How many people actually carry concealed?

I live in the wild West.

Vito, I'd have to say I fall into the spoiled category. I got my CC permit in Texas right after George Bush was elected governor, so it's been a while. I carried a lot at first, less so as time passed and almost never anymore. I do keep a gun close by, in the car, in the house, in my pack, just rarely on my person. It's hot here a good portion of the year and that adds to the difficulty of comfortable carry. Just an excuse, I know, and I know I should be doing my part and carrying. Shame on me.

The area I live in, between Houston and Galveston, has a huge CC population and as a result, is a pretty safe place to live.

The only time I don't carry is when not permitted by law. Sometimes open carry since its legal here but that's usually around my property.

Al Thompson said:

In my state, last I heard, we were closing in on 200k CWPs.

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And that number is climbing pretty quickly. From what I hear "talking around" the CWP classes, at least in this area, are pretty full.

As for the 'do you carry" thing ... if I have pants on, I'm armed.

I very much suspect that there are many more people carrying regularly than are saying so. For many, that's what having a CHP (as it is known in the Old Dominion) is all about.

What you find is, a lot of people, (mostly young men who turned 21 this year,) are all giddy about getting their permit and carrying. And the do for a while. But over time, they learn that when the buzz wears off, it isn't a lot of fun. It's heavy, it carries with it liability and responsibility, and it makes then adjust their lifestyle and wardrobes in ways they don't want to. The gun goes in the drawer, and when the permit lapses, they never get around to renewing it. This is why I support 'Constitutional Carry'. Those who have the discipline and focus to carry already have permits and do so regularly. Taking away the permit requirement won't change much.

Every day all day since 1967

It's heavy, it carries with it liability and responsibility, and it makes then adjust their lifestyle and wardrobes in ways they don't want to. The gun goes in the drawer

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makes one wonder if the macho BS about capacity and caliber wasn't as widespread we'd see more continue CC with smaller lighter guns after the giddiness wears off.

I work in the dreaded Gun Free Zone in higher education. I would carry all of the time but I am not willing to risk being a felon to do so when I go to work. Leaving it in the vehicle in a secure locked container is legal in my state but I usually do not want to leave an unattended firearm in a vehicle because it would not really help with my security on campus other than parking lots and it would risk the gun being stolen.

More people would probably carry if not for the risk of becoming an accidental felon.

100% of the time since I got my CCW 3 years ago.

PA has roughly 800,000 Licenses to Carry Firearms issued to a state of roughly 10 million adults, right around 8% of the population.


Doesn't mean they exercise that license all the time, or even regularly.

This is the main reason why -

mljdeckard said:

What you find is, a lot of people, (mostly young men who turned 21 this year,) are all giddy about getting their permit and carrying. And the do for a while. But over time, they learn that when the buzz wears off, it isn't a lot of fun. It's heavy, it carries with it liability and responsibility, and it makes then adjust their lifestyle and wardrobes in ways they don't want to. The gun goes in the drawer, and when the permit lapses, they never get around to renewing it.

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Carrying a gun is inconvenient.


I had jury duty last fall. Out of a pool of about 350 jurors, I saw 3 people who carried a gun - regular joes not cops, mind you. Cops cannot serve. Our courthouses are required by law to make lockers available to citizens who have business in the courthouse to store their guns in. I saw three, including myself, make use of those lockers. One was a woman, the other a guy about my age.

Others might have, but they weren't using the locker if they did.


So, in PA anyway roughly one in twelve have a LTC. And at least the week I went to jury duty, only about 1 in 100 seemed to exercise that license.

Back to TX - a CHL instructor I know did an informal survey of his renewals. He found that 80% didn't carry consistently.They just wanted to carry in the car. Now the law has changed on that.

I don't know if anyone pulled apart how that influenced CHL rates. Would the number of new CHLs be higher if that law wasn't passed?

I find just carrying in the car or the truck only gun to not make sense. In TX, Dr. Gratia-Hupp fought strongly for concealed carry BECAUSE her gun was in the car at the Luby's rampage.

Vito,

I pack all the time. Done so since CHL was instituted here in Texas.

Over 1/2 million CHL holders in Texas and I think over 1 million in Florida. Yes that is just two states.

And if even 20 percent carry often that is still well over 300,000 citizens!!!

And notice no 'Dodge City, blood in the streets'.

Far safer down here than in Chicago.

Deaf

I always carry whenever and wherever it is legal for me to do so. I have all the paperwork you can possibly have in PA for the purpose of carrying a firearm under age 21, as such I am pretty restricted as to when I can actually carry at my age (mostly outdoor-related activities). Otherwise I keep an inexpensive unloaded long gun with ammo in a separate container locked and hidden inside my vehicle wherever I go (not that it does me any good, but it's better than nothing I guess). I turn 21 in a couple of days and will be going directly to the sheriffs office to get my LTCF, after which I will always carry when legal.

PA has historically seen something like 7% of the population holding the LCTF. For the 2011 census data on population, that would be something over 850,000.

