We’ve been reading how more and more women and minorities are taking up arms for protection. We’ve seen the monthly FBI reports on the number of background checks remaining at high levels. And one glance at the nightly news reminds us of the potential dangers we may face.
So when John Lott reported that the number of concealed-carry permits has topped 15 million, the figure didn’t seem too surprising. Lott’s group, Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC), notes that as of May 2017, the number of permits issued stands at 15.7 million, a substantial increase over 2016’s 14.5 million permits. In fact, it’s the largest one-year increase ever, Fox News reports.
CPRC releases an annual report on firearms every July, but Lott is already citing a significant spike in permits for states including Arizona, Florida, Michigan and Texas. “You’re seeing states making it easier for people to go and get arms,” he explained.
