Applications for CCW on the rise!!

[Bro KV]

http://www.nraila.org/news-issues/articles/2012/7/new-federal-report-shows-right-to-carry-boom.aspx#.UArLV7NqHOU.facebook

A new report this week by the U.S. Government Accountability Office confirms that the number of Americans exercising the right to carry firearms for personal protection is skyrocketing.

GAO investigators gathered information from state authorities nationwide about the number of permits issued, eligibility requirements for those permits, and the extent to which states recognize permits issued by other states. The researchers also conducted a more in-depth review of nine selected states. While information on eligibility requirements and reciprocity is easily available online (for example, on NRA-ILA's "Gun Laws" page), some of the statistical information in the report is remarkable.

With hard numbers or estimates from all but three of the 49 states that have laws allowing for issuance of carry permits, the GAO reports that there were about 8 million active permits in the United States as of December 31, 2011. That's about a million more than previous estimates by scholars.

The report also includes calculations of permit holders as a percentage of the population. Although the numbers for some states are skewed by issuance of nonresident permits, the GAO's figures show that in two states--Georgia and South Dakota--more than one in 10 adult residents have carry permits. Several other states come close; five percent or more of Kentucky, Tennessee and Wyoming residents have permits.

Of further note is the report's discussion of how law enforcement officials can verify the validity of permits. As the report explains, many states make permit information easily available to law enforcement in other states, either directly or through information sharing networks. This should help ease concerns raised by some lawmakers during last year's debate on H.R. 822, the "National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act."

Nothing, of course, will ever ease the concerns of one of the lawmakers who requested the study. Anti-gun Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has blocked Senate consideration of national right-to-carry legislation, and seized on minor aspects of the report for a predictable attack on the proposal.

First, Sen. Feinstein claims that people disqualified from getting permits in one state could obtain them elsewhere. Of course, it's no surprise that the 50 states have different laws. But the report makes clear how minor many of those differences are.

Second, she claims "it is nearly impossible" for state authorities to know if a permit holder commits a crime somewhere else. In fact, the report also makes clear that authorities in the nine selected states would learn of such crimes during background checks for renewals, if not sooner--and also mentions that the FBI is developing a national "Rap Back" service that will allow states to be notified of arrests anywhere in the country. That system should be available by 2014, and will make Sen. Feinstein's concern obsolete.

[pacapcop]

Good.Like to see that.

[Intercooler]

Maryland is a PITA but I would like to try it!

[The_Shadow]

It would be even better if those that hold CCW's were actuall paying members of organizations like the NRA or GOA, this would yield better repesentations with more members. 

[harrygunner]

Thought about that as I sat in a restaurant in Spearfish, SD - I'm probably not the only person carrying. 

Feinstein is all about what's wrong with California. No consideration for reality when crafting public policy. Texas tracks convictions of CCW holders. http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/rsd/chl/reports/convrates.htm  ~99.77% or more Texas crimes are done by people other than CCW permit holders. Or by ratio of percentages of population, a non-CCW permit holder is over eight times more likely to commit a crime.

I had a California CCW permit from1995 until I changed residence to another state this year. I sent Feinstein an email with facts that dismantled her positions. Received a standard reply thanking me for my support of her "important mission". Voted against her and Boxer in every election. The state continued to elect them.

I'm proud that eight million people have accepted the responsibility to protect themselves and their family and of all those armed to defend the country.

[Bro KV]

It would be even better if those that hold CCW's were actuall paying members of organizations like the NRA or GOA, this would yield better repesentations with more members. 

Couldn't agree more

[Bro KV]

Thought about that as I sat in a restaurant in Spearfish, SD - I'm probably not the only person carrying. 

Feinstein is all about what's wrong with California. No consideration for reality when crafting public policy. Texas tracks convictions of CCW holders. http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/rsd/chl/reports/convrates.htm  ~99.77% or more Texas crimes are done by people other than CCW permit holders. Or by ratio of percentages of population, a non-CCW permit holder is over eight times more likely to commit a crime.

I had a California CCW permit from1995 until I changed residence to another state this year. I sent Feinstein an email with facts that dismantled her positions. Received a standard reply thanking me for my support of her "important mission". Voted against her and Boxer in every election. The state continued to elect them.

I'm proud that eight million people have accepted the responsibility to protect themselves and their family and of all those armed to defend the country.

I'm a California resident and am working on getting my CCW. I can deal with most of the hoops they require like written references but they feel the need to notify my place of employment and my neighbors. Which is crap. My work has no need to know and I might be concerned of certain neighbors knowing I have a CCW.

[harrygunner]

... notify my place of employment and my neighbors.

No standards across the state. The county I was in was not one of the "shall issue" counties, but didn't notify neighbors. I own the company, so I can't speak to that.

Consider rewriting the reason why you want the county to allow you to exercise a natural human right. Including your line of work might trigger notifying your employer. There's been a push to have the reason reduced to "Self defense" and some counties have started to abide by that.

Apply and let the folks at calguns.net know if you are denied or subjected unduly cumbersome requirements.

[pacapcop]

Permits,a money making racket but most of all an intrusion.You pass a background,it's over.

[Bro KV]

I have a C&R and a CoE, so I've passed the background. I work for GE who is the biggest anti-firearm company I have ever seen. Which is fine, I'll park my car off of the company property.

[REDLINE]

Good news on a number of different levels.  Thanks for posting the info!

[sqlbullet]

Since the Colorado/Batman incident I have had several neighbors ask to join an intro to handguns class.  Having one this Thursday to help them out.  All will be headed next to get CCW.

[Bro KV]

Since the Colorado/Batman incident I have had several neighbors ask to join an intro to handguns class.  Having one this Thursday to help them out.  All will be headed next to get CCW.

That is awesome, just wish it didn't take an awful incident for these people to realize that they have a right to protect themselves and others who cannot protect themselves.

Awesome work you are doing. Keep it up.

[pacapcop]

Great to hear people wakeing up.

[alwaysshootin]

Good news on a number of different levels.  Thanks for posting the info!

Personally, would like to see every U.S. citizen wanting to be armed! Let's face it, if everyone had the proper attitude about firearms, there wouldn't even be a thought, of new restrictions. It's just a dream I have.