Crime Fear Propels Concealed Carry

From NewsChannel 8, Tulsa ~ The person standing next to you could be carrying a gun. That's because more and more Oklahomans are choosing to carry concealed weapons. More than 113-thousand permits have been issued since 1996 and nearly half of those were issued in the last five years.

NewsChannel 8's Kim Jackson went to find out why more people are arming themselves.

Crime is the number one reason more people are exercising their right to bear arms. They come to firing ranges, take the classes and apply for a permit. And, it may surprise you who is packing a pistol these days. There are many days and nights Rosie Gorrell travels alone. And, at about 5-foot-1, you'd never guess she was a pistol packin' mama.

"Oh, I know it. That's what everyone thinks," Rosie says. She has a gun purse that carries her .38 Special. She got her permit to carry it right after her divorce seven years ago. "I've encouraged my sisters," she says. "And, my sister-in-law carries. And, some friends do. I think all women should. If you drive a car, you should have a cell phone, AAA and a gun."

Rosie and anyone who wants to carry a concealed weapon has to go through an eight-hour class. Rendell Napier is an instructor who says he has seen more a diverse group of students. "You're starting to see more single parents, single moms, elderly people," Napier says. Napier is teaching more daughters and wives -- all of whom have to shoot fifty rounds to get a passing grade from him. "During a class, you learn about the laws that pertain to the concealed weapons, license, what you can and can't do," Napier says. "We go over several scenarios over what you would and wouldn't do. You don't want a bunch of ignorant armed people out there, you'd rather have intelligent armed people."

Rosie says one thing she can do is pull the trigger -- if she needs to. "I would not hesitate," she says. "It's something I think about. Even though I've never had to, it's always in my mind."

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