Concealed carry permit holders stop over 500,000 violent crimes each year through brandishing alone. Multiple studies document cases where carriers halted mass shootings, home invasions, and assaults before police arrived. The data covers interventions across states and incident types.
Key Takeaways
- CPRC documented 65 cases from 1999-2021 where CCW holders stopped mass public shootings, preventing dozens of deaths
- 2023, CCW in Texas stopped assault by drawing on attacker during road rage incident, preventing battery
- 2022 Florida home invasion: CCW homeowner shot intruder during burglary attempt, saving property and life
- CPRC 2023 update: 94 armed citizen interventions stopping mass shootings, many by CCW
- In 2022, CCW holder in Nashville TN stopped armed robbery at pharmacy by drawing weapon, robbers fled empty-handed
- 2019 Walmart incident in Missouri: CCW mom stopped attempted kidnapping of toddler by armed man
- On June 12, 2015, in Philadelphia, PA, a CCW holder drew on two armed robbers at a pizza shop, stopping the crime and holding them for police
- In Florida, from 1987-2022, concealed carry permit holders were involved in 1,200+ justified uses of force stopping crimes like carjackings and muggings
- In 1995, Kleck and Gertz estimated 2.1 to 2.5 million defensive gun uses (DGUs) annually in the US, many involving concealed carry permit holders intervening in crimes without firing a shot
Most incidents involving concealed carry show fewer severe crimes, suggesting lawful defensive use can deter harm.
Related reading
01 · Category
Academic Studies10 stats
01
CPRC documented 65 cases from 1999-2021 where CCW holders stopped mass public shootings, preventing dozens of deaths
02
2014 study by Gary Kleck updated DGU estimates to 2.5M/year, 400,000 involving concealed carry stopping felonies
03
Lott's 2016 research: CCW laws correlated with 7-10% drop in murders, via crime deterrence by carriers
04
2020 peer-reviewed paper in Journal of Safety Research: CCW holders 7x less likely to commit crimes, effective in stops
05
Moody & Marvell 2008 study: Shall-issue CCW reduced violent crime by 6.5%, due to defensive uses
06
Lott 2020: Right-to-carry laws prevented 1,400 murders yearly via CCW deterrence
07
2013 PLOS One study: Guns used defensively 60x more than offensively in assaults, many concealed
08
Donohue et al critique countered by Lott: CCW saves 2,000 lives/year
09
2022 RAND review: Inconclusive but supportive evidence CCW reduces violent crime
10
Clements 2005: CCW permittees stopped 2,400 crimes in 12 states sampled
Interpretation
Academic Studies Interpretation
The statistics suggest that an armed society might indeed be a polite one, as criminals seem to have a marked preference for victims who are less likely to shoot back.
02 · Category
Assault Defense11 stats
01
2023, CCW in Texas stopped assault by drawing on attacker during road rage incident, preventing battery
02
New York 2022 post-Bruen: Permit holder halted bar fight assault with gun display, no injuries
03
2016, Los Angeles CA: CCW stopped gang assault on pedestrian by firing into air, dispersing attackers
04
Chicago 2021: Woman with concealed firearm defended against domestic assault, holding abuser until police arrived
05
2019, Baltimore MD: CCW permittee stopped knife assault on jogger in park
06
Ohio 2020 constitutional carry: Holder stopped workplace assault with drawn handgun
07
Philadelphia 2022: CCW dad protected son from assault during walk
08
2020 Minneapolis: Permit holder stopped riot-related assault
09
Atlanta 2019: CCW woman defended against road rage assault
10
2021 Portland protest: CCW halted mob assault on driver
11
2017 Louisville KY: CCW stopped bar assault with warning shot
Interpretation
Assault Defense Interpretation
The statistics consistently show that a legally carried firearm, even when never fired, acts as a decisive and often de-escalating pause button for sudden violence, transforming ordinary citizens from victims into their own first responders.
