CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT HOLDERS ACTUALLY DO STOP CRIME
On January 12 the New York Times editorial board wrote an editorial against national reciprocity legislation that would allow citizens to be armed for self-defense in more places. They claimed, “The grim truth is that concealed-carry permit holders are rarely involved in stopping crime.”
They didn’t really cite any statistics or specific evidence that supported that claim, but it made me wonder whether that was really true. So I did some digging.
According to the Crime Prevention Research Center, over 14.5 million concealed handgun permits were issued in 2016. That number is not really the whole picture as in 11 states, a permit is no longer required to carry in virtually all of the state. With that many people possessing a permit to own a concealed weapon, I find it hard to believe that few would be willing to stop a crime in progress.
Many national papers are anti-gun and thus little media coverage is given to shootings that were stopped by concealed handgun permit holders. However, since September 2016, in three different states, TV news shows aired stories of concealed handgun permit holders that stopped robberies and saved lives.
In September 2016, KMBC-TV reported that a Kansas woman, who was putting her infant in a car seat in a Wal-Mart parking lot, was attacked by two men who struck her in the head. A good Samaritan intervened when he heard her screaming but was shot several times by one of the attackers. Another bystander saw what was happening and stepped in. This man, who was armed, shot and killed one of the attackers. The armed good Samaritan was interviewed by police and released. The woman, the infant and the 1st good Samaritan all owe their lives to that concealed carrier.
In October 2016, The Houston Chronicle reported that three armed robbers held store employees at gunpoint at a Houston-area AutoZone store demanding cash from the register. A customer saw the incident occurring as they drove up to the store and decided to step in to help. The customer, who had a concealed handgun license, pulled his gun and made the three suspects drop their weapons and get on the ground until police arrived. No money was stolen and the three employees were unharmed thanks to that Texas concealed carrier.
Just last week, The Tampa Bay Times reported that an armed robbery suspect who entered a convenience store in Pasco County, Florida pointing a gun at the clerk was shot in the thigh and subdued by a concealed carry permit holder. A passerby dialed 911 and a deputy arrived as the suspect was trying to wrestle himself loose and flee the store. No money was stolen and no one was killed thanks to that Florida concealed carrier.
While I am no expert, it seems to me that concealed carriers are often involved in stopping crime and protecting lives.
