The More Concealed Weapon Carriers There Are Means A Lesser Number Of Violent Crimes, Study Shows

Over the last couple of years, the United States has been in a constant struggle between people who want guns controlled to those who support the 2nd amendment, the right to bear arms. This battle between both sides has opened up wounds in which our nation has suffered simply for one’s personal belief. For those for gun control (and quite possibly the ownership of guns), sad situations like the Chicago shootings over July 4th weekend or the Atlanta shootings. Those who believe in the 2nd amendment bring up that the majority of deaths involving a firearm are from protection and self-defense. Even the ironic tragedy happening to customers at Target should be a testament on why concealed carry permits are important. Still, with all the studies and news supporting the ban and control of guns, it is evident that the majority of the nation wants gun control or confiscation (which historically has always been very bad for the people). However, a study made by the Crime Prevention Research Center shows that 11.1 million Americans hold a concealed carry permit. Not just that, but the more people who have these permits, the lower the murder rate.

According to their article, the last comprehensive report on the number of concealed carry permit holders was completed three years ago by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. It showed that 8 million Americans held a concealed carry permit. The fact that the numbers have jumped by more than 3 million since 2011 not only shows an increase in number, but an increase in rate. The report also included other statistics they found including the following:

• South Dakota, Indiana, and Alabama now have over 10 percent of their adult populations with permits, and ten states have at least 8 percent of their adults with permits.
• The number of concealed carry permit holders is likely much higher than 11.1 million.
• Between 2007 and the preliminary estimates for 2013, murder rates have fallen from 5.6 to 4.4 per 100,000 – a 22 percent drop in the murder rate at the same time that the percentage of the adult population with permits soared by 130 percent. Overall violent crime fell by 22 percent over that period of time.

Fox News followed up on the results of the report in which John R. Lott, the president of the Crime Prevention Research Center, had this to state:

“When you allow people to carry concealed handguns, you see changes in the behavior of criminals. Some criminals stop committing crimes, others move on to crimes in which they don’t come into contact with victims and others actually move to areas where they have less fear of being confronted by armed victims.”

As an added note, there are six states in the nation that don’t require a person to have a concealed carry permit to conceal their weapons, and those states have the lowest violent crime rates in the nation. Still, there are many states that won’t take in the study and see the favorable outcome of more concealed weapons carriers have as a deterrent to violent crimes. San Diego, California for example have ruled 2 to 1 that residents must show “good cause” (in which self-defense does not count) to obtain a concealed carry permit. Right now, that ruling is under review for it violates the 2nd amendment.

[Image via Crime Prevention Research Center]