In the early 1990s, when the initial wave of Concealed Carrying of Weapons (CCW) laws was being passed in the U.S., there was a gloss in the CCW community known as “Vermont Carry”. This name was used to describe the true Second Amendment freedom of carrying firearms without the need for a permit. This was the Holy Grail of the CCW movement, and it initially existed only in the state of Vermont — hence the name.
In 2003 Alaska was the first state to pass “Vermont Carry” legislation — now commonly known as “Constitutional Carry”. As of 2024 twenty-five states have enacted Constitutional Carry laws, all of which state essentially the same thing: anyone not disqualified from purchasing a firearm due to their criminal record may carry one concealed on their person. There are no additional fingerprints, background checks, or shooting tests required.
Detractors have always predicted these laws would convert peaceful cities into the O.K. Corral, but nothing of the kind has occurred. One of the most recent additions to the Constitutional Carry club was Ohio in 2022. None of the hysterical doomsday predictions from the gun grabbers have come true— and after one year the receipts are available.
A study conducted jointly by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Bowling Green State University reported that gun crime is down statewide since Constitutional Carry became law.
Six of Ohio’s largest eight cities have seen gun crimes drop since CCW was liberalized — most by statistically significant amounts. Toledo and Akron have seen drops of 18%, Columbus a drop of 12% and Parma has seen a stunning 22% drop in gun crime.
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Ohio sees drop in gun crimes across major cities after permitless carry law, study shows https://t.co/cdC1oxw36b
— T (@Rifleman4WVU) January 17, 2024
Yost said in an NBC News 4 interview that the study shows that leaders should be focusing on ways other than gun control to address violent crime.
These numbers are formal proof of what common sense and basic critical thinking would conclude. Those whose career is committing crimes do not obtain permits to do so, nor do they consider whether their criminal record allows them to carry a gun. Criminals already carry guns — this would have been the case regardless of what gun control laws exist. They don’t honor gun laws more than any other laws.
What this new law — or lack of law — clearly accomplished in Ohio is deterrence to criminals. If word gets around that in certain areas getting shot by a victim is a real possibility, perpetrators will be more likely to conduct business elsewhere.
Back in 1999, former Gambino Family gangster Sammy “the Bull” Gravano stated in an interview with the Washington Times: “Gun control? It’s the best thing you can do for crooks and gangsters. I want you to have nothing. If I’m a bad guy, I’m always gonna have a gun. Safety locks? You will pull the trigger with a lock on, and I’ll pull the trigger. We’ll see who wins.”
Apparently, the bad guys in Ohio concur.
