Surprising statistic (to me)...

[Adk.IBO]

I never would have dreamt less than 5% legally conceal carry. And that is just those that can, even less probably do. Guess I never thought about it and that I was in that much of a minority. Any body else surprized at this?

Stay safe, John

[Adk.IBO]

Kind of brings up the question of what % illegally carries (bad guys)? And what % of the population are law enforcement?

[pjpjr]

Originally Posted by Adk.IBO

I never would have dreamt less than 5% legally conceal carry. And that is just those that can, even less probably do. Guess I never thought about it and that I was in that much of a minority. Any body else surprized at this?

Stay safe, John

I also find this statistic interesting. Would you care to share your source? I would like to read up on this!

[Golphin]

I would think it would vary from sate to state and even regions. You can bet the percentage in the South East is much higher than the North East. There are 1,300,000. permits in Florida and you can carry pistol in your vehicle glove box or console with no permit in Florida.

[Adk.IBO]

Originally Posted by pjpjr

I also find this statistic interesting. Would you care to share your source? I would like to read up on this!

I know I read it on the 1911 forum. Google it? Maybe I'm all wet. I'll see if I can find it.

Nope, not the 1911 forum, I googled it. crimepreventionresearchcenter.org 18 page pdf file listing states. This is what I googled- Percent of population concealed carry

[cracker57]

Wisconsin 2013 population 5,742,713
Wisconsin has reached a concealed weapons permit milestone. Oct.1st 2013
Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced Tuesday that permit number 200,000 was printed Monday at the Department of Justice’s secure processing center in downtown Madison.
200000 is what percent of 5742713
= 200000 / 5742713
= 0.034827

Converting decimal to a percentage:
0.034827 * 100 = 3.48%
If half of those carry regularly that would only be 1.75%

[ISCS Yoda]

Here's your source:

http://crimepreventionresearchcenter...ted-States.pdf

It's no surprise to those of us who are CHL instructors but I can see where if you have not been told these numbers, and you hang around on this Forum or similar, and your friends carry, too, you start to feel like everyone does it. That would be incorrect.

I should tell you that the copyright in 2014 is the Crime Prevention Resource Center - that was SUPPOSED to be a URL!!! They have it rigged somehow that by pasting the URL it gives you the whole research paper. I have NO idea how they did that but I'll leave it, I think the moderators will allow it since I credited the copyright owner and it's the owner who set this up - I have never seen anything done like that before.

***GRJ***

[MrJT]

8.7% / 870,000 in PA. Not too bad, one of the top states in percentage and quantity.

[Adk.IBO]

Yeah, and New York manages to not reveal any statistics...hmmmm....

[Rastoff]

Originally Posted by ISCS Yoda

...that was SUPPOSED to be a URL!!!

They made a change to the site software some time ago. Now if you post a link, it embeds the content of the link. So, a PDF will embed the doc and a youtube link will embed the vid. It's a forum thing not from the source.

You made no copyright infringement because it's posted on a public domain and didn't claim it was your own work.

[amazingflapjack]

They must not have counted Florida and Texas.

[shouldazagged]

I don't know the percentage for my adopted home state, Kentucky, but I'd bet it's over 5%. This was recently listed as the fifth most gun-friendly state in the country.

[ClayCow]

I think Utah is 11% one of the nation's highest

I did when I lived elsewhere but it gets spendy to take different classes in different states along with registration fees and that 8 hour class. That's why.

[cracker57]

Claycow,
it gets spendy when you get buried also.

[petepeterson]

I think I know more people with permits that don't carry, than do carry.

[ClayCow]

Originally Posted by cracker57

Claycow,
it gets spendy when you get buried also.

Eh it's cheap. 7k and I'm out of everyone's hair for life. Pretty sure people would be donating left and right to get me out of their life : ) I also have almost $1M life insurance so I hope they could spare $7k.

I don't know, I liked have ccw in case I was wrongly transporting my weapon, it was also nice going to shady neighborhoods with it on. But even though I don't carry now, I have never needed it before and feel just fine without it. When I did stop carrying, I felt a bit naked but that went away.

More than likely If you stay away from bad spots and give the people what they want, they're not going to want to kill you. Most people aren't out to kill you, just to take your stuff. And those people mainly reside in poorer areas, areas I try to stay away from. I mean you basically have a .001% chance of ever needing the gun much less using it.

