You’ve no doubt heard the news stories about an increase in the number of concealed weapons permits issued during the Obama administration.  The numbers are incredible, growing from 4.6 million in 2007 to more than 12.8 million this year.  Over the past year 1.7 million additional new permits have been issued – a 15.4% increase in just one single year. This is the largest ever single-year increase in the number of concealed handgun permits.  

Since 2007, permits for women have increased by 270% and for men by 156%. Over that period, there was a 178% increase in total permits.

During that same period murder rates fell from 5.6 to 4.23 (preliminary crime estimate) per 100,000 which is a 25 percent drop.  Overall violent crime also fell by the 25 percent.   After accounting for the per capita number of police and new prison admissions as well as demographics, the data suggests that each one percentage point increase in the percent of the adult population holding permits is roughly associated with a 25 percent drop in the murder rate and the states with the biggest increase in permits show the biggest drop in murders.

 Washington State is among the top ten states with the highest ratio of permits to state residents.  It is safe to say that the interest in guns, safety, training and concealment is big news.

 We went to Yakima's jewel of a gun shop called The Range LLC  where their motto is Educate, Equip, Empower and spoke with Chris Gordy about some of the concealment options available to new permit holders.

 

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