Do You Vote?  Do You Carry?  by Tom Reynolds

John Lott’s Crime Prevention Research Center sponsored a survey of 1,000 voters to determine how many voters carry concealed handguns.* 

Of likely voters, 29.8% carry a permitted concealed handgun at least occasionally; 6.3% say they carry all the time and 6.9% say they carry most of the time and 16.6% say they carry occasionally or rarely.

It’s even higher in Constitutional Carry states, where a permit is not required; 34% report carrying concealed.

Blacks account for 11.0% of likely voters, but they represent 15.9% of those who carry all or most of the time.

Hispanics accounting for 11.0% of likely voters, but make up 18.8% of those who carry all or most of the time.

Whites make up 72.0% of likely voters but make up 62.6% of those who carry all or most of the time.

Asians account for 4.0% of likely voters but make up 2.0% of those who carry all or most of the time.

And here is the most surprising statistic: “…voters who identify as “very liberal” report carrying all or most of the time at the highest rate of any ideological group…”  Very conservative is the second-highest group.  (Emphasis added.) 

Perhaps, the rank-and-file ‘very liberals’ aren’t as anti-gun as is their leadership?  Which makes sense since the leadership primarily wants people disarmed so no one can effectively challenge their leadership, while the rank-and-file aren’t in leadership positions so they do not need that concern.

Awhile back, I wrote an email where I wondered how many people might be legally carrying concealed in Wal Mart, since there are always a lot of people there when I shop.  Lott gives some insight on this.

Assuming that 6.3% carry all the time and 6.9% carry most of the time, what is the probability that in a group of adults (voters and non-voters) that one person is legally carrying concealed?

Group of 10  54.5%

Group of 20  79.3%

Group of 50  98.0%

Wal Mart should post this last statistic on their doors to discourage any would-be terrorists.  Something like:

There is a 98% chance that someone inside is carrying a gun among the first 50 people in the store.  And there are almost always at least 100.  So, if you are a terrorist, ask yourself: do you feel lucky? 

* UPDATED: New Survey on the Rate that People Carry Concealed Handguns: Percent of Americans Carrying Increased from 24.3% in December 2024 to 29.8% in May 2026 - Crime Prevention Research Center