For the first time in history, Washington State has more than 700,000 active concealed pistol licenses (CPLs), a milestone that the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) suggests is a clear indicator of growing public concern about personal and community safety.
The state Department of Licensing recently reported 701,020 active CPLs, a number that CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb believes reflects increasing alarm over rising crime rates and the state’s low number of law enforcement officers.
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Gottlieb pointed out that Washington ranks last in the number of commissioned police and sheriffs’ deputies per 1,000 residents, according to the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC). Despite a slight decrease in homicides last year from a record high of 399 in 2023 to 276 in 2023, violent crime remains prevalent, with fewer officers to address it.
“The data suggests two things,” Gottlieb said. “With fewer police officers and more gun control laws restricting honest citizens, criminals are more brazen. The public is fed up, and it appears they are arming up.”
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Gottlieb emphasized that the surge in CPLs is not driven by those committing crimes but by law-abiding citizens who are increasingly concerned for their safety. He criticized the policies promoted by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, arguing that they have failed to curb violent crime while imposing unnecessary restrictions on law-abiding gun owners.
“It’s time to take a different approach, and 700,000 Washington citizens agree,” Gottlieb concluded, highlighting the need for a reassessment of the state’s gun control policies.
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