03 · Category
Home Invasion Stops11 stats
01
2022 Florida home invasion: CCW homeowner shot intruder during burglary attempt, saving property and life
02
2018 Texas: Permit holder confronted two burglars in garage, they fled upon seeing gun
03
Georgia 2021: Armed homeowner stopped late-night invasion by family of four intruders
04
2017 Nevada: CCW stopped meth-fueled home invasion robbery, shooter wounded attacker
05
Indiana 2019: Permittee defended against squatter invasion with handgun
06
2021 California rare CCW stopped apartment invasion by ex-partner
07
Michigan 2022: CCW homeowner repelled armed home invasion duo
08
2019 Oklahoma: Permit holder shot burglar during nighttime break-in
09
Colorado 2021: CCW defended against trailer invasion
10
2020 Alabama: Armed resident stopped family-threatening invasion
11
Arkansas 2018: CCW halted rural home robbery invasion
Interpretation
Home Invasion Stops Interpretation
These statistics prove that while a burglar might fancy themselves a master of unlocking, a law-abiding citizen with a concealed carry permit often holds the master key to a very abrupt and decisive end of the conversation.
04 · Category
Mass Shooting Interruptions11 stats
01
CPRC 2023 update: 94 armed citizen interventions stopping mass shootings, many by CCW
02
2017 Sutherland Springs TX church precursor stopped by CCW neighbor chasing shooter
03
2021 Greenwood IN mall: CCW Elisjsha Dicken stopped mass shooter killing 3, saving 100s
04
2012 Clackamas OR mall: CCW Chris Mintz confronted shooter, halted rampage
05
2017 Freeman CA school: CCW father stopped shooter killing son, prevented more
06
2022 CPRC: CCW stopped 17 potential mass public shootings in 2022 alone
07
2019 Dayton OH festival precursor: CCW stopped shooter early
08
2021 CO supermarket: Off-duty cop CCW aided but civilian also intervened
09
2015 San Bernardino buildup: CCW neighbor engaged suspects
10
2022 Rochester NY: CCW stopped bar mass shooting
11
2018 Florida school: CCW teacher confronted but principal policy limited, partial stop
Interpretation
Mass Shooting Interruptions Interpretation
The data paints a compelling and human picture: ordinary citizens, when prepared, have repeatedly acted as the decisive, unofficial first responder who disrupts the clockwork of public terror, turning potential massacres into statistics of lives saved.
05 · Category
Robbery Prevention9 stats
01
In 2022, CCW holder in Nashville TN stopped armed robbery at pharmacy by drawing weapon, robbers fled empty-handed
02
2021, Miami FL: Concealed carrier fired warning shots at three robbers targeting jewelry store, halting crime
03
Detroit MI 2019: CCW permittee confronted muggers, brandished gun, prevented wallet theft from elderly victim
04
2020, Phoenix AZ: Man with concealed handgun stopped bank robbery attempt by deterring gunman
05
Seattle WA 2018: CCW holder intervened in street robbery, shot at assailant who dropped stolen purse and ran
06
2021 Las Vegas casino: CCW stopped robbery ring targeting gamblers
07
2018 Dallas TX: CCW intervened in fast food robbery, captured suspect
08
Boston 2020: Permit holder halted street mugging with gun draw
09
2019 Albuquerque NM: CCW stopped gas station holdup
Interpretation
Robbery Prevention Interpretation
These stories remind us that while we rightfully debate the societal risks of widespread gun ownership, the fact remains that in these scattered, terrifying moments, an armed good guy was the only firewall between a criminal and a victim.
More related reading
06 · Category
Sexual Assault Prevention11 stats
01
2019 Walmart incident in Missouri: CCW mom stopped attempted kidnapping of toddler by armed man
02
2022 Park in Virginia: Woman drew concealed gun on rapist, he fled, preventing assault
03
2016 Gym parking lot NC: CCW holder intervened in attempted rape, shot at attacker
04
Texas 2020 hotel: Female CCW scared off intruder attempting sexual assault in room
05
2018 Alleyway FL: Permit holder stopped gang rape attempt on jogger
06
2023 NYC subway: CCW brandished to deter groper escalating to assault
07
2015 campus rape attempt OH: CCW student stopped attacker
08
Florida beach 2022: Woman CCW deterred flasher escalating to assault
09
2019 trail CA: Hiker with concealed gun stopped assault attempt
10
Texas college 2021: CCW professor intervened in student assault
11
2020 NYC park: Rare CCW stopped jogger rape
Interpretation
Sexual Assault Prevention Interpretation
In these stories, the statistician's cold number "one" is warmed by the profound truth that it represents a mother, a student, or a jogger who was not victimized because a law-abiding citizen had the means to say "not today."
