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Texas' Concealed Carry Law Works, Says NCPA Report
National Center for Policy Analysis ^
| 5.26.00
| Julie Hillrichs
Posted on 05/28/2003 2:37:11 PM PDT by CHICAGOFARMER
DALLAS (May 26, 2000) - Marking the fifth anniversary of Texas' concealed carry law, a new report from the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) shows that Texans with concealed carry permits are far less likely to commit a serious crime than the average citizen.
"Many predicted that minor incidents would escalate into bloody shootouts if Texas passed a concealed-carry law," said H. Sterling Burnett, a senior policy analyst at the NCPA and the author of the report. "That prediction was dead wrong."
In 1995, Texas Gov. George W. Bush signed a law granting Texans the right to carry concealed firearms. This made Texas the 23 state to pass a concealed carry law since 1986.
According to the report, the slightly more than 200,000 Texans who have become licensed to carry a concealed firearm are much more law-abiding than the average person. Comparing arrest rates for example:
Texans who exercise their right to carry firearms are 5.7 times less likely to be arrested for a violent offense.
They are 14 times less likely to be arrested for a non-violent offense.
They are 1.4 times less likely to be arrested for murder. Moreover, of the six licensees who were arrested and tried for murder or non-negligent manslaughter, four were found not guilty because they had acted in self-defense.
The right to carry may also be affecting Texas' crime rate in a positive way. Texas had a serious crime rate in the early 1990s that was 38 percent higher than the national average.
Since then, serious crime in Texas has dropped 50 percent faster than for the nation as a whole.
Murder rates have dropped 52 percent, compared to 33 percent nationally.
Rapes have fallen by 22 percent compared to 16 percent nationally. This experience is consistent with the experience of other states with concealed carry laws. According to University of Chicago law professor John Lott, concealed handgun laws on average reduce murder by 8.5 percent, rape by 5 percent and severe assault by 7 percent.
"Far from recreating the Wild West, concealed carry laws create a safer society," said Burnett. "The law allows law-abiding citizens to protect themselves."
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The National Center for Policy Analysis is a public policy research institute founded in 1983 and internationally known for its studies on public policy issues. The NCPA is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with an office in Washington, D.C.
For more information: Julie Hillrichs, Dallas, TX 972-386-6272 Sean Tuffnell, Dallas, TX 972-386-6272 Joan Kirby, Washington, DC 202-628-6671 Internet: http://www.ncpa.org
TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: antigun; bang; banglist; ccw; firearm; gun; guncontrol; gunrights; handguns; secondamendment; selfdefense; weapons
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To: CHICAGOFARMER
Bump! That's a lesson for Minnesota's switch to a shall carry CCW system. The concerns of the gun banners is much ado about nothing.
2
posted on
05/28/2003 2:38:52 PM PDT
by
goldstategop
(In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
To: goldstategop
Proud Texas CHL holder bump!
To: CHICAGOFARMER
Is this a 3-year-old article, or is the date merely wrong? The conclusions surely are not any less valid if 3 years have passed - they are, if anything, even more valid since more time would have passed to test the proposition. BTW, there are (as of May 3, 2003) about 226,000 CHL holders.
To: CHICAGOFARMER; Eaker; humblegunner; Squantos; TEXASPROUD
The backgrounds of applicants for a CCP in Texas are investigated thoroughly before a permit is granted.
The possession of a CCP is proof in and of itself that the carrier is in the upper tier of law abiding citizens.
To: CHICAGOFARMER
Common sense report, this is a big DUH, to those of us that know about such things.
But this report will be ignored by the gun grabbers, it does NOT fit their agenda.
6
posted on
05/28/2003 3:07:56 PM PDT
by
Aric2000
(Are you on Grampa Dave's team? I am!! $5 a month is all it takes, come join!!!)
To: *bang_list
Lone Star bump.
7
posted on
05/28/2003 3:12:05 PM PDT
by
Shooter 2.5
(Don't punch holes in the lifeboat)
To: CHICAGOFARMER
huge freedom bump !!!!
8
posted on
05/28/2003 3:13:58 PM PDT
by
prophetic
To: CHICAGOFARMER
Too bad dead Missourians elected O. T. B. Holden,,, The governor who has stated "he will veto ANY concealed carry legislation".
Liberal Democrats will never admit that then Gov. Bush of Texas did the right thing, no matter what the facts show.
O. T. B. = One Term Bob
9
posted on
05/28/2003 3:23:19 PM PDT
by
TYVets
("An armed society is a polite society." - Robert A. Heinlien)
To: TexasCowboy; Eaker
The possession of a CCP is proof in and of itself that
the carrier is in the upper tier of law abiding citizens. It comes in handy when purchasing, I have seen!
That's my next step, the CCP..
10
posted on
05/28/2003 3:44:50 PM PDT
by
humblegunner
(Molon Labe!!!)
To: TexasCowboy
The possession of a CCP is proof in and of itself that the carrier is in the upper tier of law abiding citizens.Then how did I qualify???
;<)
Eaker
11
posted on
05/28/2003 3:55:55 PM PDT
by
Eaker
(64,999,987 firearm owners killed no one yesterday. Somehow, it didn't make the news.)
To: CHICAGOFARMER; Grampa Dave; Teacher317; Leisler; Ford Fairlane; .38sw
A freedom to carry Bump!
Mayor Daley wouldn't like it.
To: CHICAGOFARMER; phasma proeliator
A bump to all freedom lovers!
To: Ancesthntr
14
posted on
05/28/2003 5:07:42 PM PDT
by
JCG
To: Eaker
"Then how did I qualify???" There's never been a system devised by man that didn't screw up occasionally.
To: TexasCowboy; Squantos
Squantos, did you hear that? We're the good guys!!!
To: TEXASPROUD; Squantos; Eaker; humblegunner
The only way I could like my CCP better is if it were an OPEN carry permit!
To: Ancesthntr
Yes, the article is three years old. Maybe that's why it isn't posted as Breaking news. ;^)
18
posted on
05/28/2003 9:26:37 PM PDT
by
Imal
(There's a Marxist born every minute)
To: TEXASPROUD; TexasCowboy
Awwww gheeeze now we have to act like adults !! We've been labled.
Stay Safe !!
19
posted on
05/28/2003 9:47:47 PM PDT
by
Squantos
(Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt.)
To: goldstategop
That's a lesson for Minnesota's switch to a shall carry CCW system. The concerns of the gun banners is much ado about nothing. Shoot outs are not the concerns of the gun banners, control is their concern, People Control.
20
posted on
05/28/2003 9:55:01 PM PDT
by
c-b 1
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