Surprising statistic (to me)...

[Neumann]

I've seen statistics that somewhat over 11 million private citizens are licensed to carry a concealed weapon in the U. S. Two states, Alaska and Vermont, do not require a license, and several others allow open (Constitutional) carry or carry, loaded, in a vehicle. The cost and training to obtain a license can be substantial.

Perhaps more surprising is how many people have a CCL but do not carry on a regular basis. To me it's like insurance - you don't buy it expecting to need it, but it's there when you do. It's easy to say "just avoid bad places," but is anywhere safe? In Chicago, the mayor's teenage son was mugged in front of his house - with cops on 24/7 guard duty. There are three to six home invasions each week in Chicago. The point is, human predators go where there is money and opportunity - their choice, not your's.

 

[ClayCow]

I do see the insurance policy metaphor, but, if you lived high up in the mountains (not in a topographic depression) would you really purchase expensive flood insurance? I mean the chances of ever needing your ccw much less in certain areas it's so extremely low that to some people it's not even worth thinking about

 

[Rastoff]

Two states, Alaska and Vermont, do not require a license,

Don't forget Arizona.

 

[Rastoff]

I do see the insurance policy metaphor, but, if you lived high up in the mountains (not in a topographic depression) would you really purchase expensive flood insurance? I mean the chances of ever needing your ccw much less in certain areas it's so extremely low that to some people it's not even worth thinking about

Please tell us all where these "certain areas" are so we can all move there.

 

[ClayCow]

Please tell us all where these "certain areas" are so we can all move there.

Upscale neighborhoods. Crime is basically non existent

Heck even small towns. A lot of safe places where people leave their doors unlocked and kids unsupervised.

 

[AZretired]

There's an old saying "Statistics lie and lier's use statistics." Whenever I am asked if a carry, I say "no" unless I am required to tell the truth by law. It's no ones business if and when I am carrying. That's why it's called concealed carry.

 

[Biggfoot44]

I started to say I wasn't surprised, but then I actually became surprised .... That some of the numbers were that High ! For many years the %'s in freely Shall Issue jurisdictions ran between 3-5% , so anything substantaly over 5% is very high. And traditionalt CCW's aren't distributed equally throughout the population. Subtract under 21yo , subtract the percentages with disqualifing convictions over their lifetime. Varies from state to state regarding citizenship/ immigration status. In recent years intrest in carry has been spreading , but you will still find disporportant representation of , let's say white males over 35 .

As to possesion ofa CCW Permit , two major factors are the cost and inconvience , and what is/ isn't allowed without a permit. In areas where carrying vehicles and OC are permitted w/o Permit , that will satisfy the desires of a substantal % .

As far as frequency of carry among Permit holders ( just reporting , not commenting ) some people as noted intend to usually carry in vehicle, and only slip onto person at percieved need. Some mainly for traveling. Some want to be prepared for times of natural disaster or civil unrest.

 

[steelslaver]

Please tell us all where these "certain areas" are so we can all move there.

I live in one of the areas that crime is so low that I leave my door unlocked most of the time even when not home. Leave my keys in the ignitions of my vehicles. I do have a carry permit. I seldom carry concealed except on road trips. Last murder or rape in my county was years ago and wasn't random. There are some assaults, but, they mostly involve the bars and the fact that if you bad mouth some one around here they will punch you and fist fighting around here has always been a Saturday night recreation among the younger men. State law only requires a permit when carrying concealed on my person in town. I could have 10 loaded guns anywhere I want in my vehicle without a permit.

 

[ClayCow]

There's an old saying "Statistics lie and lier's use statistics." Whenever I am asked if a carry, I say "no" unless I am required to tell the truth by law. It's no ones business if and when I am carrying. That's why it's called concealed carry.

This wasn't based on a survey.

 

[peepaw]

They need to update that list. They show Georgia as having 600,000 permit holders as of 9/11. 8%. I know it has gone up a lot since 9/11.

 

[ClayCow]

They need to update that list. They show Georgia as having 600,000 permit holders as of 9/11. 8%. I know it has gone up a lot since 9/11.

