Concealed Carry: Crime Rate In Chicago Drops Once Permits Are Issued

Concealed carry permits increase self-defense abilities and prompt crime rate drops, according to Second Amendment advocates. The violent crime rate in Chicago has dropped since such permits became legal to issue late last year. City officials credit “better police” work with the drop in violent crime and theft in the city. One significant important crime-deterring factor appears to have been summarily dismissed by Chicago leaders – the recently passed law allowing concealed carry permits to be issued to residents.

As of the end of July, a total of 83,183 concealed carry permit applications were filed in Chicago. A total of 68,549 firearms permits have been issued. Richard Pearson estimates that by the end of 2014, at least 100,000 residents in the state will become concealed carry permit holders. Since Chicago began issuing concealed carry permits in 2013, robbery arrests have declined 20 percent, burglary arrests are down by the same percentage, and vehicle thefts have decreased by a total of 26 percent. During the first quarter of 2014, homicides in the Windy City have reached a 56-year low.

Illinois State Rifle Association Executive Director Richard Pearson had this to say about the Chicago crime rate drop:

“It isn’t any coincidence crime rates started to go down when concealed carry was permitted. Just the idea that the criminals don’t know who’s armed and who isn’t has a deterrence effect. The police department hasn’t changed a single tactic — they haven’t announced a shift in policy or of course — and yet you have these incredible numbers.”

Illinois became the 50th state in the county to all the issuance of concealed carry permits. The cost of the permit is decidedly higher than in many other state. Illinois residents must fork over about $600 for the permit and attend a minimum of 16 classroom and range training hours. A Crime Prevention Research Center study revealed that 11.1 million Americans currently hold a concealed carry permit. The statistic demonstrates a 147 percent increase from study results seven years ago. Cook County, where Chicago is located, has received the highest number of concealed carry permit applications in the state.

After the concealed carry law passed, eager citizens began signing up, and filling, gun training and shooting classes faster than the rifle association could schedule them. “The temperature would be 40 below, and you’d have these guys out on the range, having to crack off the ice from their guns to see the target. But they’d do it, because they were that passionate about getting their license,” Person added.

Do you think concealed carry permits help citizens protect themselves and reduce violent crime?

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