Florida beats Texas? HOW?!

[Keith B]

I learned today that almost 10% of the population in Florida has a concealed carry permit. If you take out everyone under 21, the percentage is even higher.

On the other hand, LESS THAN 2% of Texans have a CHL. I was shocked that we had so few CHL holders to begin with, but to be beaten by Florida was like putting salt on the wound.

How did this happen?

That number is a little inflated. It is closer to 6% and a lot of those are out of state non-resident license. There are a little over 19.1 million people in the state and the licenses were a little over the 1 million mark (1,137,510), out of that there are 144,518 non-resident/out of state licensees (12% of the total) http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/stats/cw_active.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[nightmare]

Even with those numbers that's 5% of the population. Not too shabby.

[dizzyahn]

Well Texas has the toughest background checks in the Nation, meaning once you get your TX CHL, you can purchase your weapon on the spot with no delays other then being on a wait list for that specific weapon. Where as Florida still has to submit to a background check to purchase a weapon.

[nightmare]

Even more impressive, in that case, because nobody is getting one to bypass NICS (or lines at the Capitol ) so they're getting the licenses to actually carry a weapon. We could use more of that Southern Spirit in Texas.