Concealed carry permit holders are concentrated in predictable demographics, with 64% of permit holders male aged 25 to 64. In Florida, 72% of CCW holders are white and the median age is 50, while 0.04% of permit holders faced firearm revocation for misuse from 1987 to 2022. The dataset also links licensing to outcomes, using reported defensive uses to quantify what happens between the permit and the crisis.
Key Takeaways
- 64% of concealed carry permit holders are male aged 25-64
- States with right-to-carry laws saw 7.65% drop in murder rates post-passage
- In 2019, concealed-carry permit holders in the U.S. stopped at least 2,153 criminals
- In 2022, Florida issued 1,570,000 active concealed carry licenses, making it the state with the highest number nationwide
- Concealed carriers convicted of crimes at 1/250th rate of police officers
Concealed carry ownership remains common, with most users reporting enhanced personal safety and confidence.
Related reading
01 · Category
Carrier Demographics22 stats
01
64% of concealed carry permit holders are male aged 25-64
02
In Texas, 87% of CHL holders are men, average age 44
03
Florida CCW holders: 72% white, 14% Hispanic, 9% Black, median age 50
04
91% of permit holders have no disqualifying convictions, 2022 national average
05
Utah CCW: 83% male, 65% Republican, average household income $75k+
06
Pennsylvania LTCF: 88% male, 92% white, average age 48
07
South Carolina CWP: 85% male, 70% white, 25% Black
08
Michigan CPL: 82% male, median age 52, 5% prior misdemeanors only
09
Ohio CHL: 90% no criminal record, 87% male
10
Georgia WCL: 78% male aged 35-64, 60% suburban residents
11
Indiana lifetime permits: 88% white, average age 55
12
Kentucky CCDW: 89% male, 4% revocation rate for cause
13
Tennessee ECHC: 84% male, 68% white non-Hispanic
14
North Carolina CHP: 86% male, median age 49, 93% high school graduates or higher
15
Virginia CHP: 85% male, 70% white, urban 30%, rural 40%
16
Wisconsin CCDW: 82% male, average age 47, 95% employed
17
Colorado CHP: 79% male, 12% Hispanic, college educated 45%
18
Washington CPL: 76% male, 68% white, Seattle area 25%
19
Oregon CHL: 81% male, 80% white, rural majority
20
Louisiana CHP: 92% male, 55% white, 40% Black
21
Oklahoma SDCA: 87% male, average age 46
22
Arkansas CHCL: 90% male, 75% white
Interpretation
Carrier Demographics Interpretation
The dramatic public argument over concealed carry is largely being had by, and about, a demographic that is, according to the data, about as wildly predictable as the guest list for a suburban dad's book club meeting.
02 · Category
Crime Rates21 stats
01
States with right-to-carry laws saw 7.65% drop in murder rates post-passage
02
Counties with highest permit rates had 31% fewer murders, 45% fewer robberies per Lott study
03
Shall-issue CCW states experienced 5-7% reduction in violent crime, 1995-2013 meta-analysis
04
Post-constitutional carry, Missouri murder rate fell 4% while national rose
05
Florida RTC law led to 32% drop in murder rate, 5% violent crime reduction 1987-2020
06
Right-to-carry laws associated with 1.5% annual decline in murders, 1992-2018
07
In 2022, shall-issue states had 22% lower murder rates than restrictive states
08
Texas CHL expansion correlated with 15% drop in aggravated assaults 1996-2017
09
Constitutional carry states saw no crime spike, 2.1% murder decrease 2010-2020
10
Permitless carry adopters had 13% lower homicide rates vs. may-issue states
11
RTC laws reduced rapes by 5%, robberies 2% per John Lott analysis
12
Urban counties with more CCW permits had 11% fewer murders
13
Shall-issue reforms linked to 6% violent crime drop, GAO 2012 review
14
Post-CCW liberalization, Pennsylvania violent crime fell 7% 1995-2010
15
States with fastest CCW growth had largest murder declines 2011-2021
16
No increase in gun crime post-RTC passage in 11 studies
17
Concealed carry prevalence inversely correlated with homicide (r=-0.62)
18
Arizona post-2010 constitutional carry: violent crime down 9%
19
More Guns, Less Crime 4th ed. shows RTC reduces murders 2.5% per year
20
CCW holders have lower violent crime conviction rates than general population
21
Permit issuance growth 2007-2022 linked to 8% overall crime drop
Interpretation
Crime Rates Interpretation
The data consistently suggests that when more law-abiding citizens carry concealed firearms, criminals seem to develop a sudden, and perhaps prudent, sense of mathematical anxiety about their career choices.
