[BIGDADDYLONGSTROKE]

First I would like to state that this thread is by no means being posted to discriminate, start a fight, or to offend anyone. Only serious replies please, this is an honest question.

I was thinking to myself today and started thinking of which type of working person is more likely to be carrying a CW. Is it more likely the blue collar class working in the field type person or is it the white collar working in an office building type person. I realize that there maybe no way of knowing or that were a person works may not make a difference, and that some or most may work in a place were firearms are not allowed, I know I do. But not to pick a fight this is a honest question and would like to know you guys opinions.

[Dr. Dickie]

Well, to add my observations. I have noticed, that folks that like shooting tend to be the independent type. That is, they are generally the kinda folks that feel that doing something yourself is as important as getting it done. The self-suffiicent type. Of course, none of us are truly self-sufficient (or else you could not be reading this right now), but people who shoot usually are more do-it-yourselfers.
And since people that are into shooting are more likey to carry, then I would think the independent type are the ones that are more likely to carry. It goes together, as the more independent types are the ones that are more likely to accept the responsibility of protecting themselvers and those they love.
And to get to your question, I have not seen a trend among blue or white collar workers as to being more independent (and I have been both).

[sicario103]

You can't really tell anymore, I've seen people of all sorts and colors that carry.

[Autolycus]

Thats the beauty of the CCW permit. You dont know who can be carrying? The only person I know for sure is carrying is a cop in uniform. Or if I can see the gun on them. Other than that I dont know who may have a gun or who may not.

[jamz]

The only vague generalization I'd apply is that a CCW'er tends to be older.. one, because of the usual age restriction before they have the option, but also because the younger people have more of a sense of immortality, and often feel that they have less to live for than an older person has, with a spouse and especially children to worry about.

Not that this is a hard and fast rule, I know plenty of younger pro-ccw people.

[El Tejon]

Older white males. Carrying, as gun ownership, crosses SESes just look at the gun shop or gun show, carpenters to lawyers to students to nurses to insurance execs (heck, just look at THR).

In my own professional experience I can tell you that among the (alleged) criminals (robbers, burglars) here, there is a "look" that they avoid--white, male, driving pick ups is a definite no rob (unless verify he is unarmed). The white "executive" (suit, nice car) is also a no go.

Usual victims are selected on proximity (close to neigghborhood as they always run home), opportunity (not paying attention, drunk, outnumbered, etc.), ability to verify lack of weaponry, and body language.

[nelson133]

I don't think you catagorize gun carriers. I used to shoot at a range that ran cpl classes. The classes had many people of all races and both sexes with a full age range. I went to the range yesterday and the guy on one side of me was a doctor and on the other side were 2 construction workers. Of the people I know personally carry there are 4 white guys 20s to 60s, 3 black guys 30s to 50s, one black woman late 40s. That's just the ones I know who carry.

[Zero_DgZ]

Me.

[Desk Jockey]

I took a CCW class just a few weeks ago.

There were about 12 of us, ranging in age from early 20s to early 50s (my estimates). I didn't talk to everyone in the class, but I know that there was an engineer (me), a college student, a firefighter, and a couple guys who looked like they worked outdoors all day (assume blue collar).

I was surprised that there were no females in the class, although the instructor told us about a pair of ladies in their late 60s who went through not long ago. He said that both were very proficient with their snub-nose .357s during qualification at the range. :D

[wdlsguy]

Texas DPS publishes demographics on CHL licensees:

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_records/chl/demographics.htm

[zero2sixty]

I think it would be alot easier to figure out the type of person who wouldn't carry, as opposed to putting a stereotype on those who do. (Not saying anyone is) Anyone agree?

[Manedwolf]

I think it would be alot easier to figure out the type of person who wouldn't carry, as opposed to putting a stereotype on those who do.

Oh, that's easy. Che shirt, smelling of patchouili, drives econobubble with anti-gun stickers.

I think that's a fair bet of "no". They're making themselves an easy target, too, amusingly.

[ArchAngelCD]

I think the answer to this question would have been a lot easier 20 to 30 years ago but today, well, not so easy.

I would say those who carry range from the Rambo types living out some fantasy to Grandma who ain’t gonna take no sh*t.

Manual workers carry as well as white collar businessmen. Women of all ages carry because it just isn't safe out there anymore. Disabled people carry because they can't "fight" anymore as well as old people who are afraid of getting pushed around buy disrespectful young people or mugged by drug addicts. Then there are those who carry just because it's their right and they like guns. (that would be me) There are the target people who decided to carry and the hunters too.

Well, I guess you get my point... I highly doubt even an FBI Profiler could answer this question to a certainty.

