Tennessee Women Packin’
According to the State of Tennessee, around 477,050 residents currently have handgun carry permits in Tennessee and over 4,300 of those permit holders live in Jefferson County. While that number may not be surprising in a State that has an estimated 1million outdoor sportsmen, what is unusual is the number of women that are permitted to carry a handgun.
The number of women taking to the rage and earning their carry permits have doubled since 2011, when 24, 250 were certified. In 2012 that number rose to 32,259, taking an 8,000 jump in ladies that were permitted to carry a concealed handgun. Even more astonishing is the leap between the 2012 and 2013 numbers. In 2013 58,833 women earned the right to carry a handgun, an increase of more than 26,000, which was almost 2,000 women more than were permitted in the entire 12 months of 2011.
Such a rapid increase in women permitted to carry a handgun has experts looking for a reason behind the rise in numbers but there are no easy answers. Some believe that as baby boomers age, they are unwilling to accept feeling less than fully capable of defending themselves. Others believe that the rise in the number of singles is impacting the way women maintain feeling safe in their home.
Locally, Detective Lieutenant Kenneth Lodwick has seen the trend of women seeking carry permits. Lodwick holds permit classes and says that often the number of women in his class outnumber the men. He stated “There are a wide range of women that are taking the class, in all age groups. I believe that safety is a concern and personal experiences come into play, especially if they know someone who has been the victim of a crime.”
When asked if he sees a surge in female enrollment after a local event, such as a burglary, he stated that it does have an impact.
Numbers are not out for 2014 handgun carry permits and are not expected until early next year. Traditionally, fewer people are permitted in the last couple of months of the year, but if the trend holds, 2014 could be another stellar year as women step up and take a shot at personal protection.
