Concealed Carry Permits Surge Across the United States

A recent study from the Crime Prevention Research Center shows continued growth in concealed carry permits across the United States, reflecting increasing participation in lawful firearm ownership for personal protection.

According to the report, the number of concealed carry permits nationwide has surpassed 14.5 million, representing approximately 6.06% of the U.S. adult population.

The study also found a significant year-over-year increase, with approximately 1.73 million new permits issued in 2015 alone — one of the largest annual increases recorded.

Continued Growth in Concealed Carry Permits

The CPRC report highlights steady growth in concealed carry licensing across multiple states, with some states reporting particularly high percentages of permit holders.

Key findings from the study include:

• Some states report more than 10% of adults holding concealed carry permits
• Indiana leads with approximately 15% of adults licensed
• South Dakota follows at roughly 14.7%
• Florida and Texas each report more than one million active concealed carry permit holders

These figures reflect the continued expansion of concealed carry adoption throughout the United States.

Women Driving Permit Growth

One of the report’s most notable findings is the growing number of women applying for concealed carry permits.

Between 2012 and 2016, in states tracking permit data by gender:

• Women’s concealed carry permit growth increased at roughly twice the rate of men

This trend reflects broader changes in firearm ownership demographics, with more women pursuing firearms training, concealed carry education, and personal defense options.

Permitless Carry and Changing State Laws

The report also notes that the actual number of armed citizens may be higher than permit data alone indicates.

This is partly due to the increasing number of states adopting permitless carry, also known as constitutional carry, which allows eligible individuals to carry a firearm without obtaining a traditional concealed carry permit.

States including:

• Idaho
• West Virginia
• Maine

have moved toward permitless carry laws, meaning many lawful firearm carriers may not appear in standard permit statistics.

Understanding the Broader Trend

While concealed carry permit numbers continue to rise, the report suggests they are only one part of a larger shift in firearm ownership and carry practices across the United States.

The increase in permit holders and constitutional carry states points to:

• Growing interest in personal protection
• Increased participation among women and first-time gun owners
• Ongoing changes in state firearm regulations

Together, these trends reflect the continued growth of concealed carry adoption nationwide.