Title: Should These Hoosiers Have Been Allowed to Carry a Gun In Public?

Publication Date: October 2009

What does it say?

Investigative reporters at the Indianapolis Star Tribune analyzed 900,000 records related to permits to carry a loaded gun in public, focusing mostly on applications from two major counties and three groups of permit holders: those who appeared to have felony convictions; those in which local law enforcement had recommended their permit be denied; and those who had their permits later revoked.

The reporters found that, consistent with investigative reports from other states, the permit system fails to screen out people with problematic behaviors, including violence.  The investigation found that approximately 12 percent of the adult male population had a permit to carry.

The report has a special feature highlighting three examples of how the permitting system fails to screen out dangerous people.

How can I use it?

Use this article, along with the Violence Policy Center’s website on CCW permitees who have killed people, to advocate for strict laws on carrying guns in public.

Citation

Alesia, Mark, et al, “Should These Hoosiers Have Been Allowed to Carry a Gun In Public?” Indianapolis Star Tribune, October 11, 2009