The legislation would permit Handel to hand over many of the chores to a private contractor.

One thought: Right now, because they’re distributed out of 159 county offices, it’s been hard to say how many concealed weapons permits have been issued in Georgia. Centralization would at least let us count them.