TALLAHASSEE (AP) -
The state of
Florida has officially granted more than 1 million people permission to carry a
concealed weapon.
A Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services spokeswoman says Florida had 1,000,645 active permits as of
Wednesday morning.
Officials say Florida has the largest
number of concealed weapon permit holders in the nation. The number of people applying
for concealed weapon permits has risen sharply over the last four years.
Four out of five people with a permit
are male. Roughly 10 percent of those with a valid permit are not state
residents.
Anyone who is 21 years and older and
is legal resident or citizen of the U.S. can apply for a permit. Convicted
felons who have not had their rights restored and those judged mentally
incompetent are ineligible.
