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VPC Releases License to Kill III: The Texas Concealed Handgun Law's Legacy of Crime and Violence

Texas Concealed Carry License Holder Offenses Include: Murder, Rape, Kidnapping, Weapon Crimes, Drunk Driving, and Domestic Violence

A new study released today by the Violence Policy Center (VPC) shows that Texas concealed handgun license holders have been arrested 3,370 times since the concealed handgun license law went into effect�an average of more than two arrests every day from January 1, 1996 until April 30, 2000.

License to Kill III: The Texas Concealed Handgun Law's Legacy of Crime and Violence details arrests of concealed handgun license holders subsequent to licensure and provides information gathered through VPC research on eight homicide, attempted homicide, or aggravated kidnapping arrests of concealed handgun license holders.

"When Texas enacted the concealed handgun law in 1996, Texans were promised that only law-abiding citizens would be allowed to carry concealed guns�the arrests of these license holders show that instead of stopping crimes, they are committing them," VPC Health Policy Analyst Karen Brock, MPH said today.

VPC analysis of the Texas data reveals that�

  • From 1996 to 1999, Texas concealed handgun license holders were arrested for weapon-related offenses at a rate 66 percent higher than that of the general population of Texas, aged 21 and older.

  • Texas concealed handgun license holders have been arrested for more than two crimes a day since the law went into effect.

  • Texas concealed handgun license holders have been arrested for nearly two serious violent crimes per month since the law went into effect including: murder/attempted murder, manslaughter/negligent homicide, kidnapping, rape, and sexual assault.

  • Texas concealed handgun license holders have been arrested for more than three drunk driving offenses per week since the law went into effect.

  • Texas concealed handgun license holders have been arrested for nearly two weapon-related offenses per day since the law went into effect.



The Violence Policy Center is a national non-profit educational foundation that conducts research on violence in America and works to develop violence-reduction policies and proposals. The Center examines the role of firearms in America, conducts research on firearms violence, and explores new ways to decrease firearm-related death and injury.


   For Release:
   Wednesday, August 9, 2000

   Contact:
   Naomi Seligman
   Violence Policy Center