Friday, July 10, 2009

A Little Blurb About Florida and the Right to Carry

You can find that complete article here.

quote:

RTC permit-holders are law-abiding: Florida has issued more carry permits than any state (1.5 million), but revoked only 166 (0.01 percent) due to gun crimes by permit-holders.

Background: Before 1987 there were 10 RTC states: (Ind. Me., N.H., N.D., S.D. and Wash. had "shall issue" laws. Ala. and Conn. had fairly-administered discretionary-issue systems. Georgia's "shall issue" law was interpreted as such in some jurisdictions. Vermont allowed carrying without a permit. In 1987, Florida enacted a "shall issue" law, and gun control supporters predicted "Wild West" shootouts would ensue. However, through 1992 Florida's murder rate decreased 23 percent, while the U.S. rate rose nine percent; thereafter, murder decreased nationally and in Florida. Then-Florida Licensing Division Director John Russi noted, "Florida's concealed weapon law has been very successful. All major law enforcement groups supported the original legislation....[S]ome of the opponents of concealed weapon legislation in 1987 now admit the program has not created the problems many predicted." In a 1995 letter to state officials, Dept. of Law Enforcement Commissioner James T. Moore wrote, "From a law enforcement perspective, the licensing process has not resulted in problems."

No comments: