As violent crime rates continue to drop in states that allow citizens to carry concealed firearms, some of those states are reconsidering the limits they place on that constitutional right.

According to data from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports, the violent crime rate in the U.S. has dropped every year since 1991 and hit a 23-year low in 2002. In that same period, 17 states added CCW laws and 13 states eliminated some restrictions from existing CCW laws.

States with CCW laws experienced lower violent crime rates without exception.

Research shows the longer concealed carry laws are on the books, the more crime drops. For each additional year that concealed carry gun laws have been in effect, the murder rate declines by 3 percent, robberies by over 2 percent, and rape by 1 percent.

On average violent crime was 24 percent lower; there were 22 percent fewer murders, 37 percent fewer robberies and 20 percent fewer aggravated assaults than in states that do not issue CCW permits.

Similarly, the states with the lowest violent crime rates all have "shall issue" CCW permit laws that force police to issue permits if applicants meet the qualifications established by the state legislature.

Click here to read the entire story from the Cybercast News Service.

Buried in a Dayton Daily News story about Taft's inauguration is this tidbit on future power possibilities for the governor:

"Taft is vice chairman of the Republican Governors Association and is expected to move up to chairman next year."

To express your desire to keep liberal Republicans like Bob Taft out of national leadership roles, click on the link below:

Republican Governors Association