Blissful Ignorance

I would think that in general, people that want CCW permits are aware that they are available, and most would have them. It's the large segment of the population that just doesn't give  rats ass about  them either way. About the ame way as hunters. The majority of the population isn't against or for hunting. They just don't care. It isn't until there is some bad press  that these folks start to formulate an opinion, and then it's short lived.

Back in 95-96, the county where I live, had new sheriff elected. Our state was  one that they could give out CCW permits, but not required. This sheriff opted to do so. He instituted guide lines of training and background checks. Since I was a NRA certified instructor, and out of a job, I fired up my business, and got the $1 Million liability insurance through the NRA. I got a local sporting goods shop to give me a room to teach in, and for two years, I was busy teaching four classes a week, and the range portion on Saturday and Sunday. I made  a little bit of money from it. Enough to buy the handguns I neeed to teach , and then some.

Then it started to dry up. In the next 6 months, I couldn't make enough to pay the insurance premium even. Seems that every one who wanted a permit had gotten one in the initial two years, and the remaining people were either newcomers to the state or younger ones that were finally old  enough to apply for a permit.

The number of permit holders in this county has remained  fairly stable for the last 7-9 yrs. about 3500.The year of the Columbine shootings, was the first year that a state wide  law could have been passed with enough support, but the politically correct  ones, pulled it from the que. Then it languished  for a few  years, and finally got pass a year or so ago. Since then there has been no large  push for people to get them . A few classes is offered, and they are fairly high priced. I looked into it, but couldn't see a profitable venture, or even a break even. Our gun club offers them and  there are usually only 5-6 in a class. 

In retrospect, though, there are  lot of people out there, that shouldn't ahvea CCW permit. I"m not talking about criminals , etc. I'm talking about the ones  that you know are a little short of  a full deck. The ones that make a strong case for mandatory birth control    

I'm in agreement with the two above.  There's a large population of folks out there that we're just as well they don't have the means to carry a concealed weapon.  Them NOT knowing they could is probably safer for the rest of us    .

Those that want it and would be responsible with it, are the ones that will search out their legal rights in their respective states.  >>  klallen

I live in Mn.They just passed CCW last year. They figured that 50,000 people would apply, and get $100 bucks a piece for a five year license. 5 million in a small state like MN is alot of money the Congressmen can spend on road-side rests and bike trails. If you've never been to MN we have the best road-side rests in the country better than some Motel-6's I've been to. Go to Oklahoma and compare them to their picnic table and 55 gallon drum trash can rest area. The problem is they only got 10,000 or so CCW appicants and they already spent the 5 Mil. Hard to believe? It is not about the right defend yourself, it's about how can we take and spend your money...

I got one.

Dunno why the states don't advertise this much.  I suspect that any advertising of any government program is hard to do with budget $$$ for advertising being very tight nowadays.  Don't seem to have a problem advertising for candidates though .  I know that many of our NRA folks and sportsman clubs as well as state police organizations have written up press releases in regards to this topic but the friggin newspapers haven't given it much attention.  They'd rather report someone getting murdered rather than give coverage to someone using a firearm in self defense - but that's another story.