Isn't it legal to ccw without permit there? Or is that alabama

 

[peepaw]

Isn't it legal to ccw without permit there? Or is that alabama

Current law in Ga requires a permit to ccw or open carry.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I wonder if these statistics factor in the "constitutional carry" states such as Alaska and Arizona. Many in these states carry concealed legally, but they are not on the CCW books, necessarily. Folks there need no permit to carry concealed, and I think it would be a challenge to tally them.

John

 

[gwpercle]

I'm not sure where the numbers come from, I suspect some are looked at in a skewed light to get a certain response. I still don't rely on these "statistics".
I don't care how many other's carry, I just want the right to defend myself.
Not going to be an unarmed victim again. The police weren't there to protect me, said I had to protect myself.
Gary

 

[ClayCow]

What. What kind of agenda would one have to skew it lightly?

 

[.455_Hunter]

I started to say I wasn't surprised, but then I actually became surprised .... That some of the numbers were that High ! For many years the %'s in freely Shall Issue jurisdictions ran between 3-5% , so anything substantaly over 5% is very high. And traditionalt CCW's aren't distributed equally throughout the population. Subtract under 21yo , subtract the percentages with disqualifing convictions over their lifetime. Varies from state to state regarding citizenship/ immigration status. In recent years intrest in carry has been spreading , but you will still find disporportant representation of , let's say white males over 35 .

As to possesion ofa CCW Permit , two major factors are the cost and inconvience , and what is/ isn't allowed without a permit. In areas where carrying vehicles and OC are permitted w/o Permit , that will satisfy the desires of a substantal % .

As far as frequency of carry among Permit holders ( just reporting , not commenting ) some people as noted intend to usually carry in vehicle, and only slip onto person at percieved need. Some mainly for traveling. Some want to be prepared for times of natural disaster or civil unrest.

Yes- I would like to see the numbers with all of the ineligibles removed. It is also not evenly distributed. In my office, an engineering research firm, the CCW rate is about 50%. In my wife's lab, filled with psychology post-docs from the east cost, the rate would be zero if not for my wife's own permit.

Looking at the raw numbers, their should have been several permit holders at the Aurora Theater incident, but the population that actively carries does not have much overlap with the population who would go to a midnight premier of a movie on a Thursday night.

 

[JohnSW]

I'm too lazy to analyze it, but Minnesota's annual Permit To Carry Report is more than 400 pages long.

In my zip code, the most permits (21) were issued to males ages 50 to 59. The next highest group (14) was males ages 60 to 69.

 

[ClayCow]

Yes- I would like to see the numbers with all of the ineligibles removed. It is also not evenly distributed. In my office, an engineering research firm, the CCW rate is about 50%. In my wife's lab, filled with psychology post-docs from the east cost, the rate would be zero if not for my wife's own permit.

Looking at the raw numbers, their should have been several permit holders at the Aurora Theater incident, but the population that actively carries does not have much overlap with the population who would go to a midnight premier of a movie on a Thursday night.

Statistically at any place with more than 100 people there should be 1 if 1% are ccw holders... or a place with 10 people, there would be a 50/50 chance one person is a ccw people. Not sure you're applying the numbers correctly to your statement.

 

[Model29Lover]

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.

If you stay a resident of your last state and they have reciprosity with the state you moved to, then you still can carry, right? Just keep a post office box or something that keeps you a resident and keep your driver's license from your old state. I am not 100% but it seems like you could do that..... At least worth looking into, if you haven't already....

 

[.455_Hunter]

Statistically at any place with more than 100 people there should be 1 if 1% are ccw holders... or a place with 10 people, there would be a 50/50 chance one person is a ccw people. Not sure you're applying the numbers correctly to your statement.

I am not sure what you mean. Yes- If the CCW rate 5%, then in an overall average sample of 100 people, there should be five with permits.

However, if your group of 100 is made-up of recent prior-service military who own multiple firearms, the number of permits holders will probably be much higher than five.

If your group of 100 is selected to be 21 - 25 years old who are attending a liberal art colleges majoring in political science and humanitarian studies, the number permit holders may be zero.

It's kinda like a Venn diagram. The cross-section of people attending that midnight showing would tend to fall in the latter "type" of group. If James Holmes would have decided to the hit the 9:00 pm showing on Friday or Saturday night, he may have been shot down fairly quickly by one or more permit holders, which is more of an "average" grouping.