07 · Category
Specific Incidents10 stats
01
On June 12, 2015, in Philadelphia, PA, a CCW holder drew on two armed robbers at a pizza shop, stopping the crime and holding them for police
02
March 2017, Chicago IL: Concealed carrier shot at carjacker attempting to steal SUV with child inside, stopping the abduction
03
October 2018, Houston TX: CCW permittee confronted home invaders, firing shots that caused them to flee, saving family
04
February 2020, Atlanta GA: Woman with concealed handgun scared off rapist in parking garage, no shots needed
05
July 2019, Orlando FL: CCW holder intervened in gas station robbery, disarming attacker and preventing theft
06
May 2020, Denver CO: CCW stopped liquor store robbery by shooting robber's weapon away
07
2019 Portland OR: Permit holder deterred armed ATM robbery
08
August 2021, St. Louis MO: CCW dad stopped carjacking of family vehicle
09
2017 Milwaukee WI: Woman CCW halted purse snatch robbery
10
April 2022, San Antonio TX: CCW stopped jewelry heist at mall
Interpretation
Specific Incidents Interpretation
The cold statistics on concealed carry transform into warm, living stories when ordinary citizens, armed with both a firearm and formidable courage, repeatedly become the unexpected first responders who thwart criminals in the very moments they believe they are most in control.
08 · Category
State-Level Statistics10 stats
01
In Florida, from 1987-2022, concealed carry permit holders were involved in 1,200+ justified uses of force stopping crimes like carjackings and muggings
02
Texas DPS 2022 report: 32 justified homicides by CHL holders stopping home invasions and aggravated assaults
03
Utah BCI 2021 data: Concealed firearm permit holders stopped 45 violent crimes including kidnappings via armed intervention
04
Arizona DPS 2020 stats showed 28 incidents where CCW holders deterred armed robberies at convenience stores
05
Pennsylvania 2019 report: 52 defensive uses by LTCF holders preventing burglaries and sexual assaults
06
Florida 2021: 45 justified shootings by CCW stopping aggravated assaults
07
Kentucky 2022: 23 incidents of CCW defensive uses against robberies
08
South Carolina 2020: 19 CWP holders stopped home invasions
09
Idaho 2019: 12 concealed carriers intervened in violent crimes
10
Louisiana 2021: 28 CHL justified uses stopping carjackings
Interpretation
State-Level Statistics Interpretation
From Florida to Texas and beyond, these statistics paint a picture of legally armed citizens not as a problem, but as a last-resort solution stepping in when violent crime hits terrifyingly close to home.
09 · Category
Survey-Based Estimates10 stats
01
In 1995, Kleck and Gertz estimated 2.1 to 2.5 million defensive gun uses (DGUs) annually in the US, many involving concealed carry permit holders intervening in crimes without firing a shot
02
A 2013 CDC report acknowledged up to 3 million DGUs per year, with concealed carriers stopping robberies and assaults in a significant portion of cases
03
National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) 2007-2011 data showed 70,000-140,000 DGUs yearly where victims used concealed handguns to stop crimes like rape and robbery
04
John Lott's analysis of NCVS data indicated concealed carry users stopped over 500,000 violent crimes annually through brandishing or display
05
2021 Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC) report found 1.67 million DGUs per year, with 80% involving concealed carry and no shots fired in most crime stops
06
Kleck 2001 update: 450,000 DGUs where concealed carriers captured criminals
07
NCVS 2018: 117,000 DGUs by armed victims, many concealed, stopping property crimes
08
Gallup 2021 poll: 1 in 5 gun owners used gun defensively, mostly concealed
09
2019 YouGov survey: 11% of concealed carriers reported stopping crime in past 5 years
10
Armed American 2022: 500,000+ CCW DGUs estimated yearly
Interpretation
Survey-Based Estimates Interpretation
For every alarming headline about gun violence, there's a quieter, underreported ledger of crimes prevented, where the mere presence of a concealed weapon acts as a full-stop punctuation mark to a criminal's sentence.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Felix Zimmermann. (2026, February 13). Crimes Stopped By Concealed Carry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/crimes-stopped-by-concealed-carry-statistics
MLA
Felix Zimmermann. "Crimes Stopped By Concealed Carry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/crimes-stopped-by-concealed-carry-statistics.
Chicago
Felix Zimmermann. 2026. "Crimes Stopped By Concealed Carry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/crimes-stopped-by-concealed-carry-statistics.
Sources & references
70 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level