MI:Concealed-weapons permits haven't led to more criminals

Josey1

Concealed-weapons permits haven't led to more criminals By: NEIL MUNRO, Of The Oakland Press January 08, 2002 January 8, 2002 There were legitimate fears that making it possible for more people to carry concealed weapons legally would result in a huge increase in gun mayhem. Except in neighboring Macomb County, Michigan residents were forced to prove a need to carry guns in order to be awarded permits.But as of last July 1, the state changed the law so that residents are presumed entitled to such permits unless they are determined to be unqualified. One example would be because of a criminal record. Residents in Macomb had enjoyed that status for three years.There seemed to be no evidence of an increase in gun-related crime there, despite the fact that about half the state's concealed-weapons permits were owned by Macomb residents.But many who opposed the change at the state level didn't consider the Macomb situation conclusive. They were right to do so. There are a lot of variables in this world.Now, six months after the new law went into effect, there is no reported worrisome increase in gun crime in Michigan as a whole, either.As a matter of fact, there are no reports at all of the use of a gun in a crime committed by a permit holder. That's despite an almost 100 percent increase in their number in Michigan.That data - no crimes, the time involved and that many permits - should tell us something and cause an overall sigh of relief.Early in the process of issuing permits to more people, there was no reported increase in the sales of the type of guns that would need permits.It also seems that most of the new permits have been given to people who already owned guns and wanted to be able to carry them concealed on their persons.It seems likely by now that the vast majority of the permit seekers are those who intend to use their weapons to defend themselves, not to attack others.The evidence says they're not deluding themselves as to the tactic's effectiveness. Yale University Professor John Lott studied nearly 20 years of gun use data in some 3,000 counties in this country and found that where residents can arm themselves more easily, crime declines - especially against women and the elderly.Anecdotally, when Florida passed a law similar to Michigan's, police noted a sudden increase in assaults against tourists - people driving cars with out-of-state licenses. The assumption was that criminals presumed the tourists would be unarmed, while they couldn't be sure about Floridians.Accidents involving guns in homes with permits do not appear to have become a problem, either. The most recent data show only 44 gun deaths in the homes of children 10 or younger nationally.Nonetheless, the Legislature should keep on eye on the gun and permit situation. Anyone who carries a gun and can use it needs to be reminded periodically what the rules are. Police officers "requalify" annually.What we have learned, it seems, is that anyone who lacked a gun and wanted to use one in a crime didn't obtain a permit. The permits didn't cause people to become criminals or to otherwise run amok. http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=2926086&BRD=982&PAG=461&dept_id=129845