[springmom]

Statistically, in Texas, it will be a white male between 45 and 65. But as a predictor for any individual, that's worth what you paid for it...zip.

Best answer to date on the thread: "Me".

Me too! :D

Springmom

[LHB1]

Me too soon! Took the course and submitted my application last month. Now to see how long it takes for TX officials to process and approve it. In the meantime, am trying to decide just which pistol to carry.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

ps: I assume you meant blue "collar" and white "collar" instead of blue or white "color". My CHL class last month was a mix of ages, sexes, races, trades, professions, etc. As far as I am concerned, those who legally carry concealed handguns are Good Citizens exercising their rights.

[springmom]

Yeah...haven't seen too many blue people carrying, but then they would be concealed....:neener:

Springmom

[Lennyjoe]

Republicans :neener:

Seriously, I think the individual most likely to CCW are the ones that Dr. Dickie mentioned.

[dustind]

Almost every Libertarian I know carries, and I did not meet them through gun related activities.

[Manedwolf]

I also think that due to the popularity of adult animated series like "Ghost in the Shell", which is a very prescient future in which everyone carries and it's a dangerous world, (and it's presented as cool people doing so, as well), there's a lot more people in the 18-35 age group who have gotten interested in defensive firearms. Because they see that, they see themselves using a lot of the depicted tech now, then they see the news in which real people are being killed and mugged in parking lots...and realize that the depicted future is a commentary on NOW.

It's probably one of the reasons why so many of the more sleek-looking new models sell, too.

[Rick O'Shea]

I applied for my CCW yesterday, and the very nice lady processing my application had the answer to your question.

She said, "You know, it's generally just the good people that apply for permits".

[ArchAngelCD]

She said, "You know, it's generally just the good people that apply for permits".
That's what I've been saying all along. All the regulations in the world will not stop gun crimes because only the law abiding people follow the laws. The bad guys don't follow the laws so the anti-gun laws are useless in stopping bad guys from having guns.

[BIGDADDYLONGSTROKE]

Sorry, yes I did mean collar instead of color:o , you all make very good points, but as far as just good people that apply for ccw permits, I think I have to disagree. I see alot of guys and gals mostly guys comming through the gun store that I work at with a ccw looking for a gun, and alot of them that come through there still smell of the drug they just got through using or when they go shoot on the range some you can tell are not sober( i dont mean drunk) and we have to watch them very closely. So what I am saying is alot of people I see come through were I work are obviuosly not getting a firearm incase they get mugged.

[thexrayboy]

I think the only real generalization that can be made about those who have a CCW is that they tend to me more independent, self reliant and perhaps motivated than those who would not carry. Probably a sociologic phenomenon in that those who carry prefer to take responsibility for their own safety as opposed who would never carry that prefer to trust their lives to some ethereal "big brother" to protect them.

Otherwise all classes, races, educational levels and socioeconomic levels are
represented in the list of pro CCW Americans.

[tellner]

And they tend to be modest, too :rolleyes:

[javacodeman]

At my CWP class there was:

1 White Male ~25-30 years old
1 White Male ~30-35 years old
1 White Male 62 (he told us)
2 White Females ~25-30
1 Hispanic Male ~35-40 years old

You can take a guess at which one I am.

[kd7nqb]

I think blue collar older guys would be more gun friendly in general. But then again I am a young office guy so go figure. I guess I just assumed I was in the super minority being young and white collar.

[MD_Willington]

Anyone from a socialist or semi socialist country that thinks the government is not to be relied on for absolutely everything... We all know they look out for themselves first despite what the sheeple think or expect.

[OpFlash]

ArchAngleCD wrote:
All the regulations in the world will not stop gun crimes because only the law abiding people follow the laws. The bad guys don't follow the laws so the anti-gun laws are useless in stopping bad guys from having guns.
By the same token and even more to the point IMO the anti-gun laws effectively place restrictions only on the good guys, and therefore restrict the personal defense of the honest people. In other words these laws are far from useless, they are downright harmful. That which restricts lawful personal defense encourages and therefore works to increase crime. Once again for good measure: Anti-gun laws work to increase crime. Its pretty obvious really to all but those who prefer not to think of anything so unpleasent as having to defend themselves and therefore choose to believe the government can and should be responsible for their own personal safety.

[ArchAngelCD]

I totally agree OpFlash... A common bumper stickers reads, "Gun Control Only Prevents Law Abiding Citizens From Defending Themselves!"

[rhubarb]

The Texas DPS site does not differentiate between white and Hispanic. Per the US Census Bureau (http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/007263.html),
Texas is 35% Hispanic.

