Illinois' first concealed carry gun licenses — about 5,000 of them — are being printed and mailed today, Illinois State Police officials said in a morning press conference.

Officials said they have received more than 50,000 applications. Those being mailed today were early approvals, mostly for those who submitted fingerprints along with their application.

So far, 300 applications have been denied. Another 800 were opposed by law enforcement officials and are still under review.

The new law allowing concealed guns to be carried in public was cobbled together after an appellate court struck down the state's concealed carry ban in December 2012.

An online system for applying for permits was launched in January. State police also are working on a paper application process that they hope to have completed by July. 

As part of the application process, county sheriffs, state's attorneys, local police and the attorney general's offices are allowed to review applications that have been initially approved by the Illinois State Police. 
    
To ensure that the applications are not denied unjustly, Gov. Pat Quinn has appointed a seven-member panel of federal prosecutors, FBI agents and judges to review objections raised by law enforcement.

The board has 30 days to review the rejected applications.