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1 in 6 in Washington County packing a gun

3 min read

Two weeks ago, two of our area’s state representatives sponsored a seminar on Pennsylvania’s law regarding the carrying of guns. During that event, it was mentioned 28,000 residents of Washington County have licenses to carry a concealed weapon.

To give some perspective to that number, consider, according to the latest census figures, there are about 156,000 people in Washington County who are 21 or older – the age to be eligible for a permit. That means one in every six adult Washington County residents can be carrying a gun under clothing, in a purse or in his or her vehicle.

Once upon a time, the county sheriff was particular about who could receive a gun permit. You had to convince the sheriff you really needed to have a gun in your pocket or the glove compartment of your car because you were required to transport large amounts of cash from your company to the bank, or you had to walk from work alone at night through a bad neighborhood, or you were a prison guard or prosecutor who feared retribution from ex-convicts, or some other understandable situation. And even if you had a reason to be packing a gun, the sheriff could still deny a permit if he thought you were a hothead or a character who might use the weapon for something other than self-protection.

But nowadays, just about the only things the sheriff’s department concerns itself with are whether you have the $20 fee and can pass a quick criminal-background check.

Don Jones, firearms officer for the county sheriff’s department, told seminar participants he processes about 100 applications for concealed-weapons permits every day, and 3,500 licenses were issued already this year.

So, what’s the result of so many more people driving legally with guns in their vehicles? The answer to that might be found in the newspaper’s daily Police Beat. Too often, we read of road-rage incidents in which an angry driver pulled out a gun and threatened another motorist. And too often, we read of guns being stolen from vehicles. This seems to be the way many criminals get ahold of weapons.

Statistically, you are safer being unarmed: you won’t accidentally shoot yourself, have your gun taken away from you and used on you, or succumb to a fit of rage, wave your weapon at another driver and land yourself in jail.

For most of the 28,000 permit holders, walking or riding around with a loaded gun is irrational. Do everyone else a favor and leave your weapons at home.

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