I just spent 200 last year in ccw, just moved again and don't want to spend another 200 when I'll only be here for 2 years.

[JohnSW]

What surprised me:

South Dakota: 12.03%

Texas: 3.65%

[BAM-BAM]

Originally Posted by MrJT

8.7% / 870,000 in PA. Not too bad, one of the top states in percentage and quantity.

Pa. has been a "shall issue" state for a good while...... even before that it wasn't hard to get a permit ..... at least outside of Philadelphia.....

[murphydog]

The percentages don't greatly surprise me. I am a little surprised that many permit holders don't/won't regularly carry? I have always had the philosophy that it is "better to have and not need, than to need and not have" - including auto seat belts and airbags, motorcycle helmets, and a means to defend myself.

Studies have consistently shown permissive carry states consistently show decreases in violent crime rates even with a relatively small percentage of concealed permits (and apparently even fewer holders actually carrying). It raises the odds that the bad guys will run into an armed potental victim, and they can't predict who is armed.

[ClayCow]

Originally Posted by JohnSW

What surprised me:

South Dakota: 12.03%

Texas: 3.65%

Remember Texas has a huge population so In comparison of pure numbers to south dakota, it's probably like 30 of South Dakota population in actual numbers

[shouldazagged]

Originally Posted by petepeterson

I think I know more people with permits that don't carry, than do carry.

That's sad, and disturbing.

[Rastoff]

Originally Posted by shouldazagged

That's sad, and disturbing.

Sad but true. It has also been my experience that many with a permit still don't carry. In fact, I'd say the majority don't carry. Their excuse is that they don't go to bad areas usually. When they go to a bad area they'll carry. Silly, huh?

[ClayCow]

Well. I'm not going to make this into a huge deal, but the chances of you ever getting into a situation requiring your weapon is extremely slim to none. So I guess it's gambling on the small possibility that it won't happen. Probably odds are as good as winning the lottery. I don't think I'll ever win the lottery and I hope I'll never have to use my weapon.

[regalsc]

I worked in armored car delivery for 28 years & my permit was for on duty while in uniform (Michigan). Then the permits changed to general we called it which is the same as all the permits issued now after the class & application fee. I carry every day & anywhere that's legal but I do have a lot of $ in guns & holsters. The surrounding suburbs of Detroit for me there are no safe areas anymore.

[NZshooter]

Originally Posted by regalsc

The surrounding suburbs of Detroit for me there are no safe areas anymore.

I live in the same area, and unfortunately I agree. The hood rats come to the burbs looking for targets.

[ironhead7544]

One of the limiting factors is you are generally not allowed to carry at work. I once kept a ****** job because I could carry. The owner also carried. Nowadays, I always carry unless I have to go to a government building where it is not allowed.

[ClayCow]

Yea : / I'm military and I can't ccw on there which is one of my limiting factors : /

[Arik]

Originally Posted by shouldazagged

That's sad, and disturbing.

Not really. For instance, my dad doesn't carry. In 60 years he has never even seen a robber, burglary, hold up, street attack, or anything else that wasn't on tv. And most people are like that. Nothing happens in their lives. In the town I grew up there was one shooting back in the late 90s. It was a hit in broad daylight. One man walked up and killed another then walked casually back to his car and calmly drove off. Lots of eye witnesses but he was never caught. That's it, one shooting and it wasn't random. The other type of shooting that occasionally happens here is when the husband kills his wife and himself. This has happened a few times throughout the years. There are no method labs here or method heads or vagabonds or gangs.

Here's where he lives

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newto...,_Pennsylvania

[regalsc]

I have never had a house fire but I have insurance for it & having a cpl (terminology for gun permit in Michigan) & carrying is insurance to me. The saying goes: A gun is like a parachute if you don't have one when you need it O Well.

[user151]

Originally Posted by ClayCow

Yea : / I'm military and I can't ccw on there which is one of my limiting factors : /

That really makes no sense...
when guns are outlawed... et cetera

WASHINGTON: Fort Hood shooting provokes debate over ban on guns on bases | National Security & Defense | McClatchy DC

[Rubone]

I am actually surprised the number is as high as it is. And I don't think that those who live in areas where they feel the need to carry constantly can apply their situation to others and expect it to be the same. Each person is licensed or carries based on their own need, and those needs can vary considerably..

