But so much changed in a short time, even as anti-gun forces threw their full weight behind stripping gun rights from the people.
As 2023 comes to a close, it is well worth celebrating that the tally of constitutional carry states soared to 27 this year. This means that upstanding residents may carry a concealed firearm without having to go to the government and hoping to get permission.
After all, the Bill of Rights laid out this freedom plainly for all to see. “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
For critics who claim the sky is falling, it is necessary to note that these states did not enact “unrestricted” carry. Existing permit systems remained in place, as did reciprocity agreements with other states.
These governments simply decided to uphold the Constitution and not demand that their citizens come crawling to them to be granted rights they already have.
National Rifle Association (NRA) executive vice president and CEO Wayne LaPierre told Fox News Digital that those advocating freedom withstood a tremendous volley from their opponents. “The gun control lobby and their allies pledged to dismantle self-defense laws and the Second Amendment.”
Not only did they spectacularly fail, but LaPierre noted that “Americans in 11 states stood with freedom and the NRA.”
Georgia became the 25th state featuring constitutional carry when its law passed in 2022 took effect in the new year. And it was Florida that pushed the effort over the top to make the U.S. a permitless carry-majority nation. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed the law into effect in April, making the Sunshine State number 26 on this honor roll.
As he declared, “Constitutional carry is on the books.”
Just a short time later, Nebraska took the tally to 27. Gov Jim Pillen (R) signed the state’s new statute into law, noting that it “upholds the promise I made to voters.” The law took effect in September.
The addition of new states likely contributed to the number of concealed carry permits slipping slightly across the U.S. this year. And the numbers reflect the divide between states that respect the right to keep and bear arms and those who have yet to come into the fold.
Crime Prevention Research Center founder and President John Lott pointed to a distinct correlation between the two approaches. Interviewed by Fox News Digital, Lott said there is a clear divide.
“I’ve been tracking the number of concealed carry permits since 1998. And what you find is that this is the first year that there’s actually been a drop in the number of concealed carry permits. It’s not very much, but you basically see two different types of states. In the constitutional carry states, there was a drop. In all the other states, there was an increase.”
As for states that still demand gun owners seek their permission, these law-abiding citizens in many instances face an expensive and time-consuming process. When states alter this scheme and opt to lower the cost to protect freedoms, Lott said the result is an increased diversity among those who have permits.
In other words, while constitutional carry is unquestionably the desired outcome, there are other steps states may take along the way to enhance freedoms enjoyed by their citizens. This includes making permits much easier to obtain through reduced fees and less hoops to jump through.
Lott noted that even this small step alters the “mix of people who get permits.” This results in “a lot more permits issued in heavily minority, poor zip codes.”
These are many times the exact areas where good citizens need to be armed to protect themselves from out-of-control crime.
