Guess at number who CC nationwide?

[DMW]

I saw in a thread today an estimate by the BATFE that 80 million Americans own guns. What percentage would you guess carry concealed?

My reason for asking is that I was at a gun shop (pre election) and saw a lot of people from all walks of life buying CCWs. One guy was an engineer, another was a university professor. The professor mentioned that he works nights in town (Boston). I told a friend that there are more people carrying guns than you'd think and many people that you'd never suspect.

 

[moi_self26]

If 80 million own, I'd GUESS that around 55-60 million carry. Although I definitely think there are more than 80 million owners.

 

[DMW]

Johnny Dollar,

Thanks, I spent some time trying to figure this out for my state (MA) on the web but didn't have any luck. I did find an old study done around 2000 that showed estimates of gun ownership by state based on a survey of about 200,000 people but it was just an overall estimate and didn't give CCW estimates.

 

[paintballdude902]

say the ownership is 80 mill

around 25 percent

id say some where around 15 mill-20mill

 

[22-rimfire]

Just remember, just because you may have a carry permit does not mean you actually carry. I got mine so I can keep a loaded gun in my vehicle primarily, but I do carry sometimes. It just depends.

 

[mdao]

Rates seem to run between 1-5% of total population for states with carry laws. A quick back of the envelope calculation says that (300 million (US Pop) - 60 million (CA + NY Pop)) * 3% = 7 million or so permit holders.

The number of people that actually carry on a daily basis though is much lower and I'd be very surprised if it's a fifth of that number.

 

[cbrgator]

I don't have a number, but I bet it is less than people think. Lots of people have guns, very few carry them.

 

[mgregg85]

Michigan's permits info for the last few years.
http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,1607,7-123-1591_3503_4654-77621--,00.html

2006-2007 = 23,790 issued
2005-2006 = 36,754 issued
2004-2005 = 54,677 issued
2003-2004 = 31,121 issued
2002-2003 = 27,499 issued
2001-2002 = 53,000 issued

So thats 226,841 permits issued over six years for Michigan. Assuming they all still have current permits(MI permits last a little over four years) thats a pretty good number. But its only about 2.25% of the total population.

 

[RPCVYemen]

The number of people that actually carry on a daily basis though is much lower and I'd be very surprised if it's a fifth of that number.

I have a number of friends who have CCWs in NC, and none of them carry on a daily basis. Most of them either got to carry, and then found that the laws on where you can/can't carry were too much of a restriction, or got a CCW to streamline pistol purchases.

Mike

 

[ServiceSoon]

Just because they have a permit doesn't mean they carry.

I read on the Indiana State Police website that 1 in 16 have a LTC in Indiana.

 

[moooose102]

this thread is depressing! every law abiding person over the age of 21 should carry! well, almost.

 

[franconialocal]

Our PD

Our PD is processing about 2 per week (somewhat consistently).......for a town of only 1,100 residents that appears to be a pretty good number!! Say nothing of the fact that I live in northern NH!! Required renew after 4 years. Most of the people I've run DON'T CONCEALED CARRY.....they just want to "CYA", esp. if in a vehicle (In NH, just the fact that a weapon is IN a vehicle makes in concealed even if it's right up for plain view on the dash...thus needing a CCW permit). They just don't want to have to worry about seperating the mags from the sidearm from the ammo "as usual". I really am suprised how many permits I issue to people who just want it "to go to the range and back". To add.....the actual nomenclature of the permit is a "Pistol/Revolver Lic."....as a loaded long gun is illegal regardless.

 

[Kor]

IIRC in John Lott's More Guns, Less Crime he researched the numbers and found that, nowhere in the US, did legally-licensed CCW/CHL/LTC permitees amount to more than 5% of the eligible adult population. In most cases, substantially less - closer to 1-2% of eligible adults.

FYI, as of today, there are only 115,659 active Arizona CCW permits on the books, after over 14 years of legalized concealed carry in AZ. Figure that maybe 5% of those represent people whose actual residence-of-record is in a different state, but who spend a certain amount of time visiting AZ during the year for business, pleasure, or family matters. Also figure that, as mentioned earlier, maybe another 10-15% do not actually carry a gun regularly, but get the CCW to bypass the NICS check when buying guns from FFL dealers.

