wash state cc apps soar after mall attack

[middlefinger]

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Gun Sales, Concealed Permit Applications Soar in Washington State After Mall Attack

Concealed-carry applications are “through the roof” in Skagit County after a gunman killed five people at the Burlington mall, authorities said.

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BURLINGTON — Skagit Arms store manager Guy Hanson stood Wednesday afternoon behind a glass display case filled with small handguns, the type of weapon favored by those with concealed-carry permits.

“Usually we have a lot more than this,” he said. “This case isn’t even full.”

Gun sales and concealed-carry permit applications spiked in Skagit County after the Sept. 23 shooting that left five dead at Cascade Mall.

It’s a common reaction to a mass shooting, Anacortes Police Chief Bonnie Bowers said in a statement.


Her department handled about eight times the concealed-carry permit applications than normal the week after the shooting, with 16.

She said many applicants were applying due to concerns over the mall shooting.

Other area police departments reported similar increases.

The Sedro-Woolley Police Department tied a department record for most applications received in one day at 12, Chief Lin Tucker said.

“That’s through the roof,” Tucker said.

The Mount Vernon Police Department’s number jumped to 13 for the last week of September after having one application the week before. Burlington has had 13 applications since the shooting after having just one application for the first three weeks of September.

Mary Parker, of Anacortes, applied for a concealed-carry permit last week. She said she had been meaning to apply for the past several months, and the mall shooting served as the final push.

“I want to make sure it would never happen to me and that if it did, I would be prepared,” Parker said. “I want to be in a place where I will never be afraid.”

Skagit Arms owner Anthon Steen said concealed-carry-type weapons sales at the Burlington store have doubled since the mall shooting.

“Typically this time of year we are busy with hunting stuff,” Steen said. “We got a double whammy recently because of the increase in handgun sales.”

Dave Bates, manager of All American Armory in Bow, said his store saw an increase in firearms sales across all categories.

“It’s gone down a bit, but it’s not quite back to normal,” he said. “It’s still busy.”

Employees from both stores have been referring inexperienced gun owners to safety classes, something Bowers and others in law enforcement said is important.

Bowers said it takes hours of practice to become proficient with a gun, and that scenarios in which a concealed weapon might be useful can be complex.

“When you are in a shooting in a crowded area, the chances of under pressure hitting a target perhaps while moving with people all around you, it diminishes,” Bowers said. “You have to be pretty well trained … I’m not saying you shouldn’t do this but we want people to think through these purchases and be thoughtful about their response.”

She said officers in her department spend 10 to 20 hours a year at gun ranges to fine-tune their skills.

“We require our officers to shoot at 80 percent or better,” she said. “I know how much practice that takes.”

Bowers said she has no qualms with people buying firearms, but said gun responsibility is important.

Parker agreed, saying she doesn’t take gun ownership lightly and that she would be taking classes.

To get a concealed-carry permit, residents must visit their police department.

The process includes a background check, being fingerprinted and paying a fee. It takes about 30 days to receive the permit.

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-...mall-shooting/

[bamboomaster]

[B].

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-...mall-shooting/

30 days to receive the permit?
10-20 hours a year for PD training?
A grade of 80% or better?

There will never be sufficient hours allocated an budgeted for PD to accomplish what permit owners can do at a range 30 visits x 4 hours per visit. That's 120 hours per year on the civilian side.

I don't know what 80% means (maybe those 2'x3' targets out to distance?) but I am glad that they're training. Trigger control would be a good first step - don't fire unless you're 100% sure you're willing to loose your pension and the rest of your life-time savings.

Hopefully not for the civilians...