Wow. The response to this story and associated commentary, frankly, has been stunning.
A few points I'd like to emphasize:
1. NO NAMES, NO ADDRESSES PUBLISHED. Sorry for caps, but somehow folks are still missing it.
2. This study does not assess the handgun carry permit program's effectiveness. It does not aim to. Our goal was descriptive statistics of who is making use of the program. Many are taking my statement about a lack of data for Tennessee to be an assertion the program does not work. The point was, specifically, that we were unable to gather the data to assess its effectiveness. Mr. Lott's work may well be tremendously persuasive with compelling evidence--the only thing I wrote was that the studies we've read didn't settle the issue. I'll give Lott's work a read.
3. The question of whether there's a debate over the program does not begin and end at pro- or anti-Second Amendment. Given the pretty clear economic split our study suggests, it may be worth asking whether Tennessee's permit fees and the cost of training are an impediment to folks carrying in lower-income areas--and further, would that create an inequality in rights? Frankly, if I knew where we could find the data to answer that question, we'd do a follow-up posthaste.
4. The assumption by many parties has been a sort of "worst case scenario" the second they saw we were studying this program. I'm aware of the longtime frustration of gun owners and enthusiasts with their portrayal in the press. However, that's really no excuse for deciding what the story says and does not say before you've actually read it, and subsequently flying off the handle. If you'd like to change anything about the way the press represents these issues, you're much better off viewing journalists as misguided allies than as the enemy.
5. You'll see plenty more stories combining geography and available data to reveal unseen trends in the near future. For better or for worse, I predict many will be a lot more boring for you, as we study issues a bit farther from your heart. While I can't guarantee they'll catch your interest like this story has, you have my firmest assurances we'll do our level best to treat any potentially sensitive information with the same dignity and respect we'd treat the people represented by the data.
6. Once again, NO NAMES, NO ADDRESSES HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED. IN ANY FORM.(Just in case anyone skimmed and didn't catch it the first time.)
Regards,
--Jake, wbir.com