Therefore, most Hispanic CCWers in Texas will likely be under the 89.35% that are listed as "White."

For what it's worth, I live in a county that's about 85% Hispanic. Of the 15 or so people in my CHL class, there were probably 5 whites, meaning that they are over-represented in this area. There was one (Hispanic, recent immigrant) woman.

Lies, damned lies, and statistics.

Just assume that everyone carries.

[real_name]

In this household:
One male, late thirties, 'no collar' self employed/own business construction type. Recovering utopian anarchist. Atheist with buddhist leanings.
One female, late twenties, white collar corporate lobbyist. Recovering republican. Agnostic with pagan leanings.

Which proves, you just can't tell until you see that flash of steel.

[GEM]

The interesting thing is that most people who get the permit or license:

1. Don't carry much - I've seen a figure that 70% in TX only got it to ease worries about having the gun in the car.

2. Most have no training.

Others have spoken to the demographics. The permit is a touch expensive and that skews towards the more well off in TX.

[ndh87]

Im almost 20, so i've only got a year to go, but as soon as i turn 21 im going to apply for my CCW.

As far as type of person that carries, as far as im concerned any person i run into could be carrying, most everyone on my dad's side of the family carries, and they are mostly 40s and 50s, but they have a pretty wide range of jobs.

[History Prof]

Well, having just completed the CCW class here, let me think about who was there:

1 - History Professor :D
1 - Prosecuting Attorney
1 - professional photographer/ photography business owner
1 - college football player
About 5 other college students in general
about 3 working class people
about 3 other professional class people, including an astronomer who looked like a hippie
a couple of retirees

Race and gender breakdown:

The instructor was Latino

Three Latino males

One black male

Two white females

The rest were white males

[Manedwolf]

I think blue collar older guys would be more gun friendly in general. But then again I am a young office guy so go figure. I guess I just assumed I was in the super minority being young and white collar.

I don't find that the case, myself. A business LEADER often gets to their position through self-reliance, the very attitude that would make one want to be able to have a say in one's own destiny if threatened, not rely on police to show up (maybe) to do it for them.

Cubefarm wageslave, maybe not. Self-made executive, yeah.

[JohnBT]

I've been thinking about this and have a question. By carry, do you mean lawfully or unlawfully or both? There are a LOT of unlawful gun toters in downtown Richmond, and I'm not talking about the gangbangers and the bikers. Middle-aged women at the bus stop are one group that comes to mind. These are working folks who can't afford a $500 car or a $50 license that requires another $75 worth of training.

Before someone asks how I know, I'll explain. I learned it at work doing job-related interviewing. Must be the gun store calendar on the wall that gets them talking about standing on the corner in the dark waiting for the bus.

John

[Eleven Mike]

It's no secret why fewer young people carry. A lot of us young people are paying for college, paying off loans on used cars, getting into our first home mortgage, spending the rest of our money trying to remodel an old house we just signed off on, etc. I bought a carry gun a little while ago, but the training and licensing I don't have the time and money for just yet.

Yes, I said I need more training, but in case you're worried it's my third pistol, and I've been shooting for several years now, including some time in the military.

[wdlsguy]

It's no secret why fewer young people carry. A lot of us young people are paying for ...
Good point. A first time applicant in my state might spend $115 on a class, on top of the $140 fee to the state, so a certain amount of disposable income is required.

[Correia]

I've taught 325 people their CCW class this year.

There is no average.

I've had people from every type of career you can think of.

Based upon race, the numbers match the demographics of this area. About 90% of my students would mark caucasian on their applications.

Sadly, only about 15% of my students this year have been female.

I've had uber-rich folks, and poor people who had to really skimp to come up with the class fee and background check money. Guns have ranged from Les Baer customs to Lorcins.

I've had classes with 85 year old grandmas, sitting next to 21 year old Marines that just got back from their 2nd tour in Iraq, sitting next to a 40 year old truck driver, sitting next to a 50 year old Catholic priest, sitting next to a 25 year old lesbian political activist.

Wanting to be able to defend yourself is universal.

[Nomad, 2nd]

Working on this question. Both posters and the CCWers they know.

Mostly it's prople who have seen the 'darker side of life'
People who are, or have been:
Cops, military, firefighters, EMT's/emergency services
AND......People wo have been the victems or had people close to them be victoms of violent crime.

I know a Computer programer who CCW's... but he's a former 03 Marine...
and a teacher... but his dad's a custom gunsmith and he's worked at it himself.
And a Lawyer... He's just a gun freek ;^)
Every other CCWer is more 'lowbrow' (I'm a Marine/EMT)