[Muss Muggins]

Back when Missouri's various attempts at CCW were being put forward, a fairly significant number of people expressed that they really only wanted to be able to have a pistol concealed in their vehicle. . .

[Ivan the Butcher]

As a kid we had rental units all around Ohio State University, by the time I was 10 we had intervened is around 7 rapes/abductions and a few burglaries and one robbery at knife point. That was in the old days when we couldn't CCW. Now we have CCW and are in trouble if we "Hunt" for trouble! I live on the outskirts of Columbus now, and the number of carriers is surprising, but on in town nobody but visitors carries. When you think you have nothing, you don't think it needs protecting? However: The very first CCW shooting/killing in Ohio was in a poor neighborhood by Dayton. Some (3) thugs tried to relieve and old man of his cigarettes, funny what you think is important enough to protect. One thug died, and 2 wounded/jailed finding out what "leave me alone" means! Ivan

[ClayCow]

I just took my home state ccw, though I don't carry 24/7 this thread made me want to get my ccw again

[gwpercle]

Don't bet the family farm on those poll numbers. A lot of people , myself included, carry but are not about to tell any poll taker they are/do carry concealed. None of their business.
Gary

[CO_Kid]

My wife would be in that boat, if she'd ever get her freakin permit. She won't alter her wardrobe around carrying, so it'd almost always be purse or nothing, and she's not keen on carrying a gun in her purse with two kids and the possibility of her purse being stolen.

[shouldazagged]

Originally Posted by gwpercle

Don't bet the family farm on those poll numbers. A lot of people , myself included, carry but are not about to tell any poll taker they are/do carry concealed. None of their business.
Gary

I think these numbers don't come from polling but from public records of numbers of CCW licenses issued. I could be wrong; but I'm licensed to carry and wouldn't discuss that with a pollster.

[Frizzman]

Since I left law enforcement work, I have had two occasions to draw my concealed firearm. One time to prevent being jumped by three dirtbags who were going to try a strongarm on me. The sight of my weapon and the look on my face convinced them to run. The other time involved a large, vicious dog that attacked me and my dog while walking in my neighborhood. A couple hard kicks with my size thirteen boots to his muzzle made him back off and think about it. I drew my 640-1 and yelled "BACK OFF!" in my srongest command voice...He chose to run back the way he came...I was glad that I had gone to the trouble and spent the money to exercise my right of self-defense. If othrers choose not to carry, frankly I don't care. It doesn't effect my well-being. Judging by what I observe in my part of the state, concealed and open carriers are a small fraction of the population. I think if one is not willing to spend the time and money to become competent with their gun, I hope they don't carry a gun in public.

[JohnSW]

Originally Posted by shouldazagged

I think these numbers don't come from polling but from public records of numbers of CCW licenses issued.

Every year, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension issue a huge state Permit to Carry Report. It's all based on factual records, and has nothing to do with any polling.

[g-dad]

I wonder how open carry would factor in. I don't know how many states have oc but here in NC you do not need a permit to open carry. However each city, township,hamlet, etc can restrict or limit where you can carry. Some do and some don't. I know people that won't get ccp because they don't like the idea of registration.

[shawn mccarver]

Originally Posted by Adk.IBO

I never would have dreamt less than 5% legally conceal carry. And that is just those that can, even less probably do. Guess I never thought about it and that I was in that much of a minority. Any body else surprized at this?

Stay safe, John

I am not at all surprised. Most people go through life completely oblivious to the thought that they may have a dangerous encounter. Most police do not carry off duty if it is not a requirement of their employment, and other categories of people who can carry lawfully, such as permit holders, only carry occasionally. A fun game to play is when in public, try to figure out who is on Condition Yellow, and of those, who is carrying. You will be alarmed at the number of people who roam the "suburban shopping malls" completely unaware and unprepared.

[ClayCow]

Originally Posted by shawn mccarver

I am not at all surprised. Most people go through life completely oblivious to the thought that they may have a dangerous encounter. Most police do not carry off duty if it is not a requirement of their employment, and other categories of people who can carry lawfully, such as permit holders, only carry occasionally. A fun game to play is when in public, try to figure out who is on Condition Yellow, and of those, who is carrying. You will be alarmed at the number of people who roam the "suburban shopping malls" completely unaware and unprepared.

