Citation

Lott JR. SSRN eLibrary 2017; 2017(online): ID 3004915.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Social Science Electronic Publishing)

DOI

10.2139/ssrn.3004915

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

There are now over 16.3 million permit holders, a record 1.83 million increase in permits since last July. Nationwide, 6.5% adults have a concealed handgun permit. Outside of California and New York, 8 percent of adults have a permit. Permits for women and blacks are increasing much faster than they are for men and whites. There are also significant differences in not only the number of permits issued but also who gets them when politicians have discretion in granting them. Los Angeles County provides a vivid example of how women and Hispanics are given few permits when politicians decided who can defend themselves. We also provide evidence that death threats don't let people get permits for protection and how incredibly law-abiding permit holders are and how crime rates have changed in the states that have had the largest increases in concealed handgun permits.

Keywords: concealed handgun permits, gun control, regulation