Gun-Carrying Citizens Deter Crime
From The Tulsa World ~ If the number of concealed-handgun license holders is any indication, robbers may have to worry about getting more than stolen goods during a heist.
With an increasing number of state residents legally packing heat, more robbers may be taking away some hot lead.
More than 54,000 Oklahomans are licensed to carry concealed handguns under the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act, said Jessica Brown, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. That number is up from around 31,000 in 2000 and 15,081 in 1996, after the first year of licensing. Once approved, applicants are licensed to carry concealed weapons for five years. After five years, they are required to renew their application.
In the beginning, some people thought a wave of shootings by license holders would occur, but those fears have proved to be unfounded, Brown said. "There's very little of that, quite frankly," she said. "Most people don't want to hurt each other."
Former state Sen. Frank Shurden, who sponsored the bill that led to the law, said he had tried to get the bill through the Legislature for several years but that fears of more shootings and of a more dangerous work environment for law enforcement officers held it back.
Image courtesy Tulsa World
With an increasing number of state residents legally packing heat, more robbers may be taking away some hot lead.
More than 54,000 Oklahomans are licensed to carry concealed handguns under the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act, said Jessica Brown, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. That number is up from around 31,000 in 2000 and 15,081 in 1996, after the first year of licensing. Once approved, applicants are licensed to carry concealed weapons for five years. After five years, they are required to renew their application.
In the beginning, some people thought a wave of shootings by license holders would occur, but those fears have proved to be unfounded, Brown said. "There's very little of that, quite frankly," she said. "Most people don't want to hurt each other."
Former state Sen. Frank Shurden, who sponsored the bill that led to the law, said he had tried to get the bill through the Legislature for several years but that fears of more shootings and of a more dangerous work environment for law enforcement officers held it back.
Image courtesy Tulsa World
Labels: 2nd Amendment, Armed Citizen, Gun Control, Gun Rights
posted by Mike McCarville @ 10:11 AM
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