In Texas, Concealed Carry Licensees only Charged with .19% of Crimes Involving a Firearm

The Bexar County District Attorney, Susan Reed, has published statistics that demonstrate that from the inception of the Concealed Handgun License program in 1996 through 2011, there have been 852,271 convictions involving a handgun in Texas. This number includes everything from murder, armed robbery, to minor misdemeanors such as carrying a weapon in a prohibited place. Of those convictions, only 1,972 were concealed handgun license holders. That equates to only .19%. While the statistics did not go this deep, I would venture an inference that the majority of those convictions were for the more minor crimes of carrying in a location where carrying was prohibited, not for violent crimes.

Unlike many fear-mongers predicted prior to the passage of the law, the increased carrying of concealed weapons in the state did not increase the lethality of fights, arguments, and confrontations and "shootouts" did not increase.

Texas Concealed Handgun License holders must submit to an FBI background check, submit fingerprints that remain on file with Texas Department of Public Safety, and undergo a 10 hour instructional safety course that teaches proper firearm safety, Texas law, and confrontation/conflict management.