Shawn. Is it reasonable to be completely oblivious? I mean the chances of anyone ever encountering a deadly situation is literally the chances of winning the lottery. Sure it is better to be armed and more aware but I don't think it too unreasonable for most people to be oblivious and unaware.

[JohnSW]

Originally Posted by ClayCow

I mean the chances of anyone ever encountering a deadly situation is literally the chances of winning the lottery.

I've lived in the same suburb for decades, and can't think of a single "concealedcarryworthy" crime that has occurred here. Here, concealed carry would just be an exercise in paranoid silliness.

[silentflyer]

No surprise to me, I know far more people with out CCP than with. That's their choice, and I have no problem with that, just leave the honest,legal citizens who do alone.
The one's who don't and don't think any one else should are a different deal,and no I don't think felons and criminals,and crazies should have access to fire arms.

[ClayCow]

Originally Posted by JohnSW

I've lived in the same suburb for decades, and can't think of a single "concealedcarryworthy" crime that has occurred here. Here, concealed carry would just be an exercise in paranoid silliness.

Yup. And I understand that there is a .0001% chance you might need it where you are, but, there are many other things more likely to happen to you you should be worried about. I've lived in many neighborhoods where people sleep with their doors unlocked, and I've done the same. Sure crimes do hit those areas once every few decades but it's not something people should be losing sleep over imo. I think we judge too many other people at times.

[ChattanoogaPhil]

The carry permit data by state is interesting. I knew that about 10% of the adult population in Tennessee had a permit, but was not aware that was a top 5 ranking.

Things sure do change. Prior to Shall Issue, which was passed here in the mid 90s, Tennessee had among the most draconian carry laws in the nation.

Interesting to see Texans not participating much with concealed carry licenses. Maybe that's why they're fighting so hard for Open Carry...

[Fastbolt]

Unsurprising, to me, at least.

As a LE firearms instructor I've seen up & down cycles of actively employed cops willing to carry off-duty weapons over the years.

I remember attending some training seminar and hearing of some statistic indicating that no more than 20% of active American cops carried weapons off-duty.

So, it's hardly surprising that private citizens, who don't have to be concerned about invoking peace officer status and taking action in an off-duty situation, might be inclined to carry concealed firearms even less frequently than cops.

FWIW, during the approx 10 years that I occasionally helped teach classes to private citizens who wanted to get CCW licenses, or were looking to renew them, I randomly asked folks about their practices and desires when it came to carrying a firearm with a license.

It was very unusual to find someone who claimed to carry all the time on an existing license, or who felt they'd want to carry all time on a new license. Most said they wanted the option to do so when they felt it appropriate, or felt like doing so.

You wouldn't believe the number of folks who didn't give much, if any, thought to their holsters, either, and settled for some 1-size-fits-all sort of holster which they'd seen on some bargain table, somewhere. (As if this is much different from some cops in their selection of off-duty weapon carry methods. )

[Arik]

Originally Posted by regalsc

I have never had a house fire but I have insurance for it & having a cpl (terminology for gun permit in Michigan) & carrying is insurance to me. The saying goes: A gun is like a parachute if you don't have one when you need it O Well.

If you don't expect a fire why not install a fire suppression system in your home? Why don't you have one of those? You never know!

Do you expect a flood? Do you carry scuba gear?

[sgtsandman]

It surprises me that the statistic is so low but it would also somewhat explain the lack of enthusiasm by many on protecting everyone's second amendment rights.

[ClayCow]

Originally Posted by sgtsandman

It surprises me that the statistic is so low but it would also somewhat explain the lack of enthusiasm by many on protecting everyone's second amendment rights.

I don't find it surprising. First there are requirements which would weed out some. Secondly there are a lot of gun nuts out there worried about being tracked by the government. Third there is about 200 cost plus class time people have to go through. Among many other things, it doesn't benefit people like me much on a daily basis being in the military as i cannot carry on basr and a lot of people aren't comfortable carrying a firearm. 10% to me is relatively high and 5% is what I expected.