Concealed Carry Does Not Reduce Crime
Does Threaten Public Safety
Since May 2007 concealed handgun permit holders have killed at least 9 law enforcement officers and 273 private citizens
A growing body of evidence shows that allowing private citizens to carry concealed handguns in public creates a new public safety threat, and - contrary to the assertions of proponents - such systems do not reduce crime.
One of the most recent studies looks at killings committed by permit holders. Conducted by the Washington, DC-based non-profit Violence Policy Center, the latest update reveals that since May 2007 concealed handgun permit holders have killed at least 9 law enforcement officers and 273 private citizens (including 25 shooters who killed themselves after an attack). In addition, permit holders have committed at least 17 mass shootings (three or more victims) that claimed a total of 73 lives.1
The most comprehensive review of what is understood about the effects of concealed carry laws was conducted in 2004 by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences and found that assertions that concealed carry laws reduce crime are not supported by research. The National Research Council's Committee on Law and Justice determined that studies - such as those conducted by researcher John Lott - indicating a relationship between concealed carry laws and overall crime rates were not reliable. Specifically, the Committee carefully examined Lott's data and research methods and concluded "that with the current evidence it is not possible to determine that there is a causal link between the passage of right-to-carry laws and crime rates."
The Florida Experience
A 2007 in-depth review conducted by the Florida Sun-Sentinel of that state's concealed carry system documented that Florida had granted concealed carry permits to more than 1,400 people who had pleaded guilty or no contest to a felony, 216 people with outstanding warrants, 128 people with active domestic violence injunctions, and six registered sex offenders. 2
The Texas Experience
Beginning in 1998, the Violence Policy Center conducted four studies analyzing the operation of Texas' concealed carry law. The final VPC study, License to Kill IV: More Guns, More Crime, was completed in 2002 and incorporated the findings of the previous three studies. The study detailed 5,314 arrests of concealed handgun permit holders subsequent to licensure, as reported to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). The 2002 VPC analysis of the DPS information revealed that:
"From 1996 to 2000, Texas concealed handgun permit holders were arrested for weapon-related offenses at a rate 81 percent higher than that of the general population of Texas, aged 21 and older."
Conviction Data from Texas
Currently, Texas only releases gross numbers for convictions of persons with concealed weapons permits known to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Although it is unclear how comprehensive this data is, it nevertheless continues to paint a disturbing picture of individuals with concealed handgun permits who commit crimes. For example, for the years 2002 through 2007, a total of 395 permit holders were convicted for the crimes of: aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; aggravated sexual assault of a child; assault with bodily injury; assault with bodily injury involving family violence; indecency with child - sexual contact; sexual assault on a child; and, deadly conduct (recklessly engaging in conduct that puts another person in imminent danger of bodily harm). Also during the 2002 through 2007 time period, nine concealed handgun permit holders were convicted of murder or murder under the influence of sudden passion. In 2007, a concealed handgun permit holder was one of nine people convicted state-wide of capital murder of multiple persons.
The Tennessee Experience
Research by the Memphis Commercial Appeal found that Tennessee's concealed handgun permitting system has armed dozens of people with violent criminal histories, including a man convicted of sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend and abducting her armed with an assault rifle and a handgun. The newspaper identified 70 residents of Shelby County who were issued permits despite arrest histories that included robbery, assault, and domestic violence. The paper cited one case in which a permit holder had 25 arrests on his record when he obtained his CCW permit. He was later the subject of federal charges for a series of bank robberies. 3 The newspaper's research also found that individuals with felony convictions were issued CCW permits because of administrative glitches within the state agency that issued the permit.
The Indiana Experience
In 2009, the Indianapolis Star examined that state's concealed carry permit system focusing on 450 permit holders from two counties. The paper's findings were similar to those in other states, "In broad terms, the Star found a system that breaks down in numerous ways, enabling people with troubled and often violent pasts to legally keep a loaded gun in their waistbands and on their passenger seats." 4
In conclusion, as more is learned, it becomes absolutely clear that concealed carry systems do not work as promised but operate to arm and embolden many dangerous individuals.
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1 This study is updated monthly and is available at: http://www.vpc.org/ccwkillers.htm .
2 "Investigation reveals criminal pasts of those toting guns," Florida Sun Sentinel , Jan. 28, 2007.
3 "Armed and dangerous: Dozens with violent histories received handgun carry permits," Commercial Appea l, Mar 12, 2009.
4 "Should these Hoosiers have been allowed to carry a gun in public?" Indianapolis Star , Oct. 11, 2009.
Violence Policy Center
1730 Rhode Island Ave NW · Suite 1014 · Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202-822-8200 · Website: www.vpc.org
