The number of Americans with a concealed carry license has risen to 18.66 million according to a new report from the Crime Prevention Research Center. This represents a 304% increase from 2007.
The 18 Million translates to 7.3% of Americans who now have a concealed carry license.
Alabama has the highest percent of active licenses at 26.5%, while Indiana is second with 17.9%.
Here to discuss the increased license numbers is a representative from the 2nd amendment foundation.
Questions
- What do you think has led to the rapid increase of concealed carry licenses in the last 12 years?
Answer: It only makes sense with the number of mass shooting that smart Americans would want to protect themselves.
- Do we know who what demographic is getting the licenses?
Answer: The report reveals a growing diversity in the firearms community, as was evident at the Phoenix conference where minorities including the LBGTQ community, were represented. There was even a representative from the Liberal Gun Club.
- Is It only males who are getting concealed licenses?
Answer: No, in the states that provided data by gender, 26% of the licenses were going to females.
- Which demographic has seen the most increase in concealed carry licenses?
Answer: Asians appear to be the group that has experienced the largest increase in permitted concealed carry, growing 29% faster than whites
- What does this increase mean for the future of gun control in America?
Answer: It means that many Americans still believe in their 2nd amendment rights despite the narrative that we need to get rid of all guns. The 2020 elections will be key in protecting our rights as Americans.
- Where can our listeners get more info on this topic and your organization?
Answer: SAF.org
NOTE: Four of the following expert interview guests from the 2nd Amendment Foundation are available to interview on this topic.
ABOUT TOM GRESHAM:
Tom Gresham is a spokesman for 2nd Amendment Foundation. He hosts the nationally syndicated weekend radio talk show ‘Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk,’ carried on 266 stations. He also has created, hosted and directed several television series about guns including Shooting Sports America on ESPN, and Guns and Gear on NBC Sports. An author of several books, Tom has also written thousands of magazine articles about firearms.
ABOUT ALAN GOTTLIEB:
Alan is a strong advocate of defense. He’s a nuclear engineering graduate of the University of Tennessee, publisher of Gun Week, chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and Founder of the Second Amendment Foundation. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the American Conservative Union.
ABOUT MARK WALTERS:
Mark Walters is a national board member of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and a broadcast media spokesman for the Second Amendment Foundation.
Mark is the recipient of the 2015 Gun Rights Defender of the Year Award, a weekly national columnist for Ammoland, and author of three books, Lessons from Armed America with Kathy Jackson: foreword by Massad Ayoob, Lessons from Unarmed America with Rob Pincus: foreword by Ted Nugent and Grilling While Armed.
Mark has appeared on national and international radio and television on gun-related stories and is a popular podium speaker on firearms topics as well.
Mark is a husband and father of two children and resides in Georgia with his family.
ABOUT DAVE WORKMAN…
Dave Workman is an award-winning career journalist and senior editor of TheGunMag.com (formerly Gun Week). He also writes for Liberty Park Press, Conservative Firing Line and several firearms periodicals. He is also communications director for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
His has authored Op-Ed pieces in several major newspapers including the Chicago Tribune, Seattle Times and Atlanta Journal Constitution. He has also co-authored seven books with Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation.
Workman’s beat is firearms, from politics to the outdoors. He is widely considered an authority on firearms, concealed carry and gun politics.
ABOUT THE 2ND AMENDMENT FOUNDATION:
The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 650,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.
