RetNavyCWO Loc: VA suburb of DC

I agree with that, too!

Loki Loc: Georgia

Since 1993, the number of concealed carry permit holders, along with the number of firearms owners, has literally exploded. The murder rate, however, is down by fifty percent. Contrary to the doomsayers, there are only half as many murders now as 20 years ago, in spite of the increase in carry, ownership, and the increase in population in general. So much for gun control. Nineteen of the last 20 mass shootings that the media salivates over occurred in so called "gun free zones." That one really worked out well.

RetNavyCWO Loc: VA suburb of DC

I don't disagree with the stats, banjo, but I'm not so sure there is a correlation to "gun free zones." I don't think deploying several armed guards at every school is the right answer, either, or even arming teachers. We have seen how lone guards are easily taken out, and teachers cannot be expected to be Rambo. The answer must be in stopping the perpetrators before they ever get there.

Loki Loc: Georgia

I have given stats for the entire country. These are FBI, not something I made up. Speaking personally, in my state there has been a precipitous decline in violent crime since concealed carry became commonplace. This is spite of an increase in population.

vernon

you are lucky to get that much property and have water on it.

RetNavyCWO Loc: VA suburb of DC

You might be right that increased CCW has contributed to decreased crime in some areas of the country in recent years. I recall expecting there to be an increase in crime after the economy went down the tubes in 2008 and have been pleasantly surprised that crime across the country has actually gone down a bit. I doubt that it is all because of increased CCW, though.

Loki Loc: Georgia

I have a couple of friends who are active duty officers. They both attribute a good bit of the decrease to concealed carry. You see, here in GA, if you have a permit, you can carry openly, also, although most choose not to. My last visit to WalMart, I noticed 3 people carrying sort of half concealed, other than myself. I see people carrying openly at the supermarket. There are others who carry concealed that I know are armed. One of my LE friends commented that our county has an unusually high number of carry permits "even for GA." Over 400,000 permits issued, and only a small fraction of one percent are ever convicted of a gun crime. A VERY small fraction, like less than 200 out of more than 400,000. I'm sure there are other reasons, but this is one that I am sure of. The economy is pretty depressed here, so it cannot be "good times."

Constitutional libertarian Loc: St Croix National Scenic River Way

I have skied from one end of the country to the other and Utah really does have the greatest snow on earth. Back bowl at snow bird now that's heaven !