THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 8, 1995 TAG: 9502080029
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 28 lines
Regarding ``More permits for concealed weapons would mean more killing'' (Another View, Jan. 27): Florida's homicide rate dropped from 37 percent above national average to 3 percent above national average after the state changed its concealed-carry law in 1987. Between 1987 and 1992, rape increased nationally 14.4 percent; in Florida it increased 2.9 percent. In 1993, rape in Florida decreased by 0.2 percent.
Florida law-enforcement officials attribute this drop in crime figures to the increased presence of armed citizens on the street. Out of 204,108 licenses issued in the first 6 1/2 years, only 17 licenses have been revoked for unlawful conduct involving possession of a firearm.
These figures are taken from The Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Crime in Florida annual report.
CHRIS LEETE
Virginia Beach, Jan. 27, 1995 by CNB