Record Numbers of NY and NJ Residents Applying for Concealed Carry Permits
Author: Jack Collins | Publish Date: Aug 19, 2024
After decades of draconian gun restrictions, residents in two of the least gun-friendly states are finally getting the chance to arm themselves.
New York and New Jersey residents are flocking to apply for their concealed carry permits. Tens of thousands of people have begun the permitting process, and so far, they don’t seem to be causing an uptick in violent crime.
Record Numbers of NY and NJ Residents Applying for Concealed Carry Permits
Like many states, New York and New Jersey have seen a lot of residents applying for new concealed carry permits.
This isn’t just a slight bump in the data, though. The increase in applications is huge.
The NYPD has reported that more than 11,000 New Yorkers have applied for concealed carry permits between 2022 and March 2024. Nearly 1,000 people applied per month in January and February of this year.
New Jersey has seen even more applications. More than 40,000 people have applied for their permits since 2022. Nearly a quarter of that came in the first two months of 2024.
The New Jersey permit numbers are a massive increase over 2021. That year, only about 630 people applied for their concealed carry permits. That means New Jersey has seen a 6,400% increase in applications.
The Context
This entire situation has only become possible thanks to a recent court decision. In 2022, the Supreme Court’s decision in the NYSRPA v Bruen case opened the door for millions of New York and New Jersey residents to seize their gun rights for the first time in decades.
The court’s decision has been the driving force behind the citizens of New York and New Jersey applying for their permits. In 2021, only 315 people applied for concealed carry permits in New York City. That’s about ⅓ of the people who applied in the month January 2024 alone.
The Big Picture
These numbers illustrate just how many people are finally taking their security into their own hands after the Bruen decision. New York and New Jersey have historically had some of the strictest gun laws in the country. It’s great to see residents there taking advantage of their new rights.
It’s also interesting to note that violent crime continues to drop in both New York and New Jersey, even as more people apply to carry concealed handguns. That would seem to run contrary to the gun control narrative that more guns in civilian hands leads to higher crime rates.
Hopefully we see these trends continue to increase.