Sarasota Co.: Crime down, paper credits armed citizens

February 2, 2005
Venice (FL) Gondolier Sun

Violent and nonviolent crime was down in Sarasota County in 2004.

Many law enforcement officials agree -- and the numbers show -- there is a direct relationship between an armed citizenry and reduced crime.

Since adopting concealed weapons permits in 1987, Florida's homicide rate has fallen 21 percent while the U.S. rate has risen 12 percent. From Oct. 1, 1987 to Feb. 28, 1994 (more than six years), Florida issued 204,108 permits; only 17 (0.008 percent) were revoked because permittees later committed crimes (not necessarily violent) in which guns were present (but not necessarily used).

In Florida, as in the United States, more than 70 percent of violent crimes do not involve guns.

Violent crime rates are highest overall in states with laws severely limiting or prohibiting the carrying of concealed firearms for self-defense (FBI Uniform Crime Reports).

The total violent crime rate is 26 percent higher in the restrictive states (798.3 per 100,000 population) than in the less restrictive states (631.6 per 100,000 population).

The homicide rate is 49 percent higher in the restrictive states (10.1 per 100,000 population) than in the states with less restrictive weapons laws (6.8 per 100,000 population).

The robbery rate is 58 percent higher in the restrictive states (289.7 per 100,000 population) than in the less restrictive states (183.1 per 100,000 population).

The aggravated (weapon or injury) assault rate is 15 percent higher in the restrictive states (455.9 per 100,000 population) than in the less restrictive states (398.3 per 100,000 population). Using the most recent FBI data, homicide trends in the 17 states with less restrictive weapons laws compare favorably against national trends, and almost all permittees are law-abiding.

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