NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Concealed weapon permits

Thanks to a new law that took effect about 18 months ago, Floridians no longer need a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Nonetheless, lots of people still have active permits. Florida’s concealed weapons licenses are recognized in some other states. And, having one makes the permit holder eligible for same-day gun purchases instead of having to wait three days.

Our Number of the Week is the residents of Duval County with active concealed weapons permits: 102,071. That’s in a county with 1,051,278 residents.

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102,071

Florida began issuing concealed weapons permits in 1987. Even though permits are no longer necessary, people who want to carry a concealed weapon in the state are expected to make sure they are still eligible to do so.

Duval ranks sixth among Florida’s 67 counties in terms of the number of people who have concealed weapons permits, which makes sense, as Duval also ranks 6th in population.

Looking at Florida’s permit holders as a percentage of population shows just how popular the permits are in specific counties. In the Jacksonville area, Baker County has the highest rate of concealed weapons permits: 16.68%. Duval has the lowest: 9.71%.