However, with the recent ... excitement ... on the national scene and in some other states, I'd be willing to be that percentage has gone up a bit.

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I agree. I've had lots of PA friends take up the cause and express interest within the past couple of months, hopefully it is a trend that will continue. I've also met a lot of people from Maryland who express a willingness to carry, unfortunately their goose has been cooked for a long time and doesn't show any signs of improving under a governor who wants to tax his constituents for the amount of rain that falls from their roofs.

I carry if I feel there might be a need. No permit required in Wyoming, so we can just strap it on if we want. If I were going to Casper or Cheyenne I would, around here there is a very small likelihood of needing one.

Trying to carry a pistol concealed at all times (necessary in Texas) can be challenging depending on weather conditions, attire, daily activities, and locations visited. There are plenty of places that don't allow weapons either by signage or law. It becomes very inconvenient when trying to run errands around town and come across forbidden locations, some that you may not realize until you walk up to the building and see the signs. Then, you have to walk back to your car, disarm, then walk back to the building. It's very inconvenient, unless you want to risk losing your permit and being charged with a crime in the event that your pistol is discovered for whatever reason. I think if concealed carry locations were far less restricted, then more people would be able to use their permits effectively.

"I'm not going to carry or anything, I'm just getting it... cuz ya know... it's just something good to have". It's like an apology when they say this; like they are trying to walk back the remark of getting the permit; like they want to reassure those whom they are sharing this with, that they aren't crazy and don't actually intend to carry a firearm around with them wherever they go.

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I've heard people say this. Some of those people actually do carry. I think it might be part of " concealed means concealed".

The people who tell me that don't strike me as the type to even know what the heck "concealed means concealed" means. Why, after all, would they even mention getting a permit? If they had a mindset at all they'd keep their lips shut. They're bragging because they feel so cool that they have to let someone else know. They gloat about how they are going to take a course and get a permit and I stand silent and let them do all the talking. I don't offer up the info on how long I've carried and had a permit because it's none of their business and they've demonstrated that I can't trust them with that info. When they see nothing coming back from me, they offer up the qualifier that, "I'm not actually going to carry or anything though", as if to smooth things over like I'm shocked at the idea of a carry permit.

Just my take.

I think if concealed carry locations were far less restricted, then more people would be able to use their permits effectively.

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I agree, my sales job doesn't allow it(only for customers), the library doesn't allow it, my school doesn't allow it, and even the school parking lot which is disconnected from the school doesn't allow it. So I can't even CC in my car on the way to school(not that I have the urge to, but it just seems wrong). If I want to go to my favorite dive bar and have lunch(or any establishment that serves alcohol), I can't CC.
But still I carry if I go shopping, on a bike ride, and to family gatherings(as long as alcohol is not served).

Does anybody else have jobs that allow customers to carry but not the employees? My past two jobs have been this way so I believe its a trend..

A lot more than you think. And what I found really interesting is the amount of women. When I renewed mine there were five women and one other man. The class that one of my co-workers was in had 14 women and 12 men.

I carry routinely but my employer has a written but not posted policy against. I carry much more often than the wife wants me to, but she has gotten more comfy with it over the past year or so. (CCW has only been in effect for about 1 1/2 year here). When I first started carrying I was self concious and assumed everyone who was around me could tell. Now I don't give it a thought and I doubt that anyone except someone specifically and intentionally scanning for concealed weapons would even notice. Either way, I don't really care if they notice or not, unless I briefly or "inadvertently" happen to be in a posted prohibited area.

If I have pants on, I'm armed

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X2!
The only exception being work, but it's in my bag less than 20 feet away, so still technically "armed".

I know another 5 or 6 people that have CPL's. Only 2 carry daily. And even they sometimes leave the house without it. I never have a gun more than 20 feet from me.

The Fateful Day of August 23, 1993

On August 23, 1993 I removed my pistol and placed it on the bathroom sink countertop while attending to some “throne time”. I inadvertently left it there and left the house without it.

I will never make that mistake again! As a former LEO I’ve actually fired my gun in the defense of my life, a fellow LEO’s life and citizens’ lives, so I can appreciate the need for a gun when that unpredictable situation arises.

As an aerobatic pilot I always think of this comparison: A gun is like a parachute. When you need one and don’t have one, you will never need one again.

I carry consistently wherever and whenever it is lawful to do so. It's second nature now, just like cell phone, keys, wallet, watch, flashlight, backup flashlight... Also have small folding knife for light tasks and OC spray (2 oz Fox Labs).

If I have pants on, I'm armed

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I carry even without pants, thanks to SmartCarry.

I don't carry in the shower though, but I did see a funny picture of a vacuum sealed Glock hanging from some guy's showerhead.

I carry even without pants, thanks to SmartCarry.

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Yosemite Sam - I’m not quite clear on this. Would you be wearing kilts… or using it as a loin cloth in which case common decency would demand wearing two - front and back! ROTFALMAO!

PS - I saw this picture of you the other day: