“At least 319 people, including 11 law enforcement officers, have been killed in incidents not ruled self-defense involving private citizens legally allowed to carry concealed handguns” according to the June update of the Violence Policy Center’s (VPC) Concealed Carry Killers on-line resource. As Inspector Columbo used to say, “Do you mind if ask you a question?” Since when and according to whom . . .
The Violence Policy Center’s Concealed Carry Killers database documents 216 incidents in 31 states since May 2007. In three quarters of the incidents (161) the concealed carry killer has already been convicted (69), committed suicide (87), or was killed in the incident (five). Of the 51 cases still pending, the vast majority (41) of concealed carry killers have been charged with criminal homicide, three were deemed incompetent to stand trial, and seven incidents are still under investigation. Four incidents were fatal unintentional shootings involving the gun of the concealed handgun permit holder. Nineteen of the incidents were mass shootings, resulting in the deaths of 84 victims.
Because most state systems that allow the carrying of concealed handguns in public by private citizens release little data about crimes committed by them, the primary source for Concealed Carry Killers is published news reports. It is likely that the actual number of fatal incidents involving citizens legally allowed to carry concealed handguns is far higher.”
I know John Lott. And I, sir, am no John Lott. I’m safer blindfolded holding a sub-machine gun than crunching stats. Even so, I’d like to point out that 319 “concealed carry killings” since 2007 equates to 79.75 murders per year. That doesn’t strike me as excessive in a country of 300 million legal citizens, roughly 150 million guns and some 50 million gun owners.
What would the VPC have us do about it anyway? Strangely, the press release doesn’t offer any suggestions. I have one: prosecute the offenders. Aside from the 87 who killed themselves.