That's out of a total 6,166,318 Arizonans, according to the 2006 Census...less the 26.4% under 18(note that you must be 21 to CCW in AZ)...gives you 4,538,410 adults...less a prison population of around 35,000, and approximately 73,000 parolees(some of which are, admittedly, juveniles)...apply a little fudge factor...when all is said and done, AZ CCW permittees still only represent maybe 1/3 of 1% of approximately 3.5-3.6 million eligible adult Arizonans over 21.

And AZ is usually considered one of the top 10 most gun-friendly states in the country...

http://ccw.azdps.gov/Stats.htm
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pubalp2.htm#probation
http://www.justicecenter.csg.org/downloads/Arizona_1-pager_v4.pdf

 

[Monkeyleg]

The NRA estimates 7 million permit holders.

Some states have much higher rates than others. In Texas, for example, there's only about 250,000 permit holders in a state of 2.5 million, or 1%

IIRC, Indiana had the highest rate at 6%.

 

[TAB]

don't forget that all LEOs don't need a permit.. so add the total number of LEOs to that( I really dislike that law)

 

[Fisherman_48768]

Read somewhere that nationwide the average % of citizens carrying concealed legally is 2-4%. Therefore 96-98% of the population is being protected for free, best part is they don't even know it.

 

[catfish101]

I know allot of people with CDW and don't carry all the time. Actually carry little of the time. I can't during a normal day. I work a government agency and I am on prison grounds some and in the same area as prisoners often. Needless to say, I can't carry there.

I am like allot of guys. If I could carry 24/7 I would but I can't.

 

[CU74]

Just remember, just because you may have a carry permit does not mean you actually carry. I got mine so I can keep a loaded gun in my vehicle primarily, but I do carry sometimes. It just depends.

Excellent point. State CCW laws are all over the place. The CCW here in Kansas allows us to keep a loaded gun in our vehicles and that's a big reason for getting the CCW here.

Kansas is an open-carry state, but many of the larger towns/cities have passed ordinances against open-carry, (thank you GFWs). In rural counties, which compromise most of Kansas, many firearms owner don't see the need to have a CCW.

I don't have any data, but I suspect the majority of the Kansas CCW permits are concentrated in about six or eight "urban/suburban" counties. Many of the shopping centers and businesses in the suburban counties have posted "no firearms" signs, so a CCW holder is pretty much frustrated there. A CCW is no panacea.......

 

[rondog]

I have one, a brother has one, a nephew has one, a co-worker called about getting one today, my boss is itching to get one, so the ranks are growing.......

 

[FoMoGo]

You also have people who open carry in states where it is legal...
Some of them CC when they need to, but not all.


Jim

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

If 80 million own, I'd GUESS that around 55-60 million carry

This is simply laughable. 75% of gun owners carry? Absurd. I would be surprised if even half of the 7 million permit holders carry regularly.

 

[catfish101]

I agree that the number is pretty low because, in large part, the restrictions.

I, personally, wouldn't mind open carry everywhere. Just like it used to be.

 

[RPCVYemen]

The NRA estimates 7 million permit holders.

If that's correct, I'd guess that will under 1 million actually carry more or less regularly - maybe under 1/4 of a million.

Mike

 

[Lone_Gunman]

I would estimate that of th 7 million CCW permit holders in the US, only about1% or less carry on a daily basis.

I know many people with a permit, but none carry on a daily basis. If you work for a living, it is basically impossible to carry in most professions.

So I would estimate that only about 70,000 people a day are carrying a weapon, at most.

 

[marklbucla]

Like most things, you get what you pay for. It seems like there are so many laws regarding CCWs in free America, a lot of permits are aren't going to be exercised.

My permit in the PRK was worth the $400 to start and I carried everytime I went out at night. My Alabama permit costs $20 and almost never gets used because I can't carry in restaurants.