TexasCHLforum.com

KBCraig wrote:Having an adding machine and a few minutes to kill, I ran a tape on the "licenses active by age" number. Gee, it's the same as the total of "current active" licenses!

Kevin

I did it the lazy man's way, and did all three (by race/sex. by zip, by age) by copying and pasting them into excel and doing a simple sum.

Amazingly, the numbers come out pretty much the same.

My first note to the the DMN pointed out that even accumulating the yearlies wouldn't work, the answers are above.

I will be on the phone with the DPS first thing in the morning, and as soon as they tell me the figures are accurate, I will be on the phone with the DMN.

And my answer to both parties at the DMN was:

Interesting, but not really believable. Of course AP is going to say their numbers are right, but a quick mathematical check of the other listings on the DPS web site that state "Active" by age, race, zip code, or whatever, comes up with the same number, not the AP one.

Did you bother calling DPS yourselves to verify, or did you just believe AP? I plan to be on the phone with DPS tomorrow, confirming this, don't let me beat you to it.

My letter to the Dallas Morning News was answered with similar statements, that the amount on the web site was cumulative rather than "currently active" which I also am not buying.

"Thank you for your e-mail of concern on the AP handgun story that
ran in the Dallas Morning News on Christmas Day.

After receiving it, I checked with the Associated Press, which
checked with the Houston Chronicle and then back-checked on its own. The AP found out that the number that appeared in the story is actually the correct number and the number that appears on the DPS website -- showing over 247,000 license holders -- is inaccurate. DPS public relations officers confirmed to the AP that the number on the website counts everyone who has ever held a license, but does not account for expired or rescinded licenses.

The correct number is 72,345.

Your letter points out that the discrepancy between the DPS website
number and the number in the story has caused confusion among readers,
so The Dallas Morning News plans to run a clarification of this issue.

Thank you for your concern,

LOWERY METTS
Assistant State Editor
The Dallas Morning News
214-977-8641"


And:

"We contacted the AP Dallas Bureau about the inconsistencies you and several other readers have brought to our attention. Below is their response:


Thank you for contacting the Associated Press regarding questions raised by your readers on the number of Texans licensed to carry concealed handguns. The number 72,345 that appeared in the story, which originated out of the Houston Chronicle, is correct. The number on the DPS Web site _ showing over 247,000 license holders _ is inaccurate. DPS public information officers have confirmed that the number on their site is cumulative and counts anyone who has held a license "since the beginning of time." Please feel free to share this information with your readers should they continue to question the number published in the Chronicle story.

Jeff

Jeffrey C. Kummer

Texas News Editor

AP Dallas
Best wishes,

Joanna England
Letters Coordinator
The Dallas Morning News
http://www.DallasNews.com"