Get News & Views Updates
Progressive Community
The press releases posted here have been submitted by
America's Progressive Community
For further information or to comment on this press release, please contact the organization directly.
Most Popular This Week
Today's Top News
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT: Violence Policy Center Mandy Wimmer, Communications Associate, 202-822-8200 x110, mwimmer@vpc.org |
Concealed Handgun Permit Holders Kill 7 Police, 44 Private Citizens Over Two-Year Period
31 Incidents Result in Criminal Charges or Suicide of Concealed Handgun Permit Holder
WASHINGTON - July 20 - -Concealed handgun permit holders killed at
least seven police officers and 44 private citizens in 31 incidents during the
period May 2007 through April 2009 according to a new study (http://www.vpc.org/studies/
Because most state systems allowing the carrying of concealed handguns in public by private citizens release little data about crimes committed by permit holders, the VPC reviewed shooting incidents as reported by news outlets. It is likely that the actual number of fatal criminal incidents involving concealed handgun permit holders is far higher.
The study, "Law Enforcement and Private Citizens Killed by Concealed Handgun Permit Holders--An Analysis of News Reports, May 2007 to April 2009," finds that during the two-year period reviewed--
o Concealed handgun permit holders have slain seven law enforcement officers resulting in criminal charges or the suicide of the shooter. All of the killings were committed with guns. An additional three law enforcement officers were injured in these incidents.
o Concealed handgun permit holders have slain at least 44 private citizens resulting in criminal charges or the suicide of the shooter. All but one of the killings were committed with guns. An additional six private citizens were injured in these incidents.
o In six of the 31 incidents (19 percent), the concealed handgun permit holder killed himself, bringing the total fatality count to 57.
VPC Legislative Director Kristen Rand states, "State concealed handgun systems are arming cop-killers and other murderers. It is beyond irrational for Congress to vote to expand the reach of these deadly laws."
The study offers detailed descriptions of the 31 incidents, which occurred in 15 states. Law enforcement officers were killed in: Florida, Idaho, Ohio (two incidents), and Pennsylvania (two incidents). Private citizens were killed in: Alabama, Colorado, Florida (nine incidents), Idaho, Kentucky, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina (two incidents), Ohio (three incidents), Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah (two incidents), and Virginia.
Comments
Note: Disqus 2012 is best viewed on an up to date browser. Click here for information. Instructions for how to sign up to comment can be viewed here. Our Comment Policy can be viewed here. Please follow the guidelines. Note to Readers: Spam Filter May Capture Legitimate Comments...
9 Comments so far
Show AllThe raw numbers of these tragic events tell little. What are the comparisons of illegal acts of permit holders to the general population? Are permit holders more or less likely to perpetrate violent crimes? Even if you could tell us how many permit holders there are nation-wide, that would help us understand the scope of this issue.
48 states have some form of concealed carry laws. So, probably tens of millions of permit holders nationwide.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Concealed_carry_in_the_United_States
Thanks zmann. Let's assume that there are 10 million permit holders. Since Florida and Georgia account for 1/3 of that number my guess is that it is a factor of 10 or more low.
According to the Bureau of Justice Statics (BJS) from 2005, the last year available, there were some 19,127 homocide offenders in the US. Out of a population of about 307Million, that makes the offender rate about 6 per 100,000.
31 offenders from 10M CCP holders makes the offender rate about 3 per 1,000,000, or only 1/20th that of the general population.
Sounds like a pretty good track record to me. What are these guys worried about?
Statistically, probably nothing. But it does refute the argument that some gun rights promoters put forth that concealed carry holders never use their guns irresponsibly. It shows that some of them will murder family, police officers, and commit suicide with them. And some of these people had violent and mental histories, yet still were given gun permits. Strange.
Any group of people (any person) will act irresponsibly at some time. This includes the bureaucrats that issue gun permits. From a neutral viewpoint: People we know have guns and frequently carry them (CCW holders) exhibit substantially better behavior than the population at large, only half of whom even have a firearm in their home, and almost never carry them. Shouldn't we reward the ones who jump through the legal hoops to get a permit by allowing them more freedom? (And nail ALL of the miscreants to the wall?)
So then, withhold the right to bear arms from those more likely to abuse them? And if so, how do you determine that?
It is unjust to withhold rights from someone who is "more likely to abuse them". As you so rightly question, how could we determine that in any sensible way? It is essential that we remove the privilege of exercising a right to those who do harm to society. Even beyond gun rights, we routinely remove the right to freedom by imprisoning folks who engage in illegal activity. Free societies don't lock up "likely" criminals, but those that become criminals through their own activity. This very act of punishment, when consistent and severe enough, deters others from similar acts, and the imprisoned from future acts of the same type.
Rights are rights. As a society, if we use them well, and we should keep them forever; abuse them and they will be gone overnight.
By those more likely to abuse them, I did mean those with criminal records, excuse my carelessness with that phrase. Perhaps deny the right to own a gun to those with criminal records then, and maybe a little beyond that? Several of the people listed in that report had court orders against them, and murdered the people they were ordered against being near or seeing.
In general, rights are removed from individuals by courts. Most protective orders (at least in GA) include the temporary or permanent injunction against possessing any firearm or other deadly weapon. These orders are grounds for permanent revocation of any CCP the individual might hold. What you suggest is both good law, and already in place in many states. In Georgia, possession of a firearm in violation of a protective order is a felony.