First Monday and Every Monday
February 27, 2006

Studies Show Most Americans Are Opposed to Citizens Carrying Concealed Weapons in Public Places

Iowa lawmakers should oppose HF 2573 that would allow nonresidents to carry concealed weapons in Iowa

Legislation currently pending in the Iowa House (HF 2753) would allow nonresidents to carry concealed weapons in Iowa if the person has a permit to carry in the person’s home state. This legislation would pave the way for more private citizens to carry guns in their cars and public places, including shopping malls, restaurants, theaters, sports stadiums, public parks, and government buildings.

Iowans for the Prevention of Gun Violence (IPGV) urges lawmakers to oppose gun legislation that would allow nonresidents to carry concealed weapons in Iowa without a valid Iowa permit. (Note: Iowa law allows nonresidents with a justifiable need to go armed in Iowa to apply for an Iowa permit to carry.)

Public opinion surveys

A variety of state and national public opinion surveys have shown that most Americans are opposed to citizens carrying concealed weapons in public places.

• A national survey conducted by the Harvard Injury Control Research Center (2001) asked, “Do you think regular citizens should be allowed to bring their guns into (a) restaurants, (b) bars, (c) college campuses, (d) hospitals, (e) sports stadiums, and (f) government buildings?” The overwhelming majority of Americans – generally more than 90 percent of respondents – said “no” to each location.

• A USA Today/CNN/Gallop poll (2005) found that approximately two-thirds of all Americans would feel less safe in a public place that allowed concealed weapons.

• Wisconsin – A Badger poll (2005) found that only 27% of those surveyed were in favor of Wisconsin citizens being allowed to carry concealed weapons. (Note: The Wisconsin Legislature passed a “shall issue” law this year. But it was vetoed by the governor.)

• Missouri – A “shall issue” initiative was defeated in state a referendum in 2000. (Note: The Missouri Legislature enacted a “shall issue” law over the expressed will of the people in 2004.)

Conceal carry permit holders are a small minority

State laws that allow citizens to carry concealed weapons in public places give special consideration to a very small minority of the population – the population of conceal carry permit holders. For example, in Iowa about 35 percent of adults own one or more firearms – 59 percent of men and 12 percent of women. But only approximately 1.3 percent of Iowa’s adult population age 21 and older (about 3.6 percent of gun owners) possesses an Iowa permit to carry.

The percentage of conceal carry permit holders in some states may be higher than Iowa and in other states lower. The percentage of conceal carry permit holders for the total U.S. population is not known, but it is pretty safe to say that it is in single digits – probably less than 3 percent.

Even in “shall issue” states that issue permits to carry to anyone who is not specifically prohibited from possessing a firearm, the percentage of adults who are issued permits to carry is typically around 5 percent, or less. This means that even in high gun ownership states where approximately 50 percent of adults own a firearm, 90 percent of gun owners are not interested in carrying concealed weapons.

No benefit to Iowans

Allowing nonresidents to carry concealed weapons in Iowa provides no benefit to Iowans. Furthermore, studies show that whenever more guns are introduced into an environment (e.g., the home or the workplace), the result is more gun deaths and injuries; not fewer.

The Iowa Legislature should not consider legislation that gives special consideration to a very small percentage of the population, but provides no benefit to the vast majority of Iowans, including gun owners.

Lawmakers should consider the wishes of the vast majority of Iowans and Americans that don’t carry concealed weapons, don’t want to carry concealed weapons, and don’t want to sit next to a person in a movie theater or sports stadium who is carrying a loaded handgun. 

Related First Monday’s

Keep Guns Out of Cars, Shopping Malls, Restaurants, Theaters, Sports Stadiums, Public Parks, and Government Buildings, 3/20/06.