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John,
Half the states in the country already allow the concealed carry of a loaded gun without a permit. Twenty-one of these states have enacted these weakened protections in just the last seven years. Now NRA Republicans are continuing to expand this alarming trend, seeking to make Florida the 26th “permitless” state.
Eliminating permits means eliminating background checks and safety training, and increasing the easy availability of weapons to be used by untrained individuals. In fact, states that have allowed permitless carry have seen increases in firearm homicides, as well as thefts of poorly secured weapons that end up in the hands of criminals.
The evidence is clear: Weakening the requirements for carrying a concealed weapon results in increases in violent crime.[1]
If it takes a permit and training to drive a car, it should take a permit and training to to carry a gun. Sign the petition to stop the permitless carry of concealed weapons now!
How much does violent crime increase after states weaken their concealed carry requirements? The last 7 years provide plenty of data. Studies conducted from 2017 to 2022 across multiple states with loosened laws found:
Further, those states with more permissive concealed carry laws, allowing no discretion by law enforcement in issuing permits, show higher rates of gun violence than states that allow such discretion, including:
These studies clearly show states with stronger gun laws have fewer gun thefts than those with looser laws, and citizens who carry their guns in public are 3 times more likely to have their guns stolen. Right-to-Carry laws are associated with a 35% increase in gun thefts.
Stop the senseless saturation of society with unsafe gun laws. Sign the petition now.
Increases in gun carrying are also associated with increases in disputes that escalate into shooting.
Take road rage as an example: Injuries and deaths nearly doubled from 2017 to 2021. The five worst states have some of the weakest concealed permit laws. Whereas, out of the top three states with the fewest road rage incidents, two states have the strictest laws on the books.
As Ed Flynn, former Chief of the Milwaukee Police, said, “Stupid disputes that would have been fistfights are now shootings. Facebook fights are now shootings.”
Most U.S. voters, including the majority of gun owners, support basic requirements to own a firearm, including background checks and safety training. A 2022 Marquette Law School study found that 81% of U.S. adults oppose permitless carry, while opposition in a 2017 Johns Hopkins study was 83%. Permitless carry is opposed by 70% of Pennsylvanians, 60% of Ohioans, over 50% of Texans, 67% of Iowans, and 59% of Tennesseans. This is a national consensus surrounding a national disaster.
Law enforcement officer organizations across the country oppose the weakening of concealed carry laws because it makes their work exponentially more difficult, including a 13% average increase in officer-involved shootings, and 13% decline in the rate of clearing violent crimes, in states that weakened their requirements.
This dangerous experiment in permitless carry has gone on too long. It is time to roll back the weakened provisions and strengthen sensible gun safety laws. Please add your voice by signing the petition now.
Thank you for doing your part to roll back the senseless violence and to restore a basic level of competence and accountability for gun ownership in America.
- Amanda
Amanda Ford, Director
Democracy for America
Advocacy Fund
[1] Fact Sheet: Weakening Requirements to Carry a Concealed Firearm Increases Violent Crime
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