Statistics show that Florida will be the first state in the nation with over 1 million owners of concealed weapons permits. And they will likely do so before the end of 2012.
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Today, about 950,000 Floridians have active concealed weapons permits.
Adam Putnam, Florida Agriculture Commissioner, who operates the gun permit program, says his office is issuing between 10,000 and 15,000 permits every month.
Putnam says Florida has seen increasing demand for gun permits in recent years. So he has hired more workers to handle the extra workload and expanded the state’s “Fast Track” system.
That system allows gun owners to make appointments at one of eight regional offices around Florida, rather than just Tallahassee, and renew their weapons permits faster. Putnam states that the system is “wildly popular” with gun owners.
Putnam says:
“Florida has a strong tradition in upholding Second Amendment rights. The Florida Legislature has been very clear about that. The track record of administering the program in our office and when it was in the Department of State has been one that is thorough and efficient.”
Only about 6,200 gun permits have been removed due to criminal activity – out of 2.2 million issued since 1987. Permit holders can lose their gun licenses if convicted of a felony. Records show 168 permits were taken away for gun-related crimes.
Putnam says that very small percentage, about 0.003 percent, shows Florida’s concealed weapons permit holders virtually always follow the law.
He continues:
“There continues to be an extraordinarily small number of concealed weapons license holders who break the law. They are overwhelmingly law-abiding citizens who for a variety of reasons wish to be given a concealed weapons permit.”
Try explaining that to Trayvon Martin’s family. 0.003 percent chance sounds great until it affects one of your own.
Florida has done even more to reduce gun control. This year, state lawmakers lowered the price of a concealed weapons permit from $85 to $70, and lowered the renewal price from $70 to $60.
