WA tops 451,000 CPLs but demand slowed

[Dave Workman]

Washington CPL rush slows, but crime news may perk it back up


The Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) told Examiner Monday morning that there are now 451,729 active concealed pistol licenses in the state, a number that suggests a slowdown on CPL applications has materialized, but news out of Seattle and North Bend may cause it to perk right back up again.


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[freestoneangler]

Interesting...only 6.5/100 residents in a "shall issue" state... oh, wait, me forgets we're talking about WA and Pugetropolis (aka The Land of Oz).

 

[deen_ad]

Interesting...only 6.5/100 residents in a "shall issue" state... oh, wait, me forgets we're talking about WA and Pugetropolis (aka The Land of Oz).

If you take out the ones who can't legally own a weapon (minors, criminals etc.) it's probably closer to 10% of the population.


Deen
NRA Life Member, Benefactor Level
Defender of Freedom Award
NRA Recruiter
Second Amendment Foundation Member
Washington Arms Collectors Member
Arms Collectors of SW Washington Member

"A gun is like a parachute. If you need one and don't have it, you'll probably never need one again!"

 

[freestoneangler]

Yes, good point Deen... I just used the 6.89M number. Still a bit lower than I would have expected, but not bad when you factor in the politics of the population center. It would be real interesting to see the numbers by county...anyone know if that's available?

 

[RK600]

Another question: How many Washington residents have taken an Oregon/Utah CPL course and received a Utah CPL that is good in WA? Those numbers wouldn't be counted by the DOL.

 

[ak56]

Another question: How many Washington residents have taken an Oregon/Utah CPL course and received a Utah CPL that is good in WA? Those numbers wouldn't be counted by the DOL.

Washington residents cannot carry under an out-of-state CPL. If they are a Washington resident, they must have a Washington CPL.

RCW 9.41.073
Concealed pistol license — Reciprocity.
(1)(a) A person licensed to carry a pistol in a state the laws of which recognize and give effect in that state to a concealed pistol license issued under the laws of the state of Washington is authorized to carry a concealed pistol in this state if:

... (b) This section applies to a license holder from another state only while the license holder is not a resident of this state. ...

 

[RK600]

Washington residents cannot carry under an out-of-state CPL. If they are a Washington resident, they must have a Washington CPL.

I read that differently and apparently incorrectly then.

 

[Dave Workman]

If you take out the ones who can't legally own a weapon (minors, criminals etc.) it's probably closer to 10% of the population.

That's correct, and the percentage just might creep above 10%.
Washington has, for years, been consistently in the top 5 per capita for CPLs.

(This new format takes a bit of getting used to!)

 

[U201492]

Yes, good point Deen... I just used the 6.89M number. Still a bit lower than I would have expected, but not bad when you factor in the politics of the population center. It would be real interesting to see the numbers by county...anyone know if that's available?

Seek and ye shall find!
Nationally, people have been applying for concealed pistol licenses at unprecedented rates. Experts say fear of gun legislation and some violent national events are likely factors.

The Washington State Department of Licensing released figures on concealed pistol licenses permits by county.
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Lincoln County encompasses 2,300 square miles and is home to around 10,500 people. It is here that the most people per capita in the state hold concealed licenses.

Fifteen percent of residents have a permit to carry a concealed weapon.
"Probably a larger percentage of people own a firearm of some sort," said Lincoln County Sheriff Wade Magers.

Magers estimated gun ownership could be as high as 75 percent.

On the other end of the spectrum, King County has the lowest rate of concealed pistol licenses -- only four percent. But even its rate has climbed about one percent over the past year.

Mike Gaffney, a social science researcher at Washington State University, said he was surprised by the wide variation in CPL rates in counties across the state.
But, Gaffney added, there seems to be a correlation between population density and percentage of CPLs in a county.

There are 16 counties with rates above eight percent and 13 are relatively rural.

Gaffney thought other factors, such as crime rate and political beliefs, might also influence where people apply for a concealed permit. But there weren't clear relationships between those factors.

Ultimately, each individual who applies has their own reasons for wanting to carry a concealed weapon.

 

[freestoneangler]

Very cool... thanks for digging this out. The numbers are interesting and I bet he (Gaffney) is correct about political and religious beliefs playing a role... probably primary roles. It would be interesting to see this data on a national level.

 

[GrpCapMandrake]

Giving you an average of 8.28% per county. Not nearly enough.

 

[Doc In UPlace]

It's somewhat counterintuitive that the most dangerous county in the state would have the lowest percentage of CPL holders.

Then again, considering the types of residents living there in King County (as in techno-worker bee types), fitting in-between the criminals and mentally ill, it kind of figures, too.

 

[GrpCapMandrake]

It's somewhat counterintuitive that the most dangerous county in the state would have the lowest percentage of CPL holders.

Then again, considering the types of residents living there in King County (as in techno-worker bee types), fitting in-between the criminals and mentally ill, it kind of figures, too.

Thus proving common sense to be very uncommon.

 

[Dave Workman]

It's somewhat counterintuitive that the most dangerous county in the state would have the lowest percentage of CPL holders.

Then again, considering the types of residents living there in King County (as in techno-worker bee types), fitting in-between the criminals and mentally ill, it kind of figures, too.

You are not being quite detailed enough in the description.
Techno-weenie, self-centered, artificial (too many "Friends" reruns and to much "Big Bang Theory" most likely) liberals who disguise their shallowness by claiming to be "progressive" and they simply can't live like the "crackers" and it's up to the police — whom they detest — to save them from the dirty masses.

People who refuse to be responsible for their own safety don't deserve safety.

But narrow it down. Seattleites. Those living east of Lake Washington aren't so bad, except for the carpetbaggers in Snoqualmie Ridge, the Sammamish Plateau, parts of Issaquah and Redmond. And Vashon Island. Can't forget the stoners.

 

[GunRightsCoalition]

It's somewhat counterintuitive that the most dangerous county in the state would have the lowest percentage of CPL holders.

Then again, considering the types of residents living there in King County (as in techno-worker bee types), fitting in-between the criminals and mentally ill, it kind of figures, too.

Seems intuitive to me. Those least likely to defend themselves are doomed to be taken advantage of the most by the criminals.

 

[freestoneangler]

Giving you an average of 8.28% per county. Not nearly enough.

True enough. But still, a movie theater or mall with 1:10 competent, lawful shooters... I like those odds.