Some stats on CCW license holders

[Stephen]

I was curious, bored, and I'm a nerd. So I looked up the following. 2001 and 2008 were picked at random. 2012 because its the most recent data available. States were also picked at random, and 4 was the most I felt like looking up. If anyone wants to chime in with their own state, that would be interesting.
Anyway, there's a pretty huge upward trend.

Pennsylvania LCTF issued 2001: 101,206
Pennsylvania LTCF issued 2008: 150,843
Pennsylvania LTCF issued 2012: 245,444
Source: https://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=4451&&PageID=462425&mode=2

Texas CHLs issued 2001: 48,676
Texas CHLs issued 2008: 85,973
Texas CHLs issued 2012: 146,367
Source: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/rsd/chl/reports/demographics.htm

Florida CWLs issued 2001: 37,328
Florida CWLs issued 2008: 177,625
Florida CWLs issued 2012: 251,882
Source: http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Licensing/Concealed-Weapon-License/Statistical-Reports
Note: FL stats aren’t by calendar year.

Ohio CCLs issued 2005 (first full year of OH CCW): 22,487
Ohio CCLs issued 2008: 33,864
Ohio CCLs issued 2012: 64,650
Source: https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Files/Publications/Publications-for-Law-Enforcement/Concealed-Carry-Publications/Concealed-Carry-Statistics.aspx

My random thoughts:
2013 should blow 2012 out of the water. Can't wait to see those numbers.
This is awesome for gun rights. PA and FL each currently have over 1 million license holders. That's a pretty big chunk of voters (in critical swing-states no less).
CA's population is higher than PA and FL combined. Getting shall-issue established there would be huge.
Hopefully the next Lanza/Holmes gets plugged by some guy with a j-frame.
Texans act like you're issued a rifle and sidearm at birth down there. But they're lagging way behind purple states like PA and FL.
Should be good business for instructors, no?

[RoyGBiv]

Statistical note: "Licenses issued" typically includes renewals.
1. The number will naturally grow y/y because you're adding more renewals to more new applicants.
2. It would be better (in the case of TX) to look at "Active License" data rather than demographic data on applications. Sorry I cannot locate that link at the moment, but IIRC 1 in 50 (2%) Texans (including those underage and ineligible) had a CHL as of Jan 2013.


Texans act like you're issued a rifle and sidearm at birth down there. But they're lagging way behind purple states like PA and FL.
If we can get rid of THIS (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/speaker/) logjam in 2015, you'll see a river of progress in TX. Abbott and all the GOP LtG candidates are strongly pro 2A.

[Stephen]

Statistical note: "Licenses issued" typically includes renewals.
1. The number will naturally grow y/y because you're adding more renewals to more new applicants.

At least in PA the LTCF is valid for 5 years, so there should be no overlap between 2008 and 2012, since any new permits issued in 2008 were valid until 2013. But your point is still correct. But there's still been tremendous growth. Some of the sources I cited parsed new permits vs renewals, and there's definitely been a significant increase.

And I just noticed the OH stats are new permits only.

[GardoneVT]

I don't seek to ruin the morale here, but we should take care that possession of a CCW permit is =/= to Second Amendment activism. I'd imagine some pro gun folks don't have a CCW due to the logistics of either living or working in a gun free zone , and on the flip side some holders of carry permits take after the Dick Metcalf ethos .

[Stephen]

Florida CWLs issued 2001: 37,328
Florida CWLs issued 2008: 177,625
Florida CWLs issued 2012: 251,882
Source: http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Licensing/Concealed-Weapon-License/Statistical-Reports
Note: FL stats aren’t by calendar year.

Correcting FL for the error Mr. Biv pointed out. Doesn't change the trend too much.

New Florida CWLs issued 2001: 35,754
New Florida CWLs issued 2008: 103,699
New Florida CWLs issued 2012: 192,026