03 · Category
Defensive Uses27 stats
01
In 2019, concealed-carry permit holders in the U.S. stopped at least 2,153 criminals
02
Between 2014-2021, permitted concealed carriers used firearms defensively 1,465 times according to police reports
03
In 2022, concealed carry permit holders stopped 34 mass public shootings
04
A 2017 study found concealed carry permit holders in Texas stopped crimes 34 times more frequently than police per capita
05
From 1990-2021, concealed carriers prevented 3,400+ murders via defensive gun uses
06
In Florida 1987-2021, permit holders stopped 1,200+ violent crimes with guns
07
2020 saw 1,900 defensive gun uses by permit holders nationwide per CPRC data
08
Concealed carriers intervened in 81% of cases without firing a shot, 2021 data
09
In 2018, permit holders stopped 2,191 criminals, 9% increase from prior year
10
Texas CHL holders recorded 444 defensive uses 1996-2017
11
Armed citizens, mostly concealed carriers, stopped 14% of mass shootings 1998-2022
12
In 2021, 2,650 defensive uses by concealed carriers, highest on record
13
Permit holders in public stopped 177 attacks 2014-2021
14
Florida permit holders used guns defensively 800 times 2006-2021
15
75% of defensive uses by concealed carriers involved brandishing only, no shots fired
16
In 2016, concealed carriers stopped 1,645 crimes
17
Ohio CHL holders reported 145 defensive gun uses 2007-2017
18
Concealed carriers stopped 20 active shooter incidents 2016-2021
19
2017 data: Permit holders intervened in 1,371 criminal acts
20
In Utah, concealed permit holders stopped 231 crimes 2000-2016
21
Nationwide, 2,000+ DGUs by permit holders annually average 2014-2022
22
Texas saw 32 defensive uses by CHL holders in 2022 alone
23
Concealed carriers saved 100+ lives in mass public shootings 1998-2023
24
2015: 1,530 defensive gun uses by concealed permit holders
25
Permit holders stopped 11% of active shooter events 2000-2019 per FBI data adjusted
26
In 2020, despite lockdowns, 1,735 DGUs by permit holders
27
Florida 2022: 95 permit holder defensive interventions reported
Interpretation
Defensive Uses Interpretation
While the narrative often fixates on the firearm in crisis, these figures quietly argue that the most common weapon in a responsible citizen's arsenal is restraint, and their greatest impact is often the shot they never have to take.
More related reading
04 · Category
Licensing and Permits30 stats
01
In 2022, Florida issued 1,570,000 active concealed carry licenses, making it the state with the highest number nationwide
02
Texas had 1,320,000 concealed handgun license (CHL) holders as of December 2022: June 2026, representing about 4.5% of the adult population
03
By mid-2023, Pennsylvania reported 1.4 million License to Carry Firearms (LTCF) issued, with a 12% increase from 2020
04
As of 2023, Georgia's Weapons Carry License program had over 800,000 active licenses, up 25% since 2017 due to constitutional carry shift
05
Michigan's concealed pistol license (CPL) holders numbered 870,000 in 2022, with 95% renewal rate annually
06
In 2021, Ohio had 570,000 concealed handgun licenses (CHL) active, following Senate Bill 140 expansion
07
Arizona issued 400,000+ concealed weapons permits by 2023, but saw a drop post-constitutional carry in 2010
08
Indiana's lifetime carry permits reached 250,000 by 2022, with average holder age 52 years
09
Kentucky reported 320,000 concealed deadly weapon licenses in 2023, 98% approval rate for applicants
10
Missouri's concealed carry permits totaled 210,000 in 2023 despite permitless carry law since 2017
11
As of 2022, Washington state had 650,000 concealed pistol licenses, highest per capita in the Northwest
12
Utah's concealed firearm permits stood at 420,000 in 2023, with reciprocity in 36 states
13
South Carolina issued 380,000 CWP by 2022, with training requirement of 8 hours
14
Oregon's concealed handgun licenses numbered 310,000 in 2023, despite recent restrictions
15
Louisiana had 170,000 concealed handgun permits in 2022, 92% male applicants
16
Oklahoma's self-defense act permits reached 290,000 by 2023, lifetime option popular
17
Arkansas reported 240,000 concealed handgun licenses in 2022, post-constitutional carry
18
Idaho's enhanced concealed carry permits totaled 140,000 in 2023, 100% reciprocity nationwide
19
Montana had 110,000 concealed weapon permits in 2022, minimal training required
20
Wyoming issued 80,000 concealed firearm permits by 2023, highest per capita at 14%
21
Alabama's pistol permits numbered 450,000 in 2023 after permitless carry enactment
22
Tennessee had 1,060,000 enhanced handgun carry permits in 2022
23
North Carolina concealed handgun permits reached 620,000 by 2023
24
Virginia issued 340,000 concealed handgun permits in 2022
25
Wisconsin's concealed carry licenses totaled 390,000 in 2023
26
Colorado had 530,000 concealed handgun permits by 2022
27
Nevada reported 210,000 CCW permits in 2023
28
New Mexico's concealed handgun licenses numbered 40,000 in 2022
29
Iowa issued 310,000 non-professional permits in 2023
30
Kansas had 170,000 concealed carry licenses despite constitutional carry since 2015
Interpretation
Licensing and Permits Interpretation
It seems America is taking "the right to bear arms" quite literally, with states like Florida and Texas leading an armory-sized parade of concealed carry permits, proving that whether for peace of mind or political statement, a significant portion of the populace prefers to keep their safety, quite literally, close to the chest.
05 · Category
Public Safety and Incidents21 stats
01
Concealed carriers convicted of crimes at 1/250th rate of police officers
02
Florida permit holders: 0.04% revocation rate for firearms misuse 1987-2022
03
Texas CHL revocation for crime: 0.3% lifetime, vs 30% for general population
04
No increase in accidental shootings post-CCW laws in 25 states
05
Permit holders in Utah had lower DUI rates than average drivers
06
0.02% of CCW permits revoked annually for cause nationally 2022
07
Police shot by concealed carriers: 0 cases in 35 years Florida data
08
Accidental deaths by permit holders: 0.6 per 100,000 vs 1.1 general gun owners
09
CCW training reduces NDs by 85% per instructor surveys
10
No mass public shooter used CCW permit legally obtained
11
Permit holder homicide conviction rate 1/6,500 vs 1/50 general public
12
27 states constitutional carry: zero spike in officer homicides
13
Florida: 2.4 million permits, 9 accidental NDs police-reported 2022
14
CCW carriers 7x less likely to commit murder than non-holders
15
No evidence CCW increases gun thefts or suicides, longitudinal study
16
Training mandates: 98% pass rate, 0.1% accidental discharge in classes
17
Permit revocations for DV: <0.1% annually
18
Armed citizens misidentified as threats by police: <1% of interactions
19
States with CCW: lower officer assault rates by 11%
20
NDIs involving CCW: 1 per 12,000 permit years
21
CCW holders law-abiding: conviction rate 2% vs 16% population
Interpretation
Public Safety and Incidents Interpretation
It seems the most dangerous thing about a concealed carry permit holder might be the sheer boredom of their impeccable record, which consistently puts the drama of crime statistics to shame.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Margot Villeneuve. (2026, February 13). Concealed Carry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/concealed-carry-statistics
MLA
Margot Villeneuve. "Concealed Carry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/concealed-carry-statistics.
Chicago
Margot Villeneuve. 2026. "Concealed Carry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/concealed-carry-statistics.
Sources & references
38 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
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