GAO: America has 118 million pistols, 8 million conceal-carry permits

washingtonexaminer.com ^ | 26 July, 2012 | Paul Bedard

[marktwain]

In a new report heralded by the NRA, the General Accountability Office finds that the numbers of Americans with permits to carry a concealed weapon has surged and virtually every state now allows pistols to be carried under garments or even in a car glove box.

"The number of states allowing concealed carry permits is increasing," said the GAO.

The report included two shocking numbers:

-- There are currently 118 million handguns in America, either owned or for sale.

-- Some 8 million Americans already have a concealed carry permit, about 1 million more than previously thought.

The report found that permits are not available only in Washington, D.C. and Illinois and that some states have huge populations of conceal carry permit holders. For example, in South Dakota and Georgia, about 10 percent of the population has a permit. In Virginia, 279,000 have them but in Maryland only 12,000 can legally carry a concealed weapon.

[W. W. SMITH]

I think of every one with a concealed carry permit as being a member of the militia. Counting those who carry without a permit the United States has more people under arms every day than China. That gives me a nice warm feeling.

[Chuckster]

Frankly if folks have never practiced (just a few rounds) without hearing protection, they may be PROFOUNDLY startled at how LOUD their firearm is.

Oh, I got plenty of that sort of practice back in the sixties and seventies with everything from a 1911 .45 to a M114 155mm howitzer. That is why I can't hear my wife asking me to do the dishes now.

[FreedomPoster]

Dang, I’m short several pistols, at 14+ per CCW holder.

;-P

[B4Ranch]

>>Some Aussie was here the other day suggesting that this country would soon be like France (and their problem with feral Moroccan toughs) and parts of London: Muslim youths harassing women with uncovered heads on the street, bullying old people on buses; staking out sections of cities as Sharia zones, etc..<<

Learn the actual ugly truth about Muslim Demographics and what it means to you and me.