RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia is issuing a rising number of concealed-carry gun permits to people who live in other states in a trend that may be helped by online gun classes.

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The commercial courses allow applicants to seek a permit from Virginia that is valid in their state, but without having to meet tougher requirements, such as firing a gun with an instructor.

Virginia State Police issued 1,632 concealed-carry permits to nonresidents through the first half of 2012, topping the previous year's total of 1,321 nonresident permits.

There are no hard numbers on the cause because state police do not track how many people take online training compared to other types of training.

But state police note the increase came after Virginia law was changed